Prayer

Here Am I: Called To a Glorious Inheritance
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Here Am I: Called To a Glorious Inheritance

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 19 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day thirteen with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to a glorious inheritance.

Called To a Glorious Inheritance

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)

Have you ever inherited something?  Was it something you were impressed with, or not?  Why?  What would you do if you were to inherit a fortune or substantial piece of property?  Would it be possible to keep it a secret?  Why?  What is the longest you have had to wait for something that you were expecting and looking forward to?  Was the wait worth it?  Why?  How does hope keep you looking forward to what is still ahead?  How does this calling of God strengthen the hope you live with each day?

Many people are fascinated with stories of ordinary people who are left a fortune by a relative they didn’t even know they had.  I suppose such stories give hope that perhaps they too could inherit such a windfall.  Yet none of these stories will ever measure up to the glorious inheritance each of us is called to as a child of God.  This inheritance doesn’t come from an unknown relative and it isn’t the result of chance.  It is a promise from God to both those who are near and those who are far off, that all would draw near can look forward with a confident hope that they too can share in His inheritance.

As you pray about the inheritance you are called to, ask God to fill you with the hope of glory.  Pray that you would find comfort in the day to day struggles of life as you live with confidence in the glorious inheritance to which you are called.  Pray for a greater awareness of God’s love as you share with others about how they too have been called to share in this inheritance from God.  Pray that God would help you to hold fast to the hope you have in Jesus as you look forward to His return.

In prayer,

Tom  

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Encouragement & Prayer (5/14/20)

 

This is the audio from the May 14, 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

Here Am I: Called To Be Genuine
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Here Am I: Called To Be Genuine

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 20 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day twelve with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to remember where you came from and to be genuine.

Called To Be Genuine

“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.”
1 Corinthians 1:26 (NIV)

How many people know the real you?  Are you sure?  How do you feel when someone presents themselves to others as something they are not?  Why?  Are there things about your past, or present, that you try to keep secret?  Why?  How have those things been a part of you becoming who you are today?  How does remembering where you’ve come from help you see how God has worked in your life?  Who has been an example to you as one who is genuine?  In what way?  Who needs to see the real you?

Regardless of our background, there are usually things from our past that we would just as soon pretend never happened.  Growth is intended to bring us to a place that is often different from where we began.  For many who have reached the place of life they desire, there is a great temptation to act as if we’ve always been where we are.  When done with wisdom and discretion, being genuine about who we were before Christ gives us great opportunity to share about the transformation He has done in our life.  Our struggles not only help us to grow, when we are genuine they become examples for others.

As you pray about being genuine, ask God to help you remember the what and where of who you were before you responded to His call.  Pray that you would allow God to use the real you to show His power to the people around you.  Pray that God would reveal, and deal with, any areas of pretense that you have harbored in your life.  Pray for the discretion needed for you to be genuine in ways that are helpful to others.  Pray with thanksgiving for a God who is genuine.

In prayer,

Tom  

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Encouragement & Prayer (5/13/20)

 

This is the audio from the May 13, 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

Here Am I: Called To Be a Friend of God
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Here Am I: Called To Be a Friend of God

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 21 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day eleven with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to be His friend.

Called To Be a Friend of God

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.“
John 15:15 (NIV)

Who are your friends?  Who considers you to be their friend?  Why?  What do you look for in a friend?  Why?  Have you ever tried to have a friendship with someone that didn’t seem to want to be friends?  Did it work?  Why?  What would you do for your true friends?  What would they do for you?  Why?  Have you ever had a relationship that began as something other than friends but grew into a friendship?  What changed?  What does it mean to you to be called a friend of God?  What will you do with that friendship?

It is difficult to maintain a friendship for very long if it appears to be one-sided with little to no effort being put forth by the other person.  As Christians, we are not only called to be a friend of God, He calls us His friend.  Not only should our friendship with God lead us to share with Him in every aspect of our life, His friendship with us results in Him making Himself known to us through His Word and His Spirit.  As a friend, He holds nothing back that would be a benefit to us.  As God, He knows perfectly the things that are for our good and the things which would bring harm.  As both, He knows and loves us as no one else can.

As you pray, ask God to help you see clearly His desire to have you as a friend.  Pray that you would live as a friend of God.  Pray that your friendship with God would lead you to be a better friend to others.  Pray for wisdom in knowing and understanding the things of God.  Pray for courage in upholding your side of a friendship with God.  Pray about how you will share your friendship with the hurting and lonely around you who need to know God’s love.

In prayer,

Tom  

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Encouragement & Prayer (5/12/20)

 

This is the audio from the May 12, 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

Here Am I: Called To Be Free
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Here Am I: Called To Be Free

While we continue to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe we have a great opportunity to represent Jesus well as we respond to God’s calling with a hearty, “Here Am I”!  Over the next 24 days I will continue sharing the devotions from my “Here Am I” book to help each of us pray about our response to God as He calls us to Himself.  Through time in prayer, this devotional journal was written to help you see and respond to God’s calling as you see Him working in your “everyday” life.

Here is day nine with an important reminder that you, and those around you, have been called by God to perfect freedom.

Called To Be Free

“You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.“
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

Do you ever feel stuck, or trapped, in some situation of life?  Why?  How much effort do you put into getting out of those situations?  Why?  Do you think freedom is more about what you can do or about what you don’t have to do?  What’s the difference?  Are there things you enjoy doing because you have the freedom to do them that you would not enjoy if it was something you had to do?  Why?  What is God’s idea of freedom when He calls you to be free?  Explain.  How does God want you to use the freedom He has called you to?

Freedom is one of those words that get thrown around a lot with most people having their own idea of what it means based on what they want to be free from or what they want to be free to do.  God’s desire is that we would find freedom in Christ that sets us completely free from the bondage of sin.  But not only does He want us to be free from the burdens produced by sin, He wants us to be free to do the works produced by love.  Being set free leaves us with a choice on how we use that freedom and God calls us to live life free to love as He loves and to serve with complete humility just as He has served us.

As you pray, ask God to make known to you the glorious riches of the freedom you have in Christ.  Pray that you would understand both what you have been set free from and what you have been set free for.  Pray about how God would have you use the freedom He has given.  Pray for the courage to live as one who is free to love and serve others.  Pray that your life would be an example to others who need to know how to live a life of freedom.

In prayer,

Tom  

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Encouragement & Prayer (5/11/20)

 

This is the audio from the May 11, 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