May 20, 2018 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Acceptable Offerings!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Acceptable Offerings!

“You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about offerings which are acceptable to God. For most people, the mind automatically turns to thoughts of money when someone mentions an offering. Yet God’s view of an acceptable offering, while including money and possessions, goes way beyond financial giving. Because God examines the heart, every offering we make is seen by Him according to our motives rather than by its appearance alone. When we first offer ourselves fully to God, the rest of the offerings we make can become spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to Him. As you pray this week, examine both the motives and actions of your offerings to God and to others. Pray that your offerings would always honor Jesus and be acceptable to God. Pray that your acceptable offerings would be expressed in all of the ways you give. Pray that your priorities in life would be seen in the offerings you make. Pray that you would always allow God to define that which is acceptable. 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 offer to Him, and others, what is acceptable.

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 me (Tom Lemler) and the work of Impact Prayer Ministry.

Monday: An Offering of Trust. Pray that a trust of God would allow you to offer sacrifices that are acceptable to Him. Pray that your offering of trust would begin with God and extend to the people He brings into your life. “Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.” Psalm 4:5 (NIV)

Tuesday: An Offering of Yourself. Pray that you would offer yourself to God as an act of worship. Pray that God’s mercy shown to you would lead you to be a living sacrifice. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1 (NIV)

Wednesday: An Offering of Sacrificial Gifts. Pray for a willingness to sacrifice of yourself in order to meet the needs of others. Pray that your giving to others would be done in a way that pleases God. “I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Philippians 4:18 (NIV)

Thursday: An Offering of Praise. Pray that you would live a life that fully expresses the praise that God deserves. Pray that your praise of God would flow from a heart that continually confesses the name of Jesus in all you do. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that confess his name.” Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)

Friday: An Offering of Prayer. Ask God to help you view even your prayers for others as an offering that is acceptable to Him. Pray that you would be ready, willing, and diligent in offering prayers to God on behalf of others. “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” James 5:15 (NIV)

Saturday: An Offering of Hospitality. Pray that you would be hospitable to others as you care for their needs above your own. Pray that God would give you a proper attitude in your acts of hospitality. Pray that your caring for others would be an acceptable offering to God. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Watch Your Mouth!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Watch Your Mouth!

“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Psalm 141:3 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our mouth. As I sat with God to determine a topic for the prayer guide for Mother’s Day week, this “mom phrase” came to mind — “Watch Your Mouth!” Since it’s not just a “mom phrase” but was first wise instruction from God, we will spend the week praying about how we use the words which come from our mouth. God wants to be the guard over our mouth, not just to filter the words we use but to also be the filter to the manner in which we speak. The words that we use, the manner in which we use them, and even the words that we don’t use can be very helpful or very hurtful to others. As you pray this week, ask God to give you the self-control and courage necessary to live with a guarded mouth. Pray that you would seek God’s help in determining the words you use and the way you use them. Pray for the wisdom to not only know when and what to speak, but to also know when to be silent and listen. Pray that the way you use your mouth would always be a reflection of Christ that welcomes others to Him. 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 guard your words.

Monday: Use Words That Please God. Pray that God would help you see how your thoughts influence the words you use. Pray that both your thoughts and words would always be pleasing to God. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Tuesday: Use Words That Are Wise and Just. Pray that the righteousness you have in Christ would produce words that contain godly wisdom. Pray that you would use words which are right and just. “The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.” Psalm 37:30 (NIV)

Wednesday: Use Words of Praise. Pray that you would use your mouth to declare praise of God. Pray that you mouth would be opened by God to declare His praise at every opportunity. Pray that your words would make known the worthiness of God to receive all praise. “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” Psalm 51:15 (NIV)

Thursday: Use Words of Prayer. Ask God to help you use words of prayer when you open your mouth to talk about others. Pray that you words of prayer would be heard by God as you express them day and night. Ask God to help you have a heart that desires to spend time in communication with Him. “Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.” Psalm 54:2 (NIV)

Friday: Use Words of Salvation. Pray that the salvation you have in Christ would be made known by the words you use. Pray that you would continually talk about the righteousness and salvation of God even when you only know of them in part. “My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.” Psalm 71:15 (NIV)

Saturday: Use Words That Are True. Pray that you would always evaluate your words for truth and only speak what is both true and helpful. Pray that your disdain for wickedness would apply not just to others, but also to the words you use. Pray that a desire for righteousness would guard your mouth from speaking things which are false. “My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.” Proverbs 8:7 (NIV)

May 6, 2018 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Established Work!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Established Work!

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us —
yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Psalm 90:17 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about how we work . . . or at least about how we ought to work. Many times people think of work itself as being part of the curse of sin, but God placed mankind in the garden with work to do from the very beginning. Sin complicated the work process and added much difficulty to it, but God created us with a need for meaningful work and for times of rest. Sometimes, though, it is so easy to get caught up in the world’s idea of meaningful work that we miss the work God wants us to do — work that is worthy of being established by Him. When we commit ourselves to the work God would have us to do, we can count on Him establishing the work of our hands in a way that lasts beyond this lifetime. As you pray this week, ask God to help you consider the value of the work He has created you to do. Pray that you would know the difference between work the world may value and work that will bear eternal fruit. Pray that God would establish the work of your hands because it is Him working through you. 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 view work from His perspective.

Monday: Work That Helps Others. Pray for wisdom in how to make your work be a benefit to others. Pray that you would experience the blessing of helping others through the work you do. “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:35 (NIV)

Tuesday: Work That Is Not In Vain. Pray that you would work in a manner that shows you know it is the Lord you are working for. Pray that you would have a confidence in knowing your work is important because you are doing it for the Lord. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Wednesday: Work That Builds Up The Body. Pray that you would be faithful in doing the work God has given, and created you, to do. Pray that you would be involved in building up the body of Christ through the work you do. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)

Thursday: Work That Wins Respect. Pray that you would work in a way that would gain the respect of others. Pray that your work would help others see how God provides for your needs. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)

Friday: Work That Is Noble. Pray that you would allow God to fully cleanse you so the work you do can be for noble purposes. Pray that you would be useful to the Master as you do the good work He has created for you. “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)

Saturday: Work Together For Truth. Pray that your work would always be done in cooperation with those who seek truth. Pray that you would be known as one who works together with others for truth. “We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.” 3 John 1:8 (NIV)

April 29, 2018 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Pray!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Pray!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to pray! I suppose it may seem a bit strange at first to pray about praying, but if prayer is as central in our life as it ought to be then we ought to be talking with God and seeking His help in this area. I suspect one of the big reasons we need to seek God’s help in our prayer life is the command to “devote yourselves to prayer”. If God had said to simply pray when you feel like it or when it’s convenient, most of us could handle that. But devoting ourselves to prayer is an entirely different task. When we go to God about our prayer life, we open our self up to His instruction and guidance in the way we relate to Him. As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine just how devoted to prayer you are. Pray that you would understand your need for God’s help in this part of your relationship with Him — as in all other parts. Pray that you would be always watchful and thankful as you pray — both qualities that will require God’s help. Pray that your relationship with God would grow as your devotion to prayer grows. 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 pray as you ought.

Monday: Pray Earnestly. Ask God to help you pray earnestly for those whose situations may seem hopeless. Pray that you would be serious in the content of your prayers and in the expectation that God will act for the good of His children. Ask God to help you always keep on praying without giving up. “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” Acts 12:5 (NIV)

Tuesday: Pray With Joy. Ask God to fill you with joy about Him and about those you pray for. Pray that your joy would be expressed, and even increased, because of the way you pray for all of those around you. Pray that you would live in such a way that others would be filled with joy in their prayers for you. “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.” Philippians 1:4 (NIV)

Wednesday: Pray For Restoration. Ask God to help you notice those who are distant and need to be restored. Pray that you would not only be restored to God, but that you would seek God’s help in seeing people restored to one another. Pray about specific individuals and situations in which you need to be restored. “I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.” Hebrews 13:19 (NIV)

Thursday: Pray During Times of Trouble. Ask God to help you look to him in times of trouble — whether it is trouble you face or trouble those around you experience. Pray that you would know the praise of peace that comes to those who seek God in times of trouble. Pray for the courage to have others pray for you during times of trouble. “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 5:13 (NIV)

Friday: Pray With a Clear Mind. Ask God to help you overcome distractions that keep you from praying as you ought. Pray that you would recognize in the brevity of life the importance of praying with a clear mind and with self control. “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” 1 Peter 4:7 (NIV)

Saturday: Pray In the Holy Spirit. Ask God to make you more aware of His Spirit’s presence in your life as you pray. Pray that your faith would be built up as you allow God’s Spirit to intercede for you when it seems your words of prayer are inadequate. “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” Jude 1:20 (NIV)

April 22, 2018 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Be Perfect!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Be Perfect!

“If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:46-48 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about God’s desire that we be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. I suspect many have heard the instruction of Jesus calling us to be perfect, but have we really considered the context in which it is given? For many, the pursuit of perfection seems to center around our self and/or our accomplishments. We aim and we fall short, causing us to doubt if this command of Jesus is even possible. In fact, we excuse it away with the statement that “no one is perfect except Jesus.” Yet rather than a focus on us, Jesus puts the emphasis on how we relate to others when it comes to the perfection He desires in us. As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine both how and who you love. Pray that your interactions with others, all others, would display a perfection that reflects the interaction God has with you. Pray for the courage to reach beyond, over, and through the walls you have created between you and others. 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 give you the wisdom, courage, and strength to be perfect in the things God would want us to excel in.

Monday: Perfect In Christ. Pray that you would know and teach Christ as the only way to be made perfect. Pray that the way you interact with all people would reflect a perfection that comes from Christ. “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” Colossians 1:28 (NIV)

Tuesday: Perfect In Weakness. Pray that you would learn to accept your weakness as a way for God’s power to be made perfect in you. Pray that you would live in a way that connects others to the strength that can be found in Christ. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

Wednesday: Perfect In Unity. Pray that you would pursue life with others in a way that is held together by godly love. Pray for an understanding of how God’s love in and through you can hold people together in perfect unity. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:14 (NIV)

Thursday: Perfect In Faith. Pray for the courage to allow God to perfect your faith when you are filled with doubt. Pray that the knowledge of all Christ endured would fill you with confidence in His ability to perfect your faith. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

Friday: Perfect In Speech. Pray that God would place a guard upon your words so that you would not stumble nor cause others to stumble. Pray that your interactions with others would be marked by speech which is made perfect in Christ. “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” James 3:2 (NIV)

Saturday: Perfect In Love. Pray that you would know the freedom from fear that comes through perfect love. Pray that your interactions with all people would take place in an environment of perfect love that has come from God. “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 (NIV)

April 15, 2018 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Hold On!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Hold On!

“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 3:11 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to hold on to what we have in Christ. Throughout life, having something to hold on to is important, but only to the extent that what you are clinging to is solid and secure. When we hold on to the things of God, we can be confident that we have a grasp on the firmest foundation of all. Not only is Christ the most solid thing we could ever find to hold on to, our attempts to hold on to Him are always exceeded by the strength and surety of His grasp on us. As you pray this week, spend time considering what it is you are really holding on to. Pray that you would live with confidence as you look toward the return of Christ. Pray that you would hold firmly to the things you have in Christ so that no one, or nothing, can take them from you. Pray for the courage to let go of the things you shouldn’t be holding on to. Pray for the wisdom to know the difference between that which is truly solid and that which isn’t. Pray that you would encourage others to hold on to the things of greatest value as they observe Christ at work in your life. 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 give you the wisdom, courage, and strength to hold on to the things that come from Him.

Monday: Hold On To God. Pray that above all else you would hold on to the Lord as your God. Pray that your experience with God in the past would encourage you to hold even more firmly to Him today. Pray that you would be certain of God’s hold on you as you hold on to Him. “But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.” Joshua 23:8 (NIV)

Tuesday: Hold On To God’s Laws. Pray that you would have a love for God’s commands that cause you to hold fast to them at all times. Pray that you would avoid shame, both now and at Christ’s return, as you hold on to the statutes of God. “I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD; do not let me be put to shame.” Psalm 119:31 (NIV)

Wednesday: Hold On To Instruction. Pray that you would not only be inclined to receiving instruction, but that you would hold on to it. Pray that the instruction that you receive from God through His Spirit and His Word would always be guarded as it becomes the foundation for life. “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” Proverbs 4:13 (NIV)

Thursday: Hold On To What is Good. Pray that you would have the wisdom to know good from evil so that you can hold on to that which is good. Pray for the courage to not only avoid evil, but to accurately test all that presents itself as good. “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (NIV)

Friday: Hold On To Hope & Courage. Pray that you would know the faithfulness of Christ as you hold on to the hope you have in Him. Pray that you would know the courage necessary to live as one who belongs to the household of God. “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” Hebrews 3:6 (NIV)

Saturday: Hold On To the End. Pray that you would not become weary in holding on to all that you have in Christ. Pray that the promise of Christ’s return will strengthen your resolve to hold on to the end. Pray that the things you are holding on to would be the things that will matter when Jesus returns. “Only hold on to what you have until I come.” Revelation 2:25 (NIV)

April 8, 2018 by Tom

Lifestyle of Prayer: Renewed!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

This week’s prayer focus: Renewed!

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about being renewed. Even after we have received new life in Christ, we have times when we “grow tired and weary”. It is in these times we have God’s promise that we can be renewed as we put our hope in Him. As we live our life in Christ, He desires to renew us in every way possible. When we stumble and fall, we can be picked up by God and set on the right path again. Our hope in God is not in vain when we allow Him to renew us through all of our weaknesses into His strength. As you pray this week, ask God to help you recognize and admit where you are weak. Pray that you would fully place your hope in Him so that you would be renewed. Pray that even your faith would be renewed in times when it becomes weak. Pray that God’s renewal in your life would lead you to greater endurance as you live each day for Him. 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 continually renew you through all the times you grow weary and/or stumble and fall.

Monday: Renewed After Death. Pray that you would live this life with an eye toward an eternal renewal that is to come. Pray that the promise of being renewed after death would give you great hope in the midst of the difficult days of life. “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come.” Job 14:14 (NIV)

Tuesday: Renewed In Spirit. Pray that the pure heart God creates in you would renew you spirit each day. Pray for a patient endurance that comes from a renewed spirit within. Pray that the people around you would see a purity in you that comes from a renewed spirit. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

Wednesday: Renewed In Mind. Pray that your mind would be guarded from conforming to the patterns of this world. Pray for a submissive spirit that allows a renewed mind to transform your thoughts and actions. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Thursday: Renewed Each Day. Pray that the things God is renewing within you each day would be enough to help you through any circumstances. Pray that this daily renewal would keep you from losing heart and giving up. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

Friday: Renewed In Truth. Pray that your speaking, and listening, to truth would renew within you a knowledge that is from God. Pray that you would know the truth of God’s renewal in your life even as you live as a new creation. “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

Saturday: Renewed By the Holy Spirit. Pray that you would know the true source of God’s Spirit in any lasting renewal. Pray that you would experience a renewal by the Holy Spirit because of God’s mercy in your life. “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5 (NIV)