“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

 This week’s prayer focus: Purity!

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”
2 Corinthians 7:1 (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.  This week we will focus our prayer emphasis on the subject of purity.  It seems that most conversations and teaching about purity center around the topic of sexual purity.  While that is an important Biblical topic, I believe the Bible teaches that it is often the impurities in other aspects of our life that leads to sexual impurity.  The door of impure actions is often opened by having an impure heart, attitude, thought, or speech.  As you pray each day this week, pray for a greater desire for, and practice of,  the purity that God desires for you.  Pray each day for the individuals of the church congregation you attend as well as for the body of believers that meet together.

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: Pure Fear of the Lord.  Pray that you would always live according to a pure fear of the Lord.  Pray that the people around you would come to know a fear of the Lord as the foundation for all purity.  “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.” Psalm 19:9 (NIV)

Tuesday: Pure Heart.  Pray that you would seek and allow God to create a pure heart within you.  Pray that the people around you would see your persistence in allowing God’s Spirit to purify your heart.  “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Wednesday: Pure Way.  Pray that you would be a faithful student of God’s Word for the purpose of keeping your way pure.  Pray that the people around you would come to know God’s Word as a protection to keep their life pure.  “How can a young man keep his way pure?  By living according to your word.”  Psalm 119:9 (NIV)

Thursday: Pure Speech.  Pray that God’s guard over your mouth would keep your speech pure in all situations.  Pray that the people around you would hear a consistent message of your faith as you ask God to watch what comes from your lips.  “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”  Psalm 141:3 (NIV)

Friday: Pure Thoughts.  Pray that your thoughts would only be of things that are pleasing to  God.  Pray that the people around you would understand how important their thought life is and that nothing you do would cause them to have impure thoughts.  “The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.”  Proverbs 15:26 (NIV)

Saturday:  Pure Actions.  Pray that God would help you to see how your actions are reflecting Him to the world.  Pray that the people around you will know you as God’s child because of the way you live your life.  “Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.” Proverbs 20:11 (NIV)