P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
John doubles down on the love that God’s people show, because Jesus has loved us so extravagantly.
Together we will pray (P.R.A.Y.) each day – ‘P’: Pausing to be still as we come into the presence of the Lord. ‘R’: Rejoicing as we remember who our God is and what He has done, and Reflecting on His word. ‘A’: Asking God to help us and others. And ‘Y’: yielding to His will in accordance with His word.
As I come before you to pray, I still my thoughts and quiet my mind. I seek to make you the center of my focus.
Prayer of Approach
Creator God, you created me from the dust, and to dust, I shall return. As I enter into your presence would you breathe your life into me and reanimate me through your Spirit?
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 145:4-7…
One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Psalm 145:4-7
Today we are reflecting on the words of John in 1 John 4:13-21, where we read:
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 4:13-21
John reminds us that the love of God is not the only gift we have been given. That we have been given the Holy Spirit to walk with us as we abide in Jesus. This love we have been given comes to us when we confess that Jesus is the Son of God. And because we are in the world abiding in God, we have a great confidence when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead.
John gives us the beautiful promise that perfect love casts out fear. We don’t come to Jesus or love like Jesus out of fear that he will punish us, but we love because we have been loved. Jesus’ love is so great that it breaks us of our fears. If Jesus loves me then that’s the greatest truth in the world. No fear and John means no fear can stand against the love of Jesus.
Jesus, as I meditate on your love I ask that you would reveal my fears and doubts that I am still clinging to. I ask that your perfect love would shower me with the peace that comes from knowing that Jesus Christ loves me.
Reflection Questions:
1) What do I fear?
2) How does the love of Jesus cast out those fears in my life?
God, awake in your Church a love that can only be from you. Open our eyes to the love you have shown us in your Son Jesus Christ. Revive in us the ethic of love that you have given your people, so that we may be a witness to the watching world.
As I read the passage again slowly, I listen for anything that You would say to me in it. Help me see how to position my life in order to yield to your word…
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
1 John 4:13-21
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I submit to your love today. I allow every fear to fall at your feet. Would your perfect love cast out my fears? Fill me with your Spirit that I would be drawn to you and the chains of my fear would fall. Let me trust that promise today!
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in 1 John 4:18..
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.
1 John 4:18
Closing Prayer
Father, help me to live this day out of the love you have bestowed upon me.
Jesus, help me to live this day in love as I abide in you.
Spirit, help me to live this day by loving all those you will put in my path.
Amen.