practice of prayer

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Patience!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Patience!

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  Last week’s prayer focus was on submission so while we are on topics people often like to avoid, this week we will focus on praying about Patience!  God’s Word has a lot to say about His patience and the patience that we ought to have.  As we pray this week, we will look at six verses dealing with some attributes of patience.  God says that it is wisdom that gives us patience, so as we seek to grow in the area of patience perhaps we should ask God for wisdom which He promises to give to us generously and without finding fault.  Pray that you would see patience from God’s point of view and how it is a practice we all should participate in as we seek to be more Christ-like.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 

Please spend time praying each day that you would have Christ-like patience in your interactions with everyone.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all those you know.  Thank you!

 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry. 

 

Monday: Patience as an Attribute of Love.  Pray that the love of God would abound in your life and overflow in the form of patience as you share God’s love with others.  “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”  1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Tuesday: Patience as a Fruit of God’s Spirit.  Pray that you would experience continual growth of the Spirit’s fruit in your life as you exhibit patience in your interactions with others.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.”  Galatians 5:22 (NIV)

Wednesday: Patience with Everyone.  Pray that you would be filled with patience as speak with those who idle, timid, and weak.  “And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”  1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)

Thursday: Patience in Sharing the Word.  Pray that you would be a “preacher of the Word” by the way you live and speak and that your doing so would be done with great patience.  “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.”  2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)

Friday: Patience in Standing Firm to the End.   Pray that you would  never lose sight of your eternal reward and that you would have the patience to stand firm until the end.  “You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”  James 5:8 (NIV)

Saturday:  Patience with Purpose.   Pray that you would have an understanding of the purpose of God’s patience in wanting people to come to repentance.  Pray that you would adopt that purpose as you are patient with others.  “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) 

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Submission!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Submission!

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”
Hebrews 5:7 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  The Bible says that Jesus was heard by His Father because of His reverent submission.  Yet submission is a word and topic that we tend to avoid in the church and in our personal lives because it may sound demeaning to give up our rights in preference to someone else.  Or God’s Word is pulled out to insist that women are to be submissive while ignoring the submission that all of us are called to by God.  This week we will focus on praying about submission from God’s point of view and how it is a practice we all should participate in as we seek to be more Christ-like.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for a Christ-like submissive spirit and action to be always present in your life.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all those you know.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Submit to Governing Authorities.  Pray that your submission to governing authorities would come from a recognition of God’s authority over all things.  “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”  Romans 13:1 (NIV)

Tuesday: Submit to One Another.  Pray that your reverence for Christ in all things would help you submit to others.    “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

Wednesday: Submit to Discipline by God.  Pray that you would accept God’s discipline as the live-giving correction it is meant to be.  “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!”  Hebrews 12:9 (NIV)

Thursday: Submit to Leaders.  Pray that your submission to leaders would make their work a joy.  “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”  Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

Friday: Submit to God.   Pray that you would submit to God in all things so that the devil has no foothold in your life.  “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7 (NIV)

Saturday:  Submit in Humility.   Pray that you would be filled with humility and grace as you learn to submit to the wisdom of those who are older.  “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”  1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: One Another (Week 2)!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  One Another (Week 2)!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  In the fourth chapter of Genesis, Cain asks God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”.  It seems that the implied answer from God is, “Yes, you should have been!”.  The Bible is full of encouragement and commands to apply in our relationships with one another.  So, we will spend a second week of our “Lifestyle of Prayer” focused again on some important characteristics to pray for “one another”.  Pray for the people in your life.  Pray for your family, your neighbors, your church family, your co-workers, and anyone else God brings to your mind.  Pray also that these qualities would be ever-increasing in your life as well.  Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Extra Prayer Focus:  Pray each day this week that the bureaucratic red-tape surrounding a new drug, GM604, would be dissolved so that individuals with ALS, such as my friend Anita, would be allowed the chance to see if it would help them.

Please spend time praying each day for the “one another” characteristic listed.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” in your life.  Thank You!

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Submit to one another.  Pray that God would help you to consider the needs of others above your own.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would help you to submit to others.  “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

Tuesday: Teach and Admonish one another.  Pray that you would both give and receive teaching and admonishment.  “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

Wednesday: Forgive one another.  Pray that the forgiveness you have received from God would help you to forgive others.  “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”  Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Thursday: Encourage one another.  Pray that you would gather with fellow believers for the purpose of encouraging one another.  Pray that your heart would not be hardened by sin.  “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”  Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

Friday: Spur one another on.   Pray that your faith would challenge others to love and good deeds as their faith challenges you to be more Christ-like.  “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  Hebrews 10:23-24 (NIV)

Saturday:  Fellowship with one another.   Pray that you would seek out fellowship with others who are walking in the light of Jesus.  “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”  1 John 1:6-7 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: One Another (Week 1)!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  One Another (Week 1)!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  In the fourth chapter of Genesis, Cain asks God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”.  It seems that the implied answer from God is, “Yes, you should have been!”.  The Bible is full of encouragement and commands to apply in our relationships with one another.  So, we will spend two weeks of our “Lifestyle of Prayer” focused again on a dozen important characteristics to pray for “one another”.  Pray for the people in your life.  Pray for your family, your neighbors, your church family, your co-workers, and anyone else God brings to your mind.  Pray also that these qualities would be ever-increasing in your life as well.  Continue to use the prayer guides/lists from the past weeks.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Extra Prayer Focus:  Pray each day this week that the bureaucratic red-tape surrounding a new drug, GM604, would be dissolved so that individuals with ALS, such as my friend Anita, would be allowed the chance to see if it would help them.

Please spend time praying each day for the “one another” characteristic listed.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” in your life.  Thank You!

 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Love one another.  Pray that your love for people would help them to know you as a disciple of Jesus.  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  John 13:34-35 (NIV)

Tuesday: Be devoted to and honor one another.  Pray that you would show proper devotion and honor to others.  “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”  Romans 12:10-13 (NIV)

Wednesday: Accept one another.  Pray that God would be praised because you accept others in the same way Christ accepted you.   “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”  Romans 15:5-7 (NIV)

Thursday: Serve one another.  Pray that you would be eager to serve others with the freedom you have in Christ.  “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”  Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

Friday: Bear with one another.  Pray that you would “put up” with others as they “put up” with you.  “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:2-3

Saturday:  Be kind and compassionate to one another.   Pray that your words and attitude would show kindness to others.  “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Spiritual Training!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Spiritual Training!

“A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  
Luke 6:40 (NIV) 

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  This week our prayer focus will be on Spiritual Training.  To be like Jesus, we must be fully trained by Jesus and live according to that training.  I believe this is a great follow-up to last week’s focus on living a life that is truly set apart for God’s exclusive use.  As one who is sanctified, your training will equip you to daily live a life that reflects the One who is training you.  As you pray this week, listen for how God would have you live a life of continual spiritual training.  Continue to pray for one another each day.  Continue to pray for the work of our supported missions.  Continue to pray for the family.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort. 

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) 

Extra Prayer Focus:  Pray each day this week that the bureaucratic red-tape surrounding a new drug, GM604, would be dissolved so that individuals with ALS, such as my friend Anita, would be allowed the chance to see if it would help them.

 

Please spend time praying each day for God’s work of spiritual training to be present in your life.  Thank You!

 

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

  

Monday:  Trained to be like your Teacher.  Pray that you would pay close attention to where your training is coming from.  Pray that you would become more like Jesus because you are being trained by His Word.  “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.”  Luke 6:40 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Trained for an Eternal Crown.  Pray that you would not lose sight of the results to be had through your spiritual training.  “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”  1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Trained in Godliness.  Pray that you would train your mind and body to be godly in all things.  “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”  1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

Thursday:  Trained by Scripture.  Pray that God’s Word would be the standard for all of your spiritual training.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Friday:  Trained to Distinguish Good from Evil.  Pray that your constant exposure to the things of God would help you to easily know the difference between something that is good and something that is evil.  “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”  Hebrews 5:14 (NIV)

Saturday:  Trained by Discipline.  Pray that you would understand, and welcome, God’s discipline in your life as part of your spiritual training.  “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11 (NIV) 

Lifestyle of Prayer: Sanctified!
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Lifestyle of Prayer: Sanctified!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Sanctified!

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.  For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”  
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  This week our prayer focus will be on God’s desire for His children to be set apart — sanctified.  We are instructed by scripture to not be of the world even as we live in the world.  I believe the key to being able to do that is to live a life that is truly set apart for God’s exclusive use.  As you pray this week, listen for how God would have you live in a way that honors His calling for you to be sanctified.  Continue to pray for one another each day.  Continue to pray for the work of our supported missions.  Continue to pray for the family.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for God’s work of sanctification to be complete in your life. Thank You!

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Sanctified by Truth.  Pray that you would spend consistent time in God’s Word so that its truth will stand out in your life.  “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”  John 17:17-18 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Sanctified for an Inheritance.  Pray that you would always be mindful of the inheritance that awaits those who are being built up by God’s grace.  “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  Acts 20:32 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Sanctified by Faith.  Pray that your faith in Jesus will set you apart to proclaim forgiveness of sins to those who would have their eyes opened.  “I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”  Acts 26:17-18 (NIV)

Thursday:  Sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  Pray that you would pay attention to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.  “I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:15-16 (NIV)

Friday:  Sanctified in Christ Jesus.  Pray that you would live as part of the body which has been sanctified in Christ Jesus.  “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — their Lord and ours.”  1 Corinthians 1:2 (NIV)

Saturday:  Sanctified by the God of Peace.  Pray that you would know a complete peace as one who has been thoroughly sanctified by God.  “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Truth!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Truth!

“Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king.
In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.'”
John 18:37 (NIV)   

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  This week, our prayer focus will be on truth.  Matthew and John each record 30 times when Jesus used the phrase, “I tell you the truth”.  Truth is important to God and therefore ought to be important to us as his children.  Pray that you would not sacrifice truth to the gods of convenience, expediency, favor, or political correctness.  In living and speaking truth, pray that you would always do so in love.  Continue to pray for one another each day.  Continue to pray for the work of our supported missions.  Continue to pray for the family.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.

“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’  Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.'”  
John 14:5-7 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for the elements of truth to be present in abundance in your life.  Pray that your life of truth would always be lived in the context of God’s love for all. Thank You!

Sunday: Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday:  Speak Truth.  Pray that you would be one who always speaks truth because that is what resides within you.  “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?  He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.”  Psalm 15:1-2 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Learn Truth.  Pray that you would be a continual student of God’s Word as you learn truth from Him on a daily basis.  “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”  Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Walk in Truth.  Pray that you would be known by the people around you as one who walks in truth no matter what.  “Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.”  Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)

Thursday:  Protected by Truth.  Pray that you would know the protection of having your life centered in the truth of God.  “Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.”  Psalm 40:11 (NIV)

Friday:  Guided by Truth.  Pray that you would seek God’s truth for your source of guidance in all things.  “Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.”  Psalm 43:3 (NIV)

Saturday:  Judged in Truth.  Pray that you are always prepared by the blood of Jesus to be judged in truth by God.  “They will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.”  Psalm 96:13 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Leaders!
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Lifestyle of Prayer: Leaders!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Leaders!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  The National Day of Prayer takes place this week on Thursday, May 7.    As I considered the idea behind the National Day of Prayer, I decided to bring back a prayer focus this week on leaders.  Each day this week we will focus on praying for leaders and those in authority at various levels in our lives.  Continue to pray for one another each day.  Continue to pray for the work of our supported missions.  Continue to pray for the family.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men — the testimony given in its proper time.”
1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)

Please spend time praying each day for the leaders/authority position listed for that day.  Pay attention to the words from 1 Timothy listed above as you pray for everyone, specifically for leaders and all those in authority.  Pray that leadership at all levels would have Christ-like qualities of sacrifice, service, and love.   Thank you!

Sunday:  Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry. 

Monday: Family leaders.  Pray for men who will lead with Christ-like humility and service.  Pray that men would not abandon their family responsibility and leadership.  Pray for women who out of necessity must lead their family with great courage and strength.

Tuesday: Church leaders.  Pray for the elders/spiritual leaders of your church congregation.  Pray for those in servant leadership positions.  Pray for all who lead various ministries within the local church body.

Wednesday: Business leaders.  Pray that these leaders would conduct business in ways that will honor and value the family.  Pray that the business practices would be fair and just to all employees and customers.

Thursday: Community leaders.  Pray for our local leaders that their decisions would be made with godly wisdom and courage.  Pray that they would take seriously their role in protecting and serving the communities.

Friday: State leaders.  Pray for our state leaders, that they would look out for the best interest of the citizens.  Pray that they would be surrounded by people who give them godly advice and wisdom.

Saturday:  National leaders.  Pray for our national leaders to put aside partisan and divisive politics and lead in ways that allow us to live in peace and quietness as we share our faith in Jesus freely.  Pray that our leaders would listen to godly advice and dismiss that which is ungodly.

Lifestyle of Prayer: Generosity!
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Lifestyle of Prayer: Generosity!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Generosity!

“Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.  In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.  Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.  But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?  Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” 
1 Chronicles 29:12-14 (NIV)

As we continue to grow in A Lifestyle of Prayer, it is important to remember prayer should be a lifestyle, not an event.  As we consider the words of David, this week we will focus our prayer emphasis on the subject of generosity.  As Christians, we ought to be generous because it is a part of God’s nature that He has put within us.  Our generosity to others is a reflection of the generosity we receive from God — at least it ought to be.  Pray that you would experience, and share, the true generosity that is found in Christ. 

 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Please spend time each day praying about, and writing down, how God would have you live out that day’s aspect of prayer.   Thank you!

Sunday:  Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry. 

Monday: Your Attitude in Generosity.  Pray that you would have a right attitude in sharing and giving.  Pray that any traces of a “grudging  heart” would be removed from you.  “Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.”  Deuteronomy 15:10 (NIV)

Tuesday: Goodness and Justice in Generosity.  Pray that your generosity would bring about goodness and justice in your life and in the lives of those around you.  “Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.”  Psalm 112:5 (NIV)

Wednesday: Prosperity and Refreshing in Generosity.  Pray that you would know God’s version of “prosper” as your generosity refreshes yourself and others.  Pray for an increased generosity as you experience an increased prosperity.  “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”  Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

Thursday: Extreme Circumstances in Generosity.  Pray that you would not allow your circumstances to rob you of the joy of generosity.   Pray that you would have both a spirit and practice of generosity in all circumstances.  “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”  2 Corinthians 8:2 (NIV)

Friday: Sowing and Reaping in Generosity.  Pray that you would reap an abundant harvest of God’s blessings because you have sown generously.  “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”  2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)

Saturday:  Thanksgiving and Praise in Generosity.  Pray that your generosity would always be done in ways that result in praise and thanksgiving to God.  Praise God for a spirit of generosity.  “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)

 

Lifestyle of Prayer: Missions!
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Lifestyle of Prayer: Missions!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Missions!

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

 As we continue our Lifestyle of Prayer emphasis, we will focus this week on praying for missions and missionaries.  As you pray for the missions, pray that they would have fruitful labor as you ask God to fill them with the characteristics listed below.

 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Please spend time each day praying the missionaries that you know and that your church congregation helps to support.  Thank you!

Sunday:  Pray for your church, its staff and leadership, and for all of the preaching and teaching that takes place.  Pray for me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry. 

Monday: Encouragement.  Pray that God would help you to find ways to encourage those directly involved in mission work throughout the world.  “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.”  Philemon 1:7 (NIV)

Tuesday: Provision:  Pray that each mission would have all that is needed for their work as Christians around the world are “credited” with being the instrument God uses to meet the needs of missionaries.  “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.  And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:17,19 (NIV)

Wednesday: Wisdom:  Pray for a wisdom that comes from God as our missionaries make decisions.  “Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”  2 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

Thursday: Effectiveness:  Pray that the work of missionaries would be effective in reaching people with the good news of Jesus.  “But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”  1 Corinthians 16:8-9 (NIV)

Friday: Boldness:  Pray that the missionaries, and yourself, would be filled with a boldness to proclaim the gospel as we ought.  “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”  Acts 4:29 (NIV)

Saturday: Faithfulness:  Pray for missionaries to be great examples of faithfulness and that they would be filled with joy by the faithfulness of those who hear the message from them.  “It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.”  3 John 1:3 (NIV)