Encouragement and Prayer: Sorrow Over Opposition! (3/1/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Sorrow Over Opposition! (3/1/23)

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This is the audio from the March 1, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.”
Luke 19:41 (NIV)

This week’s prayer guide begins a series that will look at snapshots from the week leading up to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  As we consider the path of Jesus to the cross and beyond, we will examine how we are called to walk with Him.  While the week leading to the cross began with great excitement and celebration by the crowd, the response of Jesus was one of great sorrow.  We learn much about being like Jesus when our own road to resurrection through the blood of Jesus begins on a road of sorrow.

“The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.”
Luke 19:43 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the reasons Jesus wept.  Pray that the opposition of the enemy would not catch you unprepared.  Pray for a godly sorrow that is concerned about the opposition faced by others.  Pray that you would know and share a God who rescues His people.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Sorrow Over Blindness! (2/28/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Sorrow Over Blindness! (2/28/23)

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This is the audio from the February 28, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.”
Luke 19:41 (NIV)

This week’s prayer guide begins a series that will look at snapshots from the week leading up to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  As we consider the path of Jesus to the cross and beyond, we will examine how we are called to walk with Him.  While the week leading to the cross began with great excitement and celebration by the crowd, the response of Jesus was one of great sorrow.  We learn much about being like Jesus when our own road to resurrection through the blood of Jesus begins on a road of sorrow.

“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes.”
Luke 19:42 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the reasons Jesus wept. Pray that your eyes would be opened to the things of God which bring peace.  Pray that a sorrow over the times of spiritual blindness would lead you to open your eyes fully to the things of God.  Pray that your life would help others to see the things that bring peace.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Sorrow Over Silence! (2/27/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Sorrow Over Silence! (2/27/23)

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This is the audio from the February 27, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.”
Luke 19:41 (NIV)

This week’s prayer guide begins a series that will look at snapshots from the week leading up to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.  As we consider the path of Jesus to the cross and beyond, we will examine how we are called to walk with Him.  While the week leading to the cross began with great excitement and celebration by the crowd, the response of Jesus was one of great sorrow.  We learn much about being like Jesus when our own road to resurrection through the blood of Jesus begins on a road of sorrow.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you understand the reasons Jesus wept.  Pray that you would know the godly sorrow in your own life that would lead to your repentance.  Pray that your times of sorrow would not only reflect the sorrow of Jesus, but would know and express the comfort of Jesus also.  Pray that God would move you to a place of weeping over the lost and confused in your community.

“‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’”
Luke 19:40 (NIV)

Pray that your life would express a praise of God that is appropriate and fitting.  Pray that a sorrow over the times of your own silence would lead to a purer representation of Jesus as your life cries out His name.  Pray that the people around you would learn to replace sorrow with praise as they draw near to Jesus.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Love that Honors Others! (2/24/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Love that Honors Others! (2/24/23)

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This is the audio from the February 24, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Romans 12:9-10 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that your love for others would be sincere as you look for the things that benefit them.  Pray that the way you honor others would reject evil and seek what is good.  Pray for the humility to honor others above yourself.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Love that Leads to Obedience! (2/23/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Love that Leads to Obedience! (2/23/23)

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This is the audio from the February 23, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.”
John 14:15 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that you would be filled with a love that seeks to do the things that you know please God.  Pray that you would live with an obedient spirit that desires to obey the commands of God as an expression of your love.  Pray that your love for God would be seen by others as you live according to His Word.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Love Your Enemies! (2/22/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Love Your Enemies! (2/22/23)

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This is the audio from the February 22, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that the love of God within you would extend to those you disagree with — even with those who would be considered enemies.  Pray that the love God expressed toward you while you were an enemy would be expressed by you to those who may treat  you poorly.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Love Your Neighbor! (2/21/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Love Your Neighbor! (2/21/23)

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This is the audio from the February 21, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:31 (NIV)

As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that you would focus more on loving your neighbor as God would want than on trying to define who that neighbor is — or isn’t.  Pray that  you would be the neighbor that shows love to all those in need.  Pray for the courage to love others in a way that values them.

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

In prayer,
Tom

Encouragement and Prayer: Love God! (2/20/23)

Encouragement and Prayer: Love God! (2/20/23)

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This is the audio from the February 20, 2023 live social media broadcast of encouragement and prayer by Impact Prayer Ministry’s director, Tom Lemler.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 (NIV)

As we continue a focus on being made new in Christ, I bring back a prayer focus I first shared a few years ago — a new way to love.  This week we will spend some time praying about the love God has expressed toward us and about how we can live in such a way that we share it with others.  God has always instructed His people to love, so it must have been a little confusing to the disciples when Jesus told them He was giving them a new command — a command to love one another.  I believe the new part of the command, new because it had not been seen in such a clear way ever before, was to love as Jesus loved.  As you pray this week, ask God to help you evaluate how you love.  Pray that you would be so filled with God’s love that loving like Jesus would become more natural each day.  Please continue to pray for one another in the midst of these confusing and changing times.  Pray for discernment and wisdom to see beyond and through the divisiveness of this world so that you would love others as God loves both you and them.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)

Pray that your love of God would always be the top priority of all the love you have.  Pray that God’s love for you would be the standard for the love you have for Him.  Pray that your love for God would grow each day.

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

In prayer,
Tom