Lifestyle of Prayer: Loving With Truth!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Loving With Truth!

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on loving with truth as we continue a series about being loved by Jesus so we can love like Jesus.  When we know the truth of God’s Word, we are prepared to speak that truth to others.  Truth is important to God and therefore ought to be important to us as his children.  The way we love people, especially those who may be labeled by society as outcasts, ought to be centered in the truth of God’s love for them.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow into a fullness of His truth.  Pray that the truth of God’s love for you would fully shape the way you love others.  Pray that you would not sacrifice truth to the gods of convenience, expediency, favor, or political correctness.  In living and speaking truth, pray that you would always do so in love.

“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’s help in loving people with truth.

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:  Speaking Truth.  Pray that your love for God and people would guide the way you speak truth.  Pray that you would be one who always speaks truth because that is what resides within you.  Pray that the people around you would know God’s love through the truth you speak.  “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?  He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.”  Psalm 15:1-2 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Learning Truth.  Pray that you would be a continual student of God’s Word as you learn truth from Him on a daily basis.  Pray that the truth you learn from God’s Word would guide your love for all people.  “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”  Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Walking in Truth.  Pray that you would be known by the people around you as one who walks in truth no matter what.  Pray that a continual awareness of how God views your life would help you to be faithful to Him as ’the Way, the Truth, and the Life”.  “Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.”  Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)

Thursday:  Protected by Truth.  Pray that you would know the protection of having your life centered in the truth of God.  Pray that the truth of God’s mercy would direct the way you love others with mercy.  Pray that God’s protection would be known by those who experience His mercy through you.  “Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.”  Psalm 40:11 (NIV)

Friday:  Guided by Truth.  Pray that you would seek God’s truth for your source of guidance in all things.  Pray that your love for others would be guided by the truth of God’s love for them.  Pray that God’s love through you would guide others to Him.  “Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.”  Psalm 43:3 (NIV)

Saturday:  Judged in Truth.  Pray that you are always prepared by the blood of Jesus to be judged in truth by God.  Pray that your love for people would lead you to be truthful with them about the day of God’s judgment.  Pray that the judgments you make about others would be truthful.  “They will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth.  He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.”  Psalm 96:13 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Loving the Overlooked!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Loving the Overlooked!

“A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.”
Luke 19:2-3 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will begin a series about being loved by Jesus so we can love like Jesus.  We’ll begin with a look at Zacchaeus and pray about how to love the overlooked . . . even when the overlooked just might be you.  Whether you feel overlooked because of your physical characteristics or the labels you wear, Jesus notices you and loves you.  When we love like Jesus, we pay attention to those that the world overlooks.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you know just how much you are noticed and loved by Him.  Pray that you would pay attention to the people around you who feel like the world has passed them by.  Pray that your eyes would always be open to the opportunities to share God’s love with others.  Pray for a heart that loves people in the same way that God loves you.

“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’s help in loving people who are overlooked.

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: The Overlooked You Pass By.  Pray that you would not be so focused on your destination that you miss the people who are along the way.  Pray that you would see your journey in life as a series of opportunities to love people.  Pray for a heart that loves people in all places where you encounter them.  “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.”  Luke 19:1 (NIV)

Tuesday: The Overlooked Who Are Seeking.  Pray that you would do whatever it takes to see Jesus at work around you.  Pray that the people around you would long to know Jesus.  Pray that you would learn to love everyone who might be in the process of seeking Jesus.  “So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.”  Luke 19:4 (NIV)

Wednesday: The Overlooked Who Are Noticed.  Pray that you would be confident of the gaze of Jesus directed toward you even when you feel overlooked by people.  Pray that God’s love in you would notice and include those who have been overlooked by others.  “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’”  Luke 19:5 (NIV)

Thursday: The Overlooked Who Are Labeled.  Pray that you would know the love of God regardless of the labels others might put on you.  Pray that your love for people would overcome the stereotypes and prejudices that tend to label people.  Pray that you would see beyond the labels that others have been tagged with.  “All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a “sinner.”'”  Luke 19:7 (NIV)

Friday: The Overlooked Who Are Repentant.  Pray for the courage to realize when your own actions have caused others to overlook you.  Pray for a life which reflects the actions that come from a repentant heart.  Pray that you would love those who you have wronged and those who have wronged you.  “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”  Luke 19:8 (NIV)

Saturday:  The Overlooked Who Are Lost.  Pray that you would know the love of God which sought you when you were lost.  Pray that you would live with a compassion for the lost that seeks to share God’s love with them.  Pray that you would not lose hope for yourself, or for others, as you consider God’s desire that all would be saved.  “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”  Luke 19:10 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: The Courage To Finish Well!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

The Courage To Finish Well!

“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.”
Revelation 3:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on having the courage to finish well!  Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of counting the costs of following Him so that we would complete the journey of life with Him.  While starting is important, beginning without finishing will accomplish very little.  Sometimes the finishing can be about us staying with a task without giving up, but often it has more to do with us staying connected to God so that He can finish His work in us.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you see any areas of life where He would consider your deeds to be incomplete.  Pray that you would count the costs of being a disciple and ask for God’s help to complete your journey with Christ.  Pray that God’s Spirit would continually make you complete as you serve God and people.  Pray that you would be strengthened, and that God would use you to help strengthen others, so that the body of Christ would be made more complete because of your presence.

“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’s help in living with the courage to finish well.

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: Finish With Joy.  Pray that you would follow Jesus in a way that His teachings would fill you with a joy that is complete.  Pray that you would hold fast to the teachings of Jesus in order to share them with others so that their joy would also be made complete.  “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  John 15:11 (NIV)

Tuesday: Finish With Unity.  Pray that the presence of Jesus in your life would bring you to a unity in Him that would produce unity within the body of Christ.  Pray that the love of Jesus expressed to you would lead you to love others in a way that promotes greater unity.  “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  John 17:23 (NIV)

Wednesday: Finish With Knowledge.  Pray that the goodness of God within you would help you to be complete in a knowledge that is helpful to others.  Pray that you would see yourself and others as being competent to instruct because of a knowledge that comes from God.  “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”  Romans 15:14 (NIV)

Thursday: Finish  With Confidence.  Pray that you would live in such a way that others would have complete confidence in you even as you are confident in them.  Pray that your life and faith would be based on being completely confident in God and the work Jesus accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection.  “I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.”  2 Corinthians 7:16 (NIV)

Friday: Finish With Obedience.  Pray that you would continually grow in Christ with a desire to be completely obedient to Him.  Pray that your complete obedience would be even more of a priority to you before you would start to address the obedience of others.  “And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.”  2 Corinthians 10:6 (NIV)

Saturday:  Finish With Humility.  Pray that you would seek God’s help in removing pride from your life so that your humility would be complete.  Pray that godly love would be the foundation of humility in your life as you interact with others.  Pray that you would grow in humility all of your days.  “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”  Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Courageous Motives!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Courageous 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.  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.

“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’s help in living with pure and courageous motives.

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:  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)

Lifestyle of Prayer: A Place of Belonging!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

A Place of Belonging!

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” 
Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Our prayer emphasis this week will return to a previous prayer focus on having a place where we belong.  Most of us have times in our life when we struggle with feelings of not fitting in or knowing where we belong.  The enemy is good at creating division and feelings of exclusion, but God has a lot to say about where we belong as His children.  To all who feel pushed aside and excluded by those who feel they are more important, Jesus calls us to come to Him and know that we belong in His kingdom.  As you pray this week, pray that your sense of belonging would be restored and refreshed as you approach God with the heart and faith of a child.  Pray about how you view others, especially those who are different from you in some way, and ask God to help you value the way He has made them.  Pray that God would use you to help others know that they too belong.  Pray that the church gathering you participate in would always be a place where all who approach God in spirit and in truth can belong.

“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’s help in knowing that you belong.

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: Belonging to Jesus Christ.  Pray that you would recognize the value you have as one who has been called to belong to Jesus.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who belongs to Christ.  Pray for the courage to help others have a desire to belong to Jesus.  “And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”  Romans 1:6 (NIV)

Tuesday: Belonging to One Another.  Pray that you would live as a valuable part of the body of Christ as you belong to one another.  Pray that you would value others as a member of the body you are a part of.  Pray for the humility needed to practice this reciprocal belonging to one another.  “So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”  Romans 12:5

Wednesday: Belonging to the Lord.  Pray that your life would be lived for the Lord in all that you do.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who belongs to the Lord.  Pray for the wisdom to help other see how they can belong to the Lord.  “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”  Romans 14:8 (NIV)

Thursday: Belonging to the Day.  Pray that your actions would express to others that you belong to the day because you have put aside the deeds of darkness.  Pray that the people around you would know you as one who is self-controlled.  “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”  1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV)

Friday: Belonging to God.  Pray that you would declare the praises of God as you live as one who has been chosen to belong to Him.  Pray that the people around you would hear from you how belonging to God has transformed your life.  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Saturday:  Belonging to the Truth.  Pray that your heart would be at rest as you belong to the truth.  Pray that the people around you would know rest through an acceptance of the truth.  Pray for discernment to share truth in ways that help others find  peace and rest in Christ.  “This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.”  1 John 3:19 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Claiming God’s Promises!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Claiming God’s Promises!

“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)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on claiming some of the promises of God.  Promises in the Bible can be difficult for many people to grasp.  Sometimes we tend to define the promise according to our understanding and what we want.  When God promises comfort, how often do we want it to mean we would never experience a pain that would require His comfort?  Even if we understand the nature of the promise accurately, we often expect the promise to be fulfilled in keeping with our timetable rather than God’s.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you grow in your understanding of His “great and precious” promises.  Pray that you would hold fast to His promises, especially when it takes longer for them to be fulfilled than what you would like.  Pray for the heart, mind, and eyes to see how God has not only extended His promises to you, but calls you to share in extending His promises to others.

“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’s help in recognizing and claiming God’s promises.

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:  Promised Peace.  Pray that you would listen to God and find a peace in Him that the world cannot take away.  Pray that you would hold on to God’s promise of peace in the midst of trouble.  Pray that you would share God’s peace with others as you fully reject a life built on folly.  “I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints — but let them not return to folly.”  Psalm 85:8 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Promised Salvation.  Pray that you would know the unfailing love of God that gives the promise of salvation that is based on His goodness.  Pray about how God would have you love others in a way that reflects His love.  Pray that you would share with others about the salvation God has brought to you as you live for Him.  “May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise.”  Psalm 119:41 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Promised Graciousness.  Pray that you would know the graciousness of God as you seek Him with a whole heart.  Pray with thanksgiving for the many ways God extends His grace to you.  Pray that you would learn to be gracious with others as you realize how much you experience the graciousness of God’s promises to you.  “I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.”  Psalm 119:58 (NIV)

Thursday:  Promised Comfort.  Pray that a recognition of God’s unfailing love would comfort you in your times of greatest pain.  Pray that you would always seek God to be your comfort.  Pray that you would be obedient in comforting others with the comfort God has given you according to His promises.  “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”  Psalm 119:76 (NIV)

Friday:  Promised Deliverance.  Pray that you would always turn to God as the one who can meet your needs “according to His riches in glory.”  Pray that you would fully consider how God has delivered you as you share His promises of deliverance to the people around you.  “May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.”  Psalm 119:170 (NIV)

Saturday:  Promised Eternal Life.  Pray that you would always hold fast to the greatest promise of God — eternal life through Jesus Christ.  Pray that you would have the courage to speak boldly with others about eternal life as a promise which we can hold on to because the One who promises is faithful.  “And this is what he promised us — even eternal life.”  1 John 2:25 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Courageous Victory!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Courageous Victory!

“But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  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 15:57-58 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is on not just the eternal victory we have in Christ, but how we ought to live victorious lives each day.  Yes, there are losses that may be noticeable but they don’t have to define us.  Loss of people.  Loss of influence.  Loss of finances.  Loss of freedoms.  Loss of peace.  Loss of joy.  The list could go on, but the point is that when we focus on the losses, we tend to forget that God has already declared us victorious and calls us to live like victors!  As you pray, ask God to help you always remember the victory you have in Christ.  Pray that you would live as one who has claimed the victory that God desires to give His children.  Pray for the courage to see God’s victory even when circumstances seem to be against you.  Pray for the strength to overcome the losses of this life as you keep your mind and eyes focused on the real victory.

“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’s help in having courageous victory.

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:  Victory For the Faithful.  Pray that you would cling to the victory that awaits those who walk in blameless ways.  Pray that God would guard your path as you walk in faithfulness to Him.  “He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”  Proverbs 2:7-8 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Victory Through Wise Counsel.  Pray that you would live victoriously because of the quality of counsel you surround yourself with.  Pray that you would always seek advice from God first and be sure your human advisers give godly advice.  Pray that the counsel you give others would always be based on God’s Word.  “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.”  Proverbs 11:14 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Victory By the Lord.  Pray that you would live with an understanding of where true victory comes from.  Pray that your preparations for battle would always understand that it is the Lord who will be able to give victory.  Pray that you would help others know about the God who gives victory.  “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.”  Proverbs 21:31 (NIV)

Thursday:  Victory For Justice.  Pray that your hope for justice that prevails would rest fully in Jesus.  Pray that your life would reflect the heart of Jesus as you seek victory for justice.  Pray for godly wisdom in doing your part to make things right when you have been wrong.  “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.  In his name the nations will put their hope.”  Matthew 12:20-21 (NIV) 

Friday:  Victory Over Death.  Pray that you would live a life that reflects your knowledge that the power of death has been defeated.  Pray that you would be able to grieve as one with great hope, knowing that the victory over death has been won by Jesus.  “Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?”  1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV)

Saturday:  Victory That Overcomes the World.  Pray that you would live each day with a faith that overcomes.  Pray that the appearance of success in the world would not distract you from true victory that is found through faith in Christ.  Pray for courage in the way you represent godly victory to the people around you so they too would overcome.  “Everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”  1 John 5:4 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: Courageous Discernment!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

Courageous Discernment!

“Who is wise? He will realize these things.  Who is discerning? He will understand them.  The ways of the LORD are right;  the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”
Hosea 14:9 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about living with courageous discernment.  Not everything is always as it first appears and there are many who attempt to deliberately deceive for a variety of reasons.  Discernment is the quality necessary to live in the world between “everything is permissible” and “not everything is beneficial”.  Discernment is a gift from God that helps us to live in the freedom of doing what benefits others according to their need.  As you pray this week, ask God to fill you with a discernment that gives you a greater understanding of His righteous ways.  Pray that discernment would help you to choose the best — not only over what is bad, but perhaps more importantly, over what is simply “good enough”.  Pray that you would seek wisdom from God in all situations so that you would not be easily deceived.  Pray that your response to deception would always be one of integrity on your part.

“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’s help in having courageous discernment.

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:  Discernment to Understand God’s Laws.  Pray that you would serve God with discernment in order to understand how He works through His laws.  Pray that you would always live with discernment as a servant of God.  Pray for the discernment needed to accurately share the beauty of God’s laws with others.  “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”  Psalm 119:125 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Discernment to Guide Your Understanding.  Pray for discernment to find God’s guidance in understanding the proverbs and parables of the Bible.  Pray that your discernment would lead to knowing and practicing the truth found in the sayings of the wise.  “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance — for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.”  Proverbs 1:5-6 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Discernment that Leads to Life.  Pray that you would hold onto the discernment that comes from sound judgment.  Pray that you would wear discernment in a way that brings life to you and to those around you.  “My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.”  Proverbs 3:21-22 (NIV)

Thursday:  Discernment that Leads to Wise Instruction.  Pray for a heart of wisdom that would lead to you being known as discerning.  Pray that you would always follow God’s leading in your pursuit of instruction.  Pray for the discernment needed to share pleasant words that lead to the instruction of those who hear.  “The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.”  Proverbs 16:21 (NIV)

Friday:  Discernment that Seeks True Knowledge.  Pray that the discernment you seek from God would lead to actual knowledge.  Pray that you would have “wise ears” that seek out the knowledge that comes through godly discernment.  Pray that your life would share godly knowledge with others.  “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.”  Proverbs 18:15 (NIV)

Saturday:  Discernment that Leads to What is Best.  Pray that you would live with a discernment that comes from an abundance of love.  Pray that you would allow godly discernment to lead you in doing what is best in all things.  “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.”  Philippians 1:9-10 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: The Courage To Overcome!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

The Courage To Overcome!

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus will take another look at some things God calls His children to overcome.  While we may want a life of ease and comfort, Jesus says that life as a follower of Him will be filled with trouble, misunderstandings, and even persecution.  While that is not news that anyone really wants to hear, Jesus also tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  When John wrote the messages from Jesus to the seven churches that we read of early in the book of Revelation, He ends each message with a promise for those who overcome.  As you pray this week, ask God to empower you to be an overcomer.  Pray that you would recognize, and overcome, the power of sin.  Pray that you would recognize, and value, what awaits those who overcome.  Pray that you would face whatever hardship comes your way with the courage that comes from knowing the crown of life is given to those who overcome.

“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’s help in having the courage to overcome.

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:  Overcome Death.  Pray that you would listen to the message of God’s Spirit as He calls you to overcome in a way that gives victory over death.  Pray that you would live with great hope as one who will overcome death by the power of Jesus.  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”  Revelation 2:11 (NIV)

Tuesday:  Overcome the Past.  Pray that you would feast on the spiritual manna and rejoice in a new name that frees you from the past.  Pray that your eyes would be open to the power of God to help anyone overcome their past.  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”  Revelation 2:17 (NIV)

Wednesday:  Overcome Oppression.  Pray that you would be faithful in doing God’s will as He empowers you to overcome oppression with His authority. Pray for the courage to remain faithful in the midst of any opposition.  “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations — ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’ — just as I have received authority from my Father.”  Revelation 2:26-27 (NIV)

Thursday:  Overcome Abandonment.  Pray that you would overcome in a way that gives you a permanent place of belonging with those who are pure.  Pray that your life would help others know they can have a place of belonging.  “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.”  Revelation 3:5 (NIV) 

Friday:  Overcome Wandering.  Pray that you would find a place of belonging in the temple of God so you would have no need to wander away from Him.  “He who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.”  Revelation 3:12 (NIV)

Saturday:  Overcome Weariness.  Pray that you would overcome everything that would keep you from being able to sit and rest at the throne of Jesus.  Pray for the courage needed to find rest in Jesus even as you live in a world filled with trouble.  “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.”  Revelation 3:21 (NIV)

Lifestyle of Prayer: A Courageous Way!

“A Lifestyle of Prayer”

A Courageous Way!

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.  ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth,  so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” 
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

With a continued focus on a time for courage, this week we will focus our prayer emphasis on our ways.  The Bible makes it clear that each one of us has a way that seems right to us, but it is only God’s way that leads to life.  When we accept God’s ways as being far above our own ways, we begin a journey that leads us in a way which is eternal.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you examine your ways to see how much of them are of you and how much are of Him.  Pray that you would continually grow in accepting and living by God’s ways in all things.  Pray for the humility needed to admit when your ways are in error so that you would turn to the ways of God.  Pray that the way you live your life would help others clearly see Jesus at work in you.

“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’s help in living with in a courageous way.

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: A Perfect Way.  Pray that you would find the strength from God to walk in a way He has made perfect.  Pray that you would live with the courage to pursue a way that is perfect by God’s standard.  Pray that your life would help others to know the way of God to be perfect in all situations.  “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” 2 Samuel 22:33 (NIV)

Tuesday: A Guided Way.  Pray for the humility needed to look for, and see, the right way in every circumstance.  Pray that you would be a willing learner when it comes to knowing and following the way of God.  Pray that your life would help others see the value of a life guided by God and His Word.  “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Wednesday: A Blameless Way.  Pray that you would know the blessings of living in a way in which the accusations of the enemy do not stick to you.  Pray for a growing understanding of the Word of God which will lead you in living a blameless life.  Pray that the people around you would be blessed in their pursuit of a blameless life.  “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.”  Psalm 119:1 (NIV)

Thursday: An Excellent Way.  Pray that your pursuit of the good things of God would always lead you to the most excellent way of doing everything.  Pray that your life would reflect God’s love as the most excellent way to live.  Pray that your love for God and for others could be described as excellent.  “But eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And now I will show you the most excellent way.”  1 Corinthians 12:31 (NIV)

Friday: A Wise Way.  Pray for wisdom, especially in regard to the way you treat those who are not yet believers in Jesus.  Pray for the wisdom necessary to see the opportunities in both expected and unexpected circumstances.  Pray that the wisdom given to you by God would be used to represent Jesus in everything.  “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”  Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

Saturday:  A Peaceful Way.  Pray that you would know the peace of God which can only come through relationship with Him.  Pray for a heart which can see a way of peace in all situations.  Pray that you would live in a way that conveys peace to those who are living in turmoil.  “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”  2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)