“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus:  Justice

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.  Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.  In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’”
Zechariah 7:9-10 (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 some of what the Bible says about justice and how it ought to be evident in our life.  God has a lot to say about His justice, about the way we ought to treat others with justice, and about the consequences of rejecting true justice.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see and practice justice with all fairness and impartiality.  Pray that the people around you would receive justice as they turn to God to make all things right.  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 God’s view justice and how that looks lived out 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:  Follow Justice.  Pray that you would know the gift of God to you as you follow justice as a way of life.  “Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.”  Deuteronomy 16:20 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Administer Justice.  Pray that you would be filled with godly wisdom to administer justice in every role of authority that you have.  “When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.”  1 Kings 3:28 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Maintain Justice.  Pray that you would have the courage to constantly work at maintaining justice in all situations.   Pray that the people around you would see justice maintained in their life.  “Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right.”  Psalm 106:3 (NIV)

Thursday:  Seek Justice.  Pray that you would actively seek justice, not only for yourself but for those who need your voice to speak for them.  “Stop doing wrong, learn to do right!  Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”  Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)

Friday:  Shepherd with Justice.  Pray that the people whom God has put in your life for you to watch over would receive justice from you.  Pray that  you would seek out those who need justice.  “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”  Ezekiel 34:16 (NIV)

Saturday:  Proclaim Justice.  Pray that your Christ-like living would include proclaiming justice both near and far.  Pray that God would be delighted by the way you proclaim justice.  “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”  Matthew 12:18 (NIV)