Tom Lemler

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© 2016 by Impact Prayer Ministry

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Impact Prayer Ministry

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South Bend IN 46614
www.impactprayerministry.com
[email protected]

Cover photo by MJ Lemler

 From the Author
There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally
exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.
Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including
various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the
excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new
ministry or ministry season. I also understand the weariness
than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the
ministry of serving and onto ourselves.
This devotional guide is part of a series that came about
through some conversations at a Christian Camp Leaders’
Conference about the need for camp summer staff devotional
material that would be useful without being a burden in an
already busy schedule. On my way home from the conference,
I began to pray about what would be a useful format and
about potential topics for devotions developed specifically for
those who serve. Out of that prayer time, this series began to
form in my mind and then on paper.
It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance
of serving others. With this guide, I pray that your faith in God
grows as you serve others. As you go through this devotional
guide, each day will focus on a different aspect of living with a
godly faith. As you pray, ask God to increase your faith as you
serve in ways that require you to trust Him. Pray that the
people around you would see faith in action as you serve
them. Use the note section at the bottom of each page to jot
down thoughts, ideas, or action steps that God will bring to
your mind.
In prayer,

Tom Lemler
 Day 1
Faith that Pleases God
(Hebrews 11:6)
Are there things that you believe just because the right person
says so? Are there people who believe things just because you
say they are true? How does that make you feel? How do you
feel when you are not trusted? How do you think others feel
when you don’t trust them? How about God, how much do
you trust Him? Do you ever give much thought to your faith in
Him actually pleasing Him? Does that motivate you to a
greater faith?
Trust, or faith in a person, is something most of us want but we
have a difficult time giving it. Many people go to great lengths
in their efforts to please God yet fail to realize the key
ingredient in doing so is faith. When we seek to serve in a way
that pleases God, faith must be at the core of our service. We
serve well when our faith believes God will work through our
acts of service to benefit those we serve. It is our knowledge
that God has changed us that allows us to believe He can
change others.
As you pray, ask God to increase your faith in Him and in His
ability to use your works of service. Pray that He would
surround you with people who help you to grow in faith.
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 Day 2
Grow in Faith
(Luke 17:5)
Are you the same size that you were when you were 2 years
old? Would you seek help for a child that didn’t grow? Why?
Have you ever tried to become physically stronger? Were you
successful? Why? Do you want your faith at the end of the
year to be the same size as at the beginning? What will it take
for it to grow? How will serving help it grow? How will its
growth help you serve more effectively?
Praying that God would increase your faith is about as popular
as praying for patience — the typical way of getting more of
either of them is through situations that put them to the test.
It is said that no living thing remains the same. It is either
growing or declining. The same is true when we have a living
faith, we are either doing things that help it to grow or we find
it slipping from our life. When we ask God to help our faith
grow, we should expect opportunities to serve in ways that
require a greater trust in Him.
As you pray, ask God to increase your desire for a growing
faith. Pray that you would not become complacent in your
walk with God. Pray that the way you serve would be marked
by great faith.
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 Day 3
Faith that Saves
(Ephesians 2:8)
Have you ever avoided trouble or harm because you believed
something you were told? Have you ever had to watch
someone walk a difficult, even harmful, path because they
refused to believe your warnings? How difficult is it to serve
someone who doesn’t believe you? How about serving
someone that you don’t believe in? How does the faith that
saved you help you serve others more effectively?
I tend to be a big picture observer. While that can be a helpful
trait, it doesn’t win me many friends if I try to point out how a
small decision now has long-lasting consequences that many
would rather not consider. There are a few people though,
who have learned to believe what I can see and appreciate the
perspective that I bring. The sadder part is that many ignore
God’s “big-picture” perspective because they lack a faith that
could save them from many hard consequences as well as save
their soul eternally. To serve well, we need a faith that sees
beyond today and into the desire God has for those we serve.
As you pray, ask God to help you examine how your faith in
Him has saved you. Pray that your faith in God would lead you
to share about a saving faith with those you serve.
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 Day 4
Powerful Faith
(Hebrews 11:33-34)
In what ways has God rescued you? Have you ever
accomplished something that you felt you were the only one
who believed you could do it? Have you ever done something
that at one time you thought was impossible? Do you often
doubt God’s ability to do what He says? Does your doubt ever
keep you from serving in ways you know you should? How
would you serve differently today if you believed God could
use you to accomplish great things?
When the Bible talks about people of great faith accomplishing
great things, we often read it with at least a mental disclaimer
that that was them and not us. Somehow we miss, or don’t
believe, the scripture that says Elijah was a man just like us.
Turning the rain off and then on was not Elijah’s plan but
rather God’s plan. Even in the midst of great adversity and
hard times, God not only rescued Elijah but used him to serve
the people of Israel. Our faith has power not because it causes
God to do what we want, but because it puts us in a position
to do what God wants.
As you pray, ask God to fill you with a faith that seeks to serve
according to His power.
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 Day 5
Faith that Unites
(Ephesians 4:13)
Who is your best friend? Do you agree on everything? What
keeps your friendship intact even when you have differing
opinions? How does having a common set of beliefs help unite
a group of unique individuals? What are your core beliefs that
you would never consider giving up? How does identifying
those core beliefs help create greater unity with people who
may differ in a lot of “non-core” areas?
As I travel the country and visit a variety of churches, I see a
lot of church splits. Some have parted ways and set up their
own “house of worship” across the street or down the block.
There are even more that meet in the same building; the split
is between groups that simply won’t talk with each other.
God’s desire is that our faith in Him, the foundation of our
relationship with Jesus, would unite us as brothers and sisters
in Christ. It is this faith that unites which allows us to serve
when the non-essentials of our faith may not align with all the
practices of those we serve.
As you pray, ask God to bring you into greater unity with other
believers through your shared faith. Pray that your faith in
Christ would be a bridge to those you serve rather than a wall.
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 Day 6
Faith that is Communicated
(Romans 10:17)
What do you believe in? What would your friends say you
believe in? Would those answers be different? Why? Have
you ever found out that a long-time friend or co-worker, that
you never would have guessed was a believer, was a Christian?
Why did you never think so? Who is the last person you told
about your faith in Christ? How long did it take you to come
up with an answer to that question? How will you be sure
your faith is both seen and heard as you serve?
Perhaps you have read stories, or even known someone, that
has died after living in apparent poverty only to have it
revealed afterwards that they were actually quite wealthy. We
hear that and most people think, “how sad”. Yet even more
sad is when a person enters a relationship with Christ and no
one around them is aware of their faith. The Bible says that
faith come by hearing, but not just any hearing, it is the
hearing of the Word of God. As we serve, it is important that
we communicate our faith in both words and actions.
As you pray, ask God to help you be intentional about making
your faith known. Pray that you would clearly communicate
your faith as you serve today.
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 Day 7
Active Faith
(James 2:17)
Do you know people who claim to believe a particular thing
but live completely different from what they say? Which are
you more likely to believe, their words or their actions? Are
you a person whose words and actions match when it comes
to your faith in God? How would your life answer the question
posed by James, “What good is your faith if it is not
accompanied by action?” What would active faith look like
today in the area you serve?
One of my mentors used to challenge me to never pray about
something that I wasn’t willing for God to use me to be part of
His answer to the prayer. It is easy to pray for people and
situations, believing that God will provide, when we can do so
from a distance. I love a song I heard recently with a story-line
of a man praying (complaining) to God about how bad
everything is and asking why God doesn’t do something. In
the song, the response from God is, “I did! I created you!”
As you pray, ask God to help you see your active part in His
working in the lives of people. Pray that you would be more
intentional in serving as you see yourself being the hands and
feet of Jesus to the people you serve.
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Devotions for Those Who Serve: Serving With Faith is a part of
a series of devotionals written specifically with those serving in
Christian camp ministry in mind. I pray that these devotionals
are useful tools in a wide variety of ministry and service
settings. While the development of these devotional guides is
an ongoing project of Impact Prayer Ministry, the following is a
list of the initial topics to be addressed:
Called to Serve
Serving with Contentment
Serving with Strength
Serving with Courage
Serving with Excellence
Serving by Faith
Serving through Friendship
Guard Your Heart in Serving
Serving with Integrity

Serving by Listening
Serving with Patience
Serving in Purity
Serving as you Go!
Please contact Impact Prayer Ministry for information about
using these devotionals in your ministry. If you have ideas for
other topics related to serving, please feel free to pass them
along also.
www.impactprayerministry.com
About the author:
Tom Lemler is the director of Impact Prayer Ministry where his
preaching, teaching, and resource development is designed to
help individuals have a greater connection to God through
prayer.

For more information about Tom’s ministry of teaching,

preaching, and writing, visit the “Tom’s Treasure” blog at
impactprayer.com or the Impact Prayer Ministry website at
impactprayerministry.com.