~

This is the audio from the July 18, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Most adults seem to like the command where God says children are to obey their parents.  We like it because we tend to unconsciously add two small words to it.  We tend to read it, “[Little] Children obey your [good] parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Yes, there are limits when it comes to obeying people — “We must obey God rather than men” — but obedience is a trait that God expects all of His children to exhibit.  This week we will be praying about following the example of Jesus, who “became obedient to death — even death on a cross.”

“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’”
Luke 11:28 (NIV)

As you pray, ask God to help you examine your current level of obedience and reveal how you need to grow to become more like Christ.  Pray that you would always listen to the word of God with a desire to obey what He says.  Pray for the courage to obey God as He reveals Himself through His Word.  Pray that you would be a blessing to others because of your obedience to the word of God.

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

In prayer,
Tom

~

This is the audio from the July 17, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“But Samuel replied:  ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Most adults seem to like the command where God says children are to obey their parents.  We like it because we tend to unconsciously add two small words to it.  We tend to read it, “[Little] Children obey your [good] parents in the Lord, for this is right.”  Yes, there are limits when it comes to obeying people — “We must obey God rather than men” — but obedience is a trait that God expects all of His children to exhibit.  This week we will be praying about following the example of Jesus, who “became obedient to death — even death on a cross.”  As you pray, ask God to help you examine your current level of obedience and reveal how you need to grow to become more like Christ.  Pray that you would value the choice of obedience in your life and in the lives of others.  Pray that the results of your obedience would help the people around you see Jesus more clearly.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

Pray that you would be a faithful disciple of Jesus in the way you teach others to obey all He commanded.

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

In prayer,
Tom

~

This is the audio from the July 14, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on our need to guard our heart!  The Bible makes it clear that our actions are a reflection of our heart, so it becomes vital that we pay attention to what our heart contains.  Jesus taught that the command to not commit adultery was more about a heart problem than it was a physical problem.  God’s desire is that we would learn to guard our heart and mind from the temptations that want to take root and destroy us.  It is much easier to blame someone else when we give in to temptation than admit we have failed to guard our heart in Christ Jesus.

“Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”
Psalm 119:34 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only guard your heart and mind, but that you would not be a stumbling block in another person’s efforts to guard their heart.  Pray that  you would have an understanding of God’s laws and their purpose in protecting you from sin.  Pray that an understanding of consequences would protect your heart from wrongful pursuits.

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

In prayer,
Tom

~

This is the audio from the July 13, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on our need to guard our heart!  The Bible makes it clear that our actions are a reflection of our heart, so it becomes vital that we pay attention to what our heart contains.  Jesus taught that the command to not commit adultery was more about a heart problem than it was a physical problem.  God’s desire is that we would learn to guard our heart and mind from the temptations that want to take root and destroy us.  It is much easier to blame someone else when we give in to temptation than admit we have failed to guard our heart in Christ Jesus.

“He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”
Psalm 112:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only guard your heart and mind, but that you would not be a stumbling block in another person’s efforts to guard their heart.  Pray that  you would learn to trust God completely even in the midst of bad news.  Pray that your trust of God would protect your heart from pursuing wrong actions.  Pray that your heart would not fail as you grow through the troubles of life.

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

In prayer,
Tom

~

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

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on our need to guard our heart!  The Bible makes it clear that our actions are a reflection of our heart, so it becomes vital that we pay attention to what our heart contains.  Jesus taught that the command to not commit adultery was more about a heart problem than it was a physical problem.  God’s desire is that we would learn to guard our heart and mind from the temptations that want to take root and destroy us.  It is much easier to blame someone else when we give in to temptation than admit we have failed to guard our heart in Christ Jesus.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only guard your heart and mind, but that you would not be a stumbling block in another person’s efforts to guard their heart.  Pray that you would not become weary in doing good but that God would put a steadfast spirit within you.  Pray that your heart would be protected by an unrelenting commitment to pursue God.  Pray that you would grow in purity through the steadfast nature of God’s Spirit.

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

In prayer,
Tom

~

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

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on our need to guard our heart!  The Bible makes it clear that our actions are a reflection of our heart, so it becomes vital that we pay attention to what our heart contains.  Jesus taught that the command to not commit adultery was more about a heart problem than it was a physical problem.  God’s desire is that we would learn to guard our heart and mind from the temptations that want to take root and destroy us.  It is much easier to blame someone else when we give in to temptation than admit we have failed to guard our heart in Christ Jesus.

“I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”
Psalm 16:7 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only guard your heart and mind, but that you would not be a stumbling block in another person’s efforts to guard their heart.  Pray that you would always heed the instructions of the Lord’s counsel.  Pray that your heart would be protected at all times by the counsel of God’s Word.  Pray that you would know God’s Spirit as the counselor who fills your heart with godly instruction.

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

In prayer,
Tom

~

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

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)

This week we will focus our prayer time on our need to guard our heart!  The Bible makes it clear that our actions are a reflection of our heart, so it becomes vital that we pay attention to what our heart contains.  Jesus taught that the command to not commit adultery was more about a heart problem than it was a physical problem.  God’s desire is that we would learn to guard our heart and mind from the temptations that want to take root and destroy us.  It is much easier to blame someone else when we give in to temptation than admit we have failed to guard our heart in Christ Jesus.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you to not only guard your heart and mind, but that you would not be a stumbling block in another person’s efforts to guard their heart.  Pray that you would notice all the ways the things you allow into your life influence what you do.  Pray that your heart would always be protected by God’s Spirit within you.

“He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart.”
Psalm 15:2 (NIV)

Pray that you would have a heart guarded by words of truth.  Pray that you would both seek truth and speak truth at all times.  Pray that the truth of God’s Word would fill you in such a way that it stands guard over what comes out through your words.

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

In prayer,
Tom

~

This is the audio from the July 7, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“Seek good, not evil, that you may live.
Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.”
Amos 5:14 (NIV)

This week’s prayer emphasis will focus on God’s desire that we, and those around us, would return to Him whenever we stray.  One of the greatest promises of God is that there is always a way home from wherever we are.

“But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.”
Hosea 12:6 (NIV)

As you pray this week, consider if there are areas of your life in which you need to return to God.  Pray that love and justice would always be at the core of your relationship with God.  Pray that the people around you would return to God to find true love and justice.  Pray that you would not give up on yourself, others, or God as you maintain love and justice.

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

In prayer,
Tom