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This is the audio from the May 16, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about overcoming despair or feelings of being “downcast”.  I found it interesting that a word search of the NIV found few uses of the word despair, but plenty of examples of people who, in their despair, cried out to God.  Often they are described as being “downcast”, which I believe is an accurate term in describing despair.  Whatever the cause of our despair, God wants us to overcome it through His presence and the power of His Spirit within us.  This week we will consider some Bible characters who were feeling downcast and learn from their situations some keys in overcoming despair.

“Eli answered, ‘Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.’  She said, ‘May your servant find favor in your eyes.’ Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.”
1 Samuel 1:17-18 (NIV)

As you pray, consider God’s desire for you to overcome feelings of being downcast.  Pray that you would be diligent in going to God in prayer during times of despair.  Pray that God’s faithfulness in answering prayer would lift you from your despair.

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

In prayer,
Tom

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This is the audio from the May 15, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:5 (NIV)

This week’s prayer focus is about overcoming despair or feelings of being “downcast”.  I found it interesting that a word search of the NIV found few uses of the word despair, but plenty of examples of people who, in their despair, cried out to God.  Often they are described as being “downcast”, which I believe is an accurate term in describing despair.  Whatever the cause of our despair, God wants us to overcome it through His presence and the power of His Spirit within us.  This week we will consider some Bible characters who were feeling downcast and learn from their situations some keys in overcoming despair.  As you pray, consider God’s desire for you to overcome feelings of being downcast.  Pray that you would turn to God in good times, as well as in times of despair.  Pray that you would recognize the despair of others and ask God how He would have you bring His comfort and hope to them.  Pray for the courage to turn despair into hope as you put your faith and trust in Him.  Pray that you would be lifted up so you can help lift up others from their despair.

“Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?”
Genesis 4:6-7 (NIV)

Pray that you would accurately examine your life for sin that could be causing your despair.  Pray for the courage to repent of sin and do what is right.  Pray that you would grow in the hope which comes through obedience to Christ.

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

In prayer,
Tom

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This is the audio from the May 12, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.”
Psalm 123:1 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift up your eyes toward the one who sits enthroned above all the earth.  Pray that the lifting of your eyes would help you to see things from a perspective that is not of this earth.  Pray that the people around you would lift their eyes toward heaven as they seek the One who can save them.

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

In prayer,
Tom

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This is the audio from the May 11, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy.”
Psalm 142:1 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift your voice to God as you seek His mercy.  Pray that the lifting of your voice would not only seek mercy for yourself, but that your voice would be lifted on behalf of others.  Pray that the people around you would lift their voices to God as they seek His mercy.

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

In prayer,
Tom

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This is the audio from the May 10, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.”
Psalm 141:2 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift your hands to God in prayer — both as a sign of surrender and as an invitation for Him to fill them.  Pray that the lifting of your hands would be consistent with your need to hold on to Jesus as the source of courage in the midst of fear

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

In prayer,
Tom

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This is the audio from the May 9, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.  Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven.”
Lamentations 3:40-41 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that you would lift your heart to God as you open it for His examination.  Pray that your heart would be lifted toward God in a way that draws you back to Him when you find fear creating a distance between you and God.

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

In prayer,
Tom

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This is the audio from the May 8, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on being lifted up as we cry out to God when we face danger.  Having times when we are experiencing fear and uncertainty isn’t unusual — many of the heroes of the faith that we read about in scripture found themselves in need of encouragement in the midst of their times of despair.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you lift up your life to Him in ways that will allow Him to mend your brokenness, heal the hurt, and strengthen your weaknesses.  Pray that your choice to “lift up” would encourage others as they go through times of feeling afraid.  Pray that God would fill you with the humility that keeps others pointed to Jesus when you are lifted up.  Pray for the courage to lift your life to Jesus when others want to push you down.  Pray that you would be faithful in praising God even as you wait to be lifted up.  Pray that your hope would not fade as you find yourself in need.

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Luke 21:28 (NIV)

Pray that you would lift up your head, even in the midst of fear, to notice the works of God taking place around you.  Pray that your head would be lifted up to see the completion of your redemption which has been purchased by the blood of Jesus.

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

In prayer,
Tom

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This is the audio from the May 5, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will be about our need to grow!  When the Bible talks about our need to grow, it is most often talking about the individual Christian growing so that the body as a whole will be healthy and grow as God intends.  When we spend time with God seeking to grow in Christ, we find that we are less distracted by the things the enemy will use in an attempt to keep us from maturing.  When we grow in Christ, we become a healthy part of the body and as the body increases in health, it will grow both naturally and supernaturally.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you see how you need to grow.  Pray that you would crave the things of God that will help you grow in your salvation.  Pray that the goodness of the Lord would increase your desire to grow in Him.  Pray that you would grow in your full acceptance of the salvation that only comes through Jesus.

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

In prayer,
Tom