P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
A baby was born in Bethlehem and the guests invited to visit are unlikely, to say the least.
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 you open your arms to receive me now, I open my heart and mind to receive your wisdom and instruction. Receive my praise and adoration, meager as they are, as a fragrant offering. Let fear flee from me at this moment as I share my deepest cares and concerns openly and honestly with you, lover of my soul.
-Mark Rosewell
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 86:
Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.
Psalm 86:1-7
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in Luke 2, where we read:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:1-20
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, enters into time and space to be the Savior of the world. He enters this world with no applause or fanfare. He isn’t born in a royal castle, but a lowly manger. The angels return to make a glorious announcement that Jesus has been born! Again, just like we have seen all over this narrative, the audience is unexpected. The most important event in all of history and who is invited? Not the religious or political elites, that’s for sure. The angels invite shepherds. Now we may have a picturesque vision of what shepherds are, but in that day they were the lowly outcasts. Social outcasts as they spent their days and nights outside of town in the fields taking care of the sheep. Religious outcasts because the temple is a place of purity, not meant for dirty shepherds like them. Unlikely guests for the birth of a king, yet the angels go to them. Even at his birth, Jesus is showing us who he was born for. He didn’t enter into time and space for those who think they have it all together. He didn’t take on flesh for those who believe they have no need for a Savior. Jesus came for the least, the lost, and the left out. He came for people like the shepherds. A group the world may scorn, but a group that Jesus gives value and worth.
Jesus, I ask for eyes of humility to see how needy I am for you and your grace. This world makes me build a false self where pride, power, and control make me king of my own life. Lord, show me how valuable and worthy I am in your eyes, purely because you chose me.
1)What does the shepherds’ invitation tell me about who Jesus is?
2)Where do I find my value and worth?
2)Who are the outcasts of today’s society that the gospel brings hope and life to?
Lord, revive our hearts this Christmas season! Fill us with your Spirit that can sing wholeheartedly that a Savior was born in Bethlehem. Fix our eyes on the eternal Son of God who entered into time and space for a broken people. Let us see that salvation has come and we ask that your salvation would come to our families, workplaces, schools, and city once again.
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.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:1-20
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I submit that you are God and I am not. It is you who gives me value and worth. All of the things in this world are blinding and disorienting me. Transform my heart to see that I am lowly and in need of your love. Show me what it means that the good news that you are born is for the least, the lost, and the left out. Fill me with your love this Christmas season. Let my response to your birth be to glorify and praise you for all that I have seen and heard!
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Luke 19:10
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, I leave this time of intimacy with you now and go about my day. I ask that you will grant me peace beyond my understanding to face any challenges today. I ask for abundant grace that I may shower it upon everyone that I meet. And I ask for your Spirit to fill me that I may share You with someone that needs to hear from You today.
Mark Rosewell
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.