P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We enter into the final chapter of 1 John! John will seek to bury the truths that he has given us deeply in our hearts these next few days!
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 145:8-9…
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 145:8-9
Today we are reflecting on the words of John in 1 John 5:1-5, where we read:
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:1-5
John reminds us that when we believe in Jesus we are given a second birth making us his children. Our test to know and be confident in that fact is if we keep his commandments. These commandments are not burdensome because we have received the love and identity as God’s children. The commands in the Bible become get-to-do’s, not have to-do’s when we are abiding in him. And the beautiful promise that comes with that truth is that as this world and all that is in is wasting away we will overcome it. We will overcome not by our own strength or merit, but by faith in Jesus who defeated death through his crucifixion and resurrection.
Jesus, I ask that you would sink these truths deep in my heart today. That my heart would swell at the fact that you call me your child. Let me feel the warm embrace of your love and front that love seek after obedience. You are the overcomer and I will abide and rest in that truth today.
Reflection Questions:
1) Why do I often feel that the commands of God are burdensome?
2) Where do I lack faith that Jesus has overcome this world?
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…
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:1-5
Yielding Prayer
Father God, I submit my life to you. I yield at your commands in joy knowing that you are trustworthy. Fill me with your Spirit of obedience that breaks down my selfish deires that get in the way of following you. Lord, let me have the outmost confidence that I will overcome this world but only by faith in you. Fill my heart with these promises and let me cling to them.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in 1 John 5:4..
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1 John 5:4
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.