P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Jesus continues revealing who he is to the people of that day and to us as we seek his face today.
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….
“Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.”
Psalm 37: 5-6
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in John 6, where we read:
“Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.”
John 6: 28-36
Jesus is continuing to point the people to the truth that he has something far greater for them than just a full belly. They first want to know what they have to do. They want to earn it, but Jesus reveals that all it takes to have this eternal bread is to believe in him. That again is not enough for them. They want a sign like their ancestors received. Jesus shows them that even back then when manna was falling from the sky it was a gift from God the Father. Now in front of them in the flesh is another gift of God. A gift that is eternal and powerful. Jesus is the bread of life. It is in him and through him that we find ultimate satisfaction. He is the God who meets with his people and never fails to bring them satisfaction in his presence. Jesus is offering that bread to us today. That we are searching for satisfaction everywhere else and coming up empty. He came so that we could have life and that life is found in him alone.
Jesus, I ask that you would show me where I am searching for satisfaction outside of you. Show me where I am too caught up n the things of this earth. Reveal to me where I am asking too much of the good gifts that you have given me on this earth.
1) Where do I find my satisfaction in this life?
2) What does it look like for me to come to Jesus as the bread of life in practical terms?
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…
“Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.”
John 6: 28-36
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I surrender to you my love of this earth. I surrender to you my desires to be fulfilled and satisfied by all that I can acquire and achieve. I yield that in you is the only place to find fulfillment and satisfaction. You came so that I could have life and have it abundantly.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in John 10….
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I [Jesus] came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10
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.