P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Jesus’ heart is for those who do not know him. Right before he ascended back to Heaven, he left his people with the Great Commission.
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
Jesus, as I enter into your presence now I ask that you would help my unbelief. I am like the father of the boy in Mark 9, I believe, but I need your help in my unbelief. You say all things are possible for one who believes and as I enter your presence to pray help me to believe that you are the God who controls all things, knows all things, and in that, you hear your child speak to you at this moment.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 34…
“Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good
Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 34: 11-14
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in Matthew 28, where we read:
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20
As Jesus is about to ascend back to the right hand of the Father he leaves his disciples with what we now refer to as the Great Commission. He leaves them with a mission in his absence. This is no small mission. His eleven disciples with very little education or training are commanded to go to all nations and make disciples of the people that they find there. All nations are a huge task. They are already most likely nervous that Jesus is leaving them after 3 years of walking together, but at the moment this most likely seemed impossible to them. I think evangelism in our lives can often feel like that. It can be overwhelming. The beauty of the mission is twofold. Firstly, it is an honor for the Lord to invite us on the mission. He gives us the authority to work alongside him on this task. Secondly, he attaches a beautiful promise at the end. We are not doing this alone, but in every moment Jesus is with us. He walks with us, he guides us. We are not left to do this out of our own power and strength, but instead, we trust in Jesus who was crucified and resurrected for our sake. We get the joy of playing some part in people being reconciled to God.
Jesus, I ask that you would open my eyes to the lost and hurting. Show me where I am called to make disciples in my life. I ask for passion to spread the gospel everywhere that I go. Go with me in every moment of my day.
1)How do I imagine the disciples’ reactions to this call?
2)What does the Great Commission look like in my life?
Lord, I ask that you would visit your people again. I ask that you would pour out your Spirit in a supernatural way for a season of time where your glory would open the eyes of all that see it. Would you do what only you can do? Would you do what you have done before in history? Revive your Church, revive your people, and revive your 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…
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I surrender my life to this mission you have called me to. I yield everything I have for the sake of your gospel being made known to all nations. Lord give me your Spirit to be passionate about this mission. Convict me of where my life is not about your gospel being spread and transform me. Let my life not be about money, status, or acclaim, but let it be focused on more people hearing about who you are and entering into a life-giving relationship with you.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Matthew 28:20…
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
Closing Prayer
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given us, for all the pains and insults that you have borne for us. Most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more dearly, day by day.
Amen
St. Richard, Bishop of Chichester
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.