P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Jesus closes out the Lord’s prayer by urging his people to ask for his power to fight temptation, sin, and evil.
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
Lord, as I enter into your presence through prayer would you open my eyes to see you? Open my eyes to the glory of who you are. Open my eyes and let my heart follow. Show me who you are and let everything else fall away during this time in your presence.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 33…
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
Psalm 33:18-22
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in Matthew 6, where we read:
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:13
Jesus’ offer to us today is absolutely beautiful and freeing. He knows that Satan is prowling looking to tempt and destroy us. Jesus also knows that we cannot fight against temptation in our own power. He is inviting us today to ask for help. That Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God wants to give us his power to not fall into temptation and to fight against the sin that clings to us. And the question is will we humble ourselves and ask for it?
Jesus, I ask that you would reveal to me where Satan is seeking to tempt me. Would you give me eyes to see that you love me too much to fight this battle on my own? Show me your protection and power today.
Reflection Questions:
1) Where am I being tempted currently?
2) Have I come to realize that I need the power of Jesus to fight temptation and be delivered from evil or am I still relying on my own power?
Jesus, I ask that you would teach your Church in South Florida to pray. Fill us with your Spirit that draws us to our knees in prayer. Release us from the bondage of control and revive our hearts. Make your Church desperate for a move that only you can bring. Unite us as we pray.
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…
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:13
Yielding Prayer
Jesus, I surrender my life to you knowing I can’t live this life without your power. I humble myself and ask you to not lead me into temptation. I yield to you knowing that you can and will deliver me from evil today. Protect me.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in James 4:9…
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:9
Closing Prayer
I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you, Praised for you or criticized for you. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service. And now, O wonderful and holy God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, you are mine, and I am yours. Amen.1
1John Wesley
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.