repent

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Repentance

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Repentance

“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)

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 our prayer emphasis will focus on repentance.  The Bible says all have sinned but the unfortunate truth is that we not only have sinned, we still sin even after coming to Christ.  Therefore, repentance is not only for the unsaved, but perhaps more importantly, it is for those of us who seek to walk with Christ daily.  Repentance is more than a change of action, although the Bible is clear that it must be visible in our actions.  It is a complete change of heart — a change of thinking about that which we are repenting of.  As you pray this week, pray that you would see the need for repentance in your life and that you would learn to see the things you are repenting of from God’s perspective. Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  

“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 about the things you need to repent of, the attitude you should have in repentance, and the joyful benefit of repentance that can be seen in your deeds.  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:  Repent in Godly Sorrow.  Pray that the sorrow you experience when doing wrong would be Godly sorrow that leads you to repentance.  “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”  2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Repent in Obedience.  Pray that you would be obedient to God’s command to repent even of acts done in ignorance.  “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”  Acts 17:30 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Repent of Pride.  Pray that God would help you to identify and repent of all traces of sinful pride in your life.  “Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD’s wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.”  2 Chronicles 32:26 (NIV)

Thursday:  Repent of Wickedness.  Pray that  you would turn to God and repent of all aspects of wickedness — even wickedness that currently only resides in your thoughts.  “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”  Acts 8:22 (NIV)

Friday:  Repent for Refreshment.  Pray that your repentance would bring a time of refreshment in your life as you experience the penalty of your sins being wiped away.  “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.’”  Acts 3:19 (NIV)

Saturday:  Repent for Restoration.  Pray that you would experience God’s restoration in your life as you turn to Him in repentance.  “Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.”  Jeremiah 15:19 (NIV)

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Lifestyle of Prayer: Called to Serve!

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“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Called to Serve!

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  
Mark 10:42-45 (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.  As we consider the commands and example of Jesus, our prayer emphasis this week will be on serving.  As Christians, each one of us have been called by God to serve.  What are you doing to serve and who are you serving?  Pray that each of us would better grasp the necessity of serving as a way of life.  As you pray, pay attention to any changes and/or actions God would be calling you to make in that area.  Pray for a unity of spirit among believers in general and among your church family in particular.  As you pray, listen for what God would have you to do.

“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 about the call of Jesus for His followers to serve.  Pray for the courage to serve in the way God has created and called you to do.   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: Called to Share.  Pray that you would understand and practice your responsibility to share with those in need.  Pray for wisdom to know how to do that well.  “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”  Romans 12:13 (NIV)

Tuesday: Called to Equip.  Pray that you would be a student of God’s Word so that you would be equipped, and be able to equip others, for every good work.  “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)

Wednesday: Called to Rebuke and Repent.  Pray for the wisdom and grace to rebuke others in love and to repent when you are rebuked.  “So watch yourselves.  ‘If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.’”  Luke 17:3 (NIV)

Thursday: Called to Visit.  Pray that you would notice the stranger, the needy, the sick, and the imprisoned and visit them as if you are visiting Christ.  “When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’”  Matthew 25:38-39 (NIV)

Friday: Called to Encourage.  Pray that your life would be an encouragement to others as you meet together on a regular basis.  “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)

Saturday:  Called to Serve Like Christ.  Pray that you would follow the example of Christ in serving others for their benefit.  “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV