P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We kick off Week 2 of the Advent season this week. This week we will be in the Gospel of John looking at the truth that Jesus came to do his Father’s will.
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
Heavenly Father, as I come before you today, I take a deep breath. I am aware of my mind and heart slowing, as I find rest in your presence. I sense the fragrance of your Holy Spirit and lay a sacrifice of praise at your feet.
“Praise the Lord of hosts, For the Lord is good, For his mercy endures forever-and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.”
Jeremiah 33:11b NKJV *
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 37….
“Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37: 1-4
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in John 6, where we read:
“On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
John 6: 22-27
The passages we will look at this week follow two miracles of Jesus. One very public miracle where Jesus fed upwards of 15,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and two fish. An absolutely astonishing moment for the crowd to witness. Then immediately following that Jesus walked on water in an intimate moment that just his disciples saw.
The crowd that saw the miracle of the feeding and all the others who heard about it are looking for Jesus, they want Jesus. Their desires seem to be in the right place, but Jesus offers them a stern rebuke. Jesus knew they sought him out because he filled their earthly stomachs. They wanted Jesus as a means to a goal, but not as the goal himself. They want Jesus for what he can give them in this life, not for who he is. It is a gut check for all of us. Jesus is not just a cosmic vending machine to get what we want in this life. In fact, he has something far greater for us than this world can give us. He has food that endures to eternal life.
Jesus, I ask that you would show me how I use you as a means to the goal, but not as the goal. Reveal to me where I treat you as a stop on the way to something better when there is nothing greater than you.
1) Where in my life am I using Jesus to get to a goal that I have and not Jesus as the goal?
2) Where do I want the blessings of Jesus instead of just wanting Jesus?
Lord, come down and meet with your people again. We long for your presence here on this earth in a supernatural way. Revive the desires of our hearts. Open our eyes to the truth that satisfaction is not found in the things of this earth, but you came so that we can have life. Show us your face.
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…
“On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
John 6: 22-27
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I confess that I use you oftentimes to get to what I truly want. It is easy for me to separate the earthly blessings that you give from your presence. I surrender that attitude to you now. Lord, change my heart to desire you above all else. No matter what happens to me on this earth just give me yourself.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Philippians 4….
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 4: 19-20
Closing Prayer
Thank you, Lord, that when we offer praise and thankfulness to you and fix our eyes on you, even in the midst of what seems to be the worst, you meet us right where we are. Truly we know in these times, the meaning of the word “sacrifice” when co-joined with praise. Your Holy Spirit embraces us and empowers us to live a life worth living! Glory to you Lord God. Amen.*
*Prayers by Tina Rosewell
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.