July 21, 2019 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: United With Christ!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: United With Christ!

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”
Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on some characteristics that Paul infers we ought to have through being united with Christ. Not only should these qualities exist in ever-increasing measure, they ought to set the standard for how we interact with one another. For the Christian, the united with Christ part shouldn’t be all that difficult to pursue — the struggle often comes in applying those same principles of unity to our relationships with others. As you pray this week, ask God to help you appreciate all that you have gained from being united with Christ. Pray that you would grow in each of these areas as God’s Spirit dwells within you. Pray that you would seek and experience a greater unity with those around you who have also united themselves with Christ. Pray that your interactions with others would be filled with the same attitude that Christ displayed toward us as He considered our need above His own comfort. Pray for a spirit of unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we grow in our love for one another. Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 pray each day for God to help you live as one united with Christ.

Sunday: Pray for your church staff, the preaching and teaching that takes place, the church leadership, the volunteers that are helping in so many areas, the spiritual and financial health of the congregation, and the work of the missions ministry of the church. Pray for the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: United For Encouragement. Pray for a desire to come together with other believers in a way that all are encouraged. Pray for the humility required to be an effective encourager, especially of those who are discouraged. “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)

Tuesday: United For Comfort. Pray that you would recognize the comfort God has given you in your times of trouble. Pray that you would learn well from your experiences so that you can provide effective comfort to those around you who experience troubles. “Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

Wednesday: United For Fellowship. Pray that the fellowship you have with God through Jesus Christ would be the example for the fellowship you seek with others. Pray for the courage to share the good news of Jesus so others may share in the fellowship you experience. “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 (NIV)

Thursday: United For Tenderness. Pray for a greater understanding of the tenderness of God’s mercy shown to you through the forgiveness of sin. Pray that your attitude towards others would be softened as you consider God’s tenderness toward you. “To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God.” Luke 1:78 (NIV)

Friday: United For Compassion. Pray for a heart that can see and feel the hurt of others in a way that makes you want to help. Pray for the wisdom to know and express true compassion that lifts people up when they struggle. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 (NIV)

Saturday: United For Joy. Pray that you would always be filled with joy as you walk in the presence of God. Pray that your interactions with others would fill them with joy. Pray that you would be thankful for the joy God brings into your life through others. “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?” 1 Thessalonians 3:9 (NIV)

July 14, 2019 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Check Your Motives!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Check Your Motives!

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”
1 Chronicles 29:17 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on spending some time with God examining our motives. God’s desire is that we would do everything with pure and right motives but thankfully His ability to work for our good isn’t limited by our ability to always do the right thing for the right reason. When we allow God’s Spirit and His Word to align our motives with His will, we are able to find a contagious joy in serving God. As you pray this week, ask God to help you to be honest with yourself as you examine why you do things. Pray that God would test your heart so you could see any changes that need to be made. Pray for the courage to trust God as you seek His guidance in realigning your motives. Pray for the humility to admit when your motives have been self-serving and out of line with God’s will. Pray that God would be honored and glorified through your life even in the midst of any changes of motive you need to make. Pray for a spirit of unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we grow in our love for one another. Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 pray each day for God to help you consider, and accept, the costs of being a disciple.

Monday: Understood Motives. Pray that you would live in such a way that you would find comfort in knowing God understands your motives. Pray that you would have a genuine desire to seek God so you would not be rejected. “The LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)

Tuesday: Weighed Motives. Pray that you would trust God to weigh your motives against His standards regardless of how right you believe them to be. Pray that you would accept God’s ways as you find them to be more noble than your own. Pray for a humility that allows you to change when your ways are found wanting. “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.” Proverbs 16:2 (NIV)

Wednesday: Exposed Motives. Pray for the wisdom to examine your own motives and let God deal with the motives of others. Pray that you would have nothing to be ashamed of when the Lord exposes the motives of your heart. “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.” 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

Thursday: Overcome Motives. Pray that you would be mindful to the work of God taking place even when motives are not what they should be. Pray for the ability to rejoice over the work of God being accomplished even when it is motivated by someone’s evil intent. “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” Philippians 1:18 (NIV)

Friday: Pure Motives. Pray that you would live with honest in all of your interactions with others so that your motives are not purposefully hidden. Pray that you would always speak and act with pure motives that look our for the good of others. Pray that your reputation would be one of honesty. “For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.” 1 Thessalonians 2:3 (NIV)

Saturday: Unselfish Motives. Pray that God would help you deal with all elements of selfishness in your life. Pray for the humility to consider the needs of others above your own when you talk with God. Pray for God’s help in knowing what to ask in your prayers that would benefit others. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” James 4:3 (NIV)

July 7, 2019 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Things To Consider!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Things To Consider!

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and consider the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’”
Luke 14:28-30 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on some things that God says we ought to consider as we seek to follow Him. Considering the cost doesn’t mean that we make our decisions based solely on what a particular action will cost, in money or anything else, but rather it is a matter of determining if we have what it takes to finish. Jesus addresses this type of consideration in physical matters to instruct us about our even greater need to consider the cost of being His disciple. As you pray this week, ask God to help you consider the things He would want you to think through. Pray that you would give careful thought to all aspects of your decisions as you seek to base your actions around the things that would please God. Pray that you would have a godly approach, rather than a humanistic one, to the way you consider the things you would do. Pray for the courage to move beyond consideration when the things you have considered call for action. Pray for a spirit of unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we grow in our love for one another. Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 pray each day for God to help you consider, and accept, the costs of being a disciple.

Monday: Consider Carefully. Pray that you would consider carefully the things you hear. Pray for a spirit of discernment to help you understand correctly. Pray that you would carefully consider how you would want to be treated when you interact with others. “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you — and even more.” Mark 4:24 (NIV)

Tuesday: Consider Your Worth. Pray that you would pay attention to the way that God cares not only for creation, but for His children. Pray that you, and the people around you, would know the great value that each of you have to God. “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24 (NIV)

Wednesday: Consider The Future. Pray that you would always be mindful of the future glory that will be revealed to you, and in you, when Christ returns. Pray for the courage to endure hardship for a season as you consider what is to come for those who are in Christ. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 (NIV)

Thursday: Consider Others. Pray that God would help you examine the motives behind your interactions with those around you. Pray that you would have the courage to put aside all selfish thoughts and actions as you consider the needs of others ahead of your own. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Philippians 2:3 (NIV)

Friday: Consider the Consequences. Pray that you would carefully consider the consequences of your words and actions. Pray that you would be careful, even in the small things of life, as you consider the consequences of what you say and do. “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” James 3:5 (NIV)

Saturday: Consider Jesus! Pray that you would always consider the example of Jesus as the pattern for your life. Pray that you would learn from Jesus at all times, but especially when you feel weary and disheartened. Pray that your consideration of Jesus would keep you faithful to Him. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)

June 30, 2019 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Growing In Holiness!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Growing In Holiness!

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”
1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on living a life that is fully dedicated to God. Biblical holiness isn’t as much about living a perfect life as it is about living a life that is set apart for God. The holiness God calls us to will lead us to find a way to live “in the world, but not of it.” And for those who are thinking it is impossible to live a holy life, you are right . . . at least if you’re trying to do it on your own! The holiness God calls us to is based on His holiness and is only possible when we live by His Spirit being transformed into His likeness. As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in holiness as you represent Jesus. Pray for the courage to live a life dedicated to God, even when the world objects to what that looks like. Pray for the humility to live a holy life in a manner that makes Jesus attractive to those watching you. Pray that you would not be content with half-hearted holiness, but would pursue growth in your life of holiness. Pray that you would examine each part of your life for what God would want it to look like as set apart for Him. Pray for a spirit of unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we grow in our love for one another. Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 pray each day for God to help you live a holy life which is devoted to Him.

Monday: Growing In the Holiness of Purity. Pray that God would help you identify, and remove, even the hints of impurity that creep into life. Pray for the courage to gaze intently into God’s Word for instruction on what is proper for God’s holy people. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” Ephesians 5:3 (NIV)

Tuesday: Growing In the Holiness of Prayer. Ask God to help you practice prayer in a holy manner. Pray that you would have God’s help in examining the motives behind what you pray about. Pray that God’s Spirit would use your conversations with God to bring resolution to any anger or disputes that exist in your life. “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” 1 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)

Wednesday: Growing In the Holiness of Good Work. Pray that you would be cleansed of the things that keep you from the noble purposes God has designed for you. Pray that your pursuit of a life of holiness would prepare you for whatever good works God puts before you to do. “If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21 (NIV)

Thursday: Growing In the Holiness of Peace. Pray that you would seek peace “as far as it depends upon you.” Pray that you would have the wisdom to pursue holiness in a way that promotes peace. Pray that your holiness would prepare you for the ultimate peace . . . eternity with God. “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Friday: Growing In Holiness As You Ought. Pray for the courage to do the things you know you ought to do. Pray for a sense of urgency in living a holy life as you await the return of Jesus. Pray that your holiness would help others seek Jesus. “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives.” 2 Peter 3:11 (NIV)

Saturday: Growing In a Holy Faith. Pray that your faith would grow as you grow in holiness. Pray that God’s Spirit would empower you to be built up in faith. Ask God to help your prayer life to grow as His Spirit increases your faith. “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20 (NIV)

June 23, 2019 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Purified!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Purified!

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
1 John 3:2-3 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on living a purified life. It saddens me to live in a society that often places so little value on purity. Even as Christians, it is so easy to adopt the patterns of this world rather than allow God to transform our minds. We expose ourselves to impure words, images, experiences, and thoughts for so long that we don’t even notice the impurity spilling forth from our life. While God offers grace in abundance to cover our multitude of sins, He still calls us to deliberately pursue a life of purity. As you pray this week, ask God to examine and reveal to you the impurity that exists in your life. Pray for the courage to repent and reject all impure input that you’ve allowed into your mind. Pray that your desire for purity in all things would come from a heart that wants to obey God out of the great love you have for Him. Pray that your example of purity would be lived in a humility that draws others to Christ. Pray for a spirit of unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we grow in our love for one another. Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 pray each day for God to help you live a purified life.

Monday: Purified To Work Together. Pray for a growing purity in the way you speak to people and in the ways you speak about people. Pray for a common purity among people that would lead each one to call upon the Lord and learn to work together for Him. “Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” Zephaniah 3:9 (NIV)

Tuesday: Purified By Faith. Pray for an increasing faith that continually purifies your heart. Pray that God would help you to see others in the way that He sees them. Pray that God would remove all traces of partiality from your life as you consider He purifies the hearts of others in the same way He purifies yours. “He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:9 (NIV)

Wednesday: Purified Out Of Reverence For God. Pray that your genuine regard for God would lead you to a greater desire to purify yourself from all evil. Pray for the courage to remove all sources of spiritual contamination from your life. “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)

Thursday: Purified Through Godly Discernment. Pray that God would fill you with a level of discernment that can only come from Him. Pray that you would discern what is best and then use that discernment to actually do the things that lead to a pure and blameless life. “So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.” Philippians 1:10 (NIV)

Friday: Purified By Obedience To the Truth. Pray for a desire to be obedient to the truth in all things. Pray that your love for God, and for one another, would be a pure love that results from your obedience to God. “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22 (NIV)

Saturday: Purified From All Unrighteousness. Pray for the courage to agree with God about the things in your life He calls sin. Pray that you would trust in God’s faithfulness to forgive all who come to Him in repentance as you look to Him to purify you from all unrighteousness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

June 16, 2019 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Living With Power!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Living With Power!

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on living with power. As I arrived at the building Monday morning to write this next prayer guide, I found that half the building had no electric power. While I was able to begin the work I wanted to do, the pace was much slower and far less productive than it is when the power is on. Fortunately, by mid morning, the power was back on and I’m back to working as I’m accustomed to. Many times, I fear, we try to live the Christian life without being fully connected to the power God offers to us through His Spirit. When we choose to live with power, we become more effective . . . not by our own strength, but by the power that dwells within. As you pray this week, ask God to help you realize when you are trying to live life in your own strength. Pray for the humility to admit your weaknesses so that God’s power can be displayed through them. Pray that your example of living in God’s power would help others turn to Him as their source of living power. Pray that you would be diligent in your practice of pointing people to Jesus when they notice the work God does through you. Pray for a spirit of unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we grow in our love for one another. Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 pray each day for God to help you live by His power and His might.

Monday: Living With Power In Weakness. Pray that you would look to God in the midst of your weaknesses so that His power can be revealed in you. Pray that you would know the grace of God, and share the grace of God with others, as His power is made perfect in you. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Tuesday: Living With the Power of the Spirit. Pray that you would continually become more attuned to the Spirit of God dwelling within you. Pray for a greater understanding of just how glorious the riches of God are in your life as they are displayed through the power of His Spirit. “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” Ephesians 3:16 (NIV)

Wednesday: Living With Mighty Power. Pray that you would know a strength in living a godly life that will only be available to you through the mighty power of God. Pray that you would be filled with courage in regard to living a Christ-like life in the midst of a world that is increasingly evil. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)

Thursday: Living With Resurrection Power. Pray that you would willingly die to self in order to know the power of living a life resurrected in Christ. Pray that the power of the resurrection would remove the fear of death from you as you claim a life in Christ that will never end. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Philippians 3:10 (NIV)

Friday: Living With Power to Suffer. Pray that you would have the courage to let Jesus be seen in you and heard from you. Pray that you would live with the power necessary to endure whatever suffering you experience because of your faith in Christ. “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.” 2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV)

Saturday: Living With Divine Power. Pray that you would always look to God for a lasting power that comes from a divine source. Pray that you would find in God the power needed to live a life of godliness and knowledge that shows you to be His own. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)

June 9, 2019 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Children of God!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Children of God!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
1 John 3:1 (NIV)

This week our prayer emphasis will focus on living as children of God. In a summer season filled with Vacation Bible Schools, graduations, and camp weeks, it is good to remember to pray for the children around us and for the child within us. Just as we expect the children around us to grow, God expects us to grow. Praying for the children around us, and even for those far away, is one of the greatest things we can do for them. As you pray this week, ask God to help you know the great value you have as His child. Pray that the children in your life would know the love of God that He lavishes on them. Pray that you would love and value children just as God does. Pray that God would mold your heart and will into that which aligns with His love and care for children. Pray for the courage to be involved in the lives of children in ways that show them the love of God. Pray about how you can serve the needs of children, both in the church gathering and in the community. Pray for a spirit of unity among brothers and sisters in Christ as we grow in our love for one another. Pray each day for the individuals of your congregation and for the body of Christ as a whole.

“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 pray each day for God to help you live as His child as you also lead children to live for Him.

Monday: Children Who Are Obedient. Pray that you would live in obedience to Christ out of love for Him and as an example to others. Pray that children would be filled with the presence of God as they put away the desires of ignorance and walk in obedience to God. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.” 1 Peter 1:14 (NIV)

Tuesday: Children Who Are Forgiven. Pray that your life would be lived in a way that reflects the forgiveness that you have received in Christ. Pray that children would know the depths of God’s forgiveness as they experience your forgiveness. Pray that God’s forgiveness of you would lead you to forgive others more. “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” 1 John 2:12 (NIV)

Wednesday: Children Who Live With Confidence. Pray that you would live life with a confidence in the future because of whose child you are. Pray that children would begin, and continue, a life in Christ so they would have a confidence in being unashamed when He returns. “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (NIV)

Thursday: Children Who Have Genuine Love. Pray that your love for others would be reflected in the things you actually do. Pray that children would see and hear in you a consistency that demonstrates through your actions both your love and God’s love for them. Pray that your expressions of love would be truthful. “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 (NIV)

Friday: Children Who Worship God Exclusively. Pray that you would be aware of the things which could easily become idols in your life so that you can avoid them. Pray that children would see in you a life that only worships God. Pray for the children who are growing in a world that is filled with people and things wanting to be worshipped. “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21 (NIV)

Saturday: Children Who Walk In Truth. Pray that you would be one that finds, and expresses, joy through walking in the truth of God’s Word. Pray that children would learn from your words and example as they find the greatest of all joys can be discovered through walking with God in truth. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4 (NIV)