practice of prayer

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: A Prayer Lesson From Jesus

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Prayer Lesson From Jesus!

Week of March 31, 2013

“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)

A Lifestyle of Prayer should be just that — a lifestyle, not simply an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  It is my prayer that these weeks of “topical” prayer guides have been training and equipping you in the practice of prayer.  This week we will be using the teaching of Jesus on prayer found in Matthew 6 as the basis for our daily prayer emphasis.  We will break down the model prayer of Jesus as a guide on how to pray each day for our friends, family, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, strangers, church family, self, and anyone else that God brings across our path.  Pray each day for the individuals of Deer Run as well as the body of Deer Run.  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)

Please spend time praying each day focused around the words of Jesus spoken in the model prayer.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday, March 31: David Honeycutt, Paul Stearns, Kristen Nicks,  volunteers, the preaching & teaching at DRCC, and the DRCC finances.

Monday, April 1: Start with proper focus.  Pray that your focus would be on pursuing and knowing God.  Ask God to help you pray from a pure heart and motive.  “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”  Matthew 6:7-8

Tuesday, April 2: Honor God.  Pray that God’s name would be honored and respected — not only in your prayers, but in your life.  Pray for the people you meet today, that they would respect the name of God.   “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.'”  Matthew 6:9

Wednesday, April 3: Seek God’s will in everything.  Pray that God’s will would be seen and done in your life.  Pray God’s will for the people you interact with today — that none should perish but all would come to repentance.  “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  Matthew 6:10 

Thursday, April 4: Ask, and trust, God for your daily needs.  Pray for your specific daily needs.  Pray that God would fill you with the bread of life — His son, Jesus.  Pray for the needs of the people in your life today.  “Give us today our daily bread.”  Matthew 6:11

Friday, April 5: Seek forgiveness and seek to forgive.  Agree with God about your sin and ask for His forgiveness.  Pray for those who have sinned against you and for those you have sinned against — that forgiveness would be both extended and accepted  “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  Matthew 6:12

Saturday, April 6:  Protection from the attacks of satan.  Pray for the courage to resist temptation.  Pray for the wisdom to take the “way of escape” when necessary.  “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”  Matthew 6:13

Sunday, April 7: David Honeycutt, Paul Stearns, Kristen Nicks, volunteers, the preaching & teaching at DRCC, and the DRCC finances.

 

 

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Sayings From The Cross

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Sayings From The Cross!

“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)

A Lifestyle of Prayer should be just that — a lifestyle, not simply an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  It is my prayer that these weeks of “topical” prayer guides have been training and equipping you in the practice of prayer.  This week we will use the words of Jesus from the cross to help us focus our prayer time each day!  As we consider Resurrection Sunday, it is fitting to not only consider the sacrifice Jesus made, but to apply His very words to how we pray this week.  Use the topics this week to help you pray through difficulties, through weakness, through loneliness, through concern for others, and most importantly through the eyes of Jesus.

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 focused around the words of Jesus spoken from the cross.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: Father, forgive them.  Pray that the people you see today would realize and accept the Father’s forgiveness.  “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”  Luke 23:34

Tuesday: You will be with me.  Pray that the people you interact with today would have a desire to know, and be known, by Jesus.  “Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’”  Luke 23:43

Wednesday: Behold, your son.  Pray about how God would have you respond to those with no family.  “When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”  John 19:26-27

Thursday: Why have you forsaken me.  Pray for those who feel forsaken by God, that you would represent Jesus well to them.  “About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’–which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”  Matthew 27:46

Friday: I thirst.  Pray that the people you see today would have a real thirst for the things of God.  “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”  John 19:28

Saturday:  It is finished.  Pray that you would be actively involved in helping people be ready for the time their life on earth is finished.  “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”  John 19:30  “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.”  Luke 23:46

 

by

Lifestyle of Prayer: Asking God

i

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Asking God!

“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)

A Lifestyle of Prayer should be just that — a lifestyle, not simply an event.  View prayer as your first priority, not as the last resort.  It is my prayer that these weeks of “topical” prayer guides have been training and equipping you in the practice of prayer. This week we will take a somewhat different look at the part of prayer that is usually most familiar — Asking God!  We will consider what we can learn about prayer from some of the times the people in the Bible are seen asking God.  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 you would spend the time necessary listening for the answers from God to the questions you ask of Him in prayer.  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)

Please spend time praying each day for the “asking God” focus listed.  With that focus in mind, pray for yourself, your family, your friends, neighbors, and all the other “one anothers” we’ve been praying for over the past weeks.  Thank you!

Sunday: Pray for Tom Lemler and the work God is doing through Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: That God’s name would be known.   “Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” Then what shall I tell them?’  God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”  Exodus 3:13-14

Tuesday: Waiting.  “So Saul asked God, ‘Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into Israel’s hand?’ But God did not answer him that day.”  1 Samuel 14:37

Wednesday: A Discerning Heart.  “God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ . . .  ‘So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?'”  1 Kings 3:5,9

Thursday: Help.   “Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help.”  Daniel 6:11  “The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.” 1 Timothy 5:5

Friday: Knowledge of God’s Will.   “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”  Colossians 1:9

Saturday:  Wisdom.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”  James 1:5