P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Today we will see that Jesus the eternal Son of God prays for us!
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 I am trusting your promise that when I draw near to you, you will draw near to me (James 4:8). As I draw near to your throne in prayer meet me here, right where I am at in my life. I approach your throne with the utmost confidence knowing that you are the God who controls all things. Not just that, but that the God who controls all things loves me as his child and wants to hear from me.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 23…
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in John 17, where we read:
“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
John 17:6-10
Jesus in this part of his prayer is rehearsing what he has done for us to the Father. Jesus is saying that I have done exactly what you have asked of me. Jesus came to earth so that through him we can know the Father and he has done exactly that! And verse nine opens our eyes to the fact that Jesus Christ the eternal Son of God is praying for us! Just sit in that for a moment. Jesus loves us so much and believes how important prayer is that as he is about to head to his own crucifixion he takes time to pray for his children. It’s amazing! We belong to God the Father and Jesus the Son and we get the distinct honor of bringing Jesus glory.
Jesus, teach me to pray as you have prayed. Let my heart overflow in love that I would bring those I care about to the throne of God’s grace. Let me experience today that I am yours and that nothing can change that.
Reflection Questions:
1) Why should I be astounded that Jesus is praying for me?
2) What should change in my life because I belong to Jesus?
God, pour out your Spirit of unity on your Church in South Florida. Break us of our pride and ego that wants to divide and build our own little kingdoms. Revive our hearts to the truth that you are a God of unity. Let us unify under the banner that Jesus Christ was crucified for his people. Let our unity be seen by a world that is searching to be known and loved. Unify us so that you are glorified.
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…
“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.
John 17:6-10
Yielding Prayer
Lord, let me surrender to the fact that I am yours purely because of what you have done for me. I didn’t earn it, in fact, all I brought to the table was the sin that made it necessary for Jesus to die for me. Fill me with your Spirit to live in that truth, that I am yours and that should transform what my life is all about. Show me what it looks like to live out of that love.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in John 10:27-28…
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28
Closing Prayer
Lord, bury the truths that I have read today in my heart. Teach my heart to trust you as I live the life you have called me to today. Fill me with your Spirit. Pour out your love in my life so that from that overflow I may love people well. Make me your light in this dark and broken world so that I may glorify you with my life. Amen.