Discipleship

In Christ: I Am Forgiven
by

In Christ: I Am Forgiven

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 12 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day twenty-one with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, can be forgiven.

I Am Forgiven

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.“
Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)

Is it easy or difficult for you to forgive others?  How about forgiving yourself?  Are there things that you expect from someone before you are willing to forgive them?  What role does repentance play in our forgiveness of others?  In our forgiveness from God?  Is our willingness to forgive others related to our forgiveness from God?  Should it be?

If you haven’t figured it out yet, I hate to be the one to let the cat out of the bag, but people can be mean and cruel, making it difficult to forgive them.  When that happens, it is important to remember where we were in relationship with God before we received forgiveness in Christ.  As you pray, ask God to help you to turn away from all sin in your life and seek forgiveness from Him.  Pray for the courage to forgive yourself and others with the same complete forgiveness that you have in Christ.  Pray that you would accept the repentance of others, even when it seems incomplete, with the same eagerness God accepts your repentance.  Pray that the people around you would know forgiveness.

In prayer,

Tom  

by

Encouragement & Prayer (6/23/20)

 

This is the audio from the June 23, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In prayer,
Tom

In Christ: I Am Rescued
by

In Christ: I Am Rescued

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 13 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day twenty with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have been rescued.

I Am Rescued

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.“
Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)

Have you ever found yourself in need of being rescued?  What were the circumstances?  Who would you call if you needed rescued?  Why?  Does that answer change depending on what you need rescued from?  How bad do things have to get before you ask for help?

Some years ago I found myself sitting in my car alongside the interstate late one night with steam billowing from under the hood.  I had just finished up several days of teaching and was eager to get home but here I was, stranded in an unfamiliar area and going nowhere.  Fortunately, I wasn’t far from where I had been teaching so I called the friend I had been staying with and he came to my rescue!  As you pray, consider how far from home sin has taken you in your life and thank God for His willingness to come to your rescue in Christ.  Pray that you would daily live as one who has been rescued from the dominion of darkness.  Pray that the people around you would realize their need for genuine rescue from the dominion of darkness and that they would find that rescue in Jesus.

In prayer,

Tom  

by

Encouragement & Prayer (6/22/20)

 

This is the audio from the June 22, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In prayer,
Tom

In Christ: I Can Approach God With Confidence
by

In Christ: I Can Approach God With Confidence

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 14 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day nineteen with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, can have confidence in approaching God.

I Can Approach God With Confidence

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.“
Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

How comfortable are you in going to a boss or supervisor with a request or suggestion?  What types of things would make doing so easier? . . . More difficult?  What role do relationships have in your confidence to approach someone?  How about if you take someone with you that you know is always listened to?

When you want to talk to someone in authority, it is always nice to know someone with an inside connection.  It is also good to know that the one you are approaching will actually take the time to listen.  In Christ we have One who goes with us and gives us confidence to approach a listening God!  As you pray, ask God to fill you with faith in Jesus.  Pray that your faith in Jesus would give you the confidence to approach God as you offer yourself fully to Him.  Pray that your relationship with Jesus would help you to trust in a loving God that longs for you to come to Him with all of your praise, requests, and needs.  Pray that those around you would look to Jesus for a confidence in approaching God.

In prayer,

Tom  

by

Encouragement & Prayer (6/21/20)

 

This is the audio from the June 21, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In prayer,
Tom

In Christ: I Have Access To the Father
by

In Christ: I Have Access To the Father

It is always good to be reminded of who we are in Christ, especially when we find ourselves living in a world filled with chaos and confusion.  Over the next 15 days I will be sharing the devotions from my book, “In Christ Alone”.  Each devotion is designed to help us look to Christ for our identity in the midst of a myriad of sources trying to define who we are.

Here is day eighteen with an important reminder that in Christ you, and those around you, have access to the Father.

I Have Access To the Father

“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.  For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.“
Ephesians 2:17-18 (NIV)

Have you ever tried to reach the top of a company’s chain of command in order to resolve a problem?  How easy has that been?  Did you wish you had an inside connection that would give you access to the top?  In your life, how accessible has your father been to you?  If you’re a parent, how accessible are you to your children?  Would they agree?

When things don’t go exactly as we had hoped or planned, most of us long for direct access to the person who can make things right.  In my life there are many times when things don’t go as I planned so it is comforting to know that in Christ I have access to the Father!  As you pray, thank God for the access you have to Him and ask that He would help you to maintain your side of that communication.  Pray that you would always value the access you have to God through Christ and never forget that the same access is available in Christ for all who would accept it.  Pray that you would always trust the counsel of the Father as you go to Him about everything.

In prayer,

Tom  

by

Encouragement & Prayer (6/20/20)

 

This is the audio from the June 20, 2020 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

You can find the live video feeds of these encouragement and prayer times on Impact Prayer Ministry’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In prayer,
Tom