P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
The religious elites leave Peter and John with warnings on they should behave and live. The only question is will they abide by their wishes?
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, you are so gracious to me that you would bend your ear to me. You are the God who is not only good, but you are near. So meet me with you nearness now. Open my eyes and my heart to what you will speak to me today.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 96:
Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
Psalm 96:1-6
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in Acts 4, where we read:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
Acts 4:13-22
Peter and John continue to astonish people in these stories. Again, it is not in the way that we would expect or want astonishment to come. Our world and our sinful hearts want people to be astonished by who we are, what we have, and what we have done. This is not what Peter and John want. They know these guys are uneducated and just plain ole common guys. They were astonished by their boldness because it proved that they had been with Jesus. It is beautiful how Jesus is allowing Peter and John to show people who he is by their boldness. The religious elites are astonished, but they still want nothing to do with Jesus or these guys. So they warn them and tell them to stop. Again, Peter and John have a choice to make. Will we bow down before these men and be silent about the truths we believe? Or will we continue preaching no matter what it costs us? They choose the latter and it is beautiful.
Jesus, I ask that you give me a faith that is bold like they had in the early church. Let me bow to you alone and not to this culture or the opinions of this world.
1)Where do I feel pressure to be quiet about what I believe?
2)How do I respond in those moments?
3)Will I ask the Holy Spirit for boldness?
Jesus, revive our hearts. You have come to give your people abundant life. An abundant life that can only come from you. Break us of our desires for this earth that promise to satisfy us, but leave us empty inside. Give us a spirit of repentance to turn from the ways of this world and come back into union with you. In our brokenness would you fill us mightily with your Spirit? May all the glory and praise belong to you.
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 when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
Acts 4:13-22
Yielding Prayer
Lord, give me faith that is bold. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and let me go out into this world in confidence. A confidence not in my self, but a confidence of who you are.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in 2 Timothy 1:7:
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7
Closing Prayer
Lord, fill me with your Spirit in a way that causes me to go out from here in boldness. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self-control. Let me live this day in that way as I seek to be a light in my home, my workplace, my school, and wherever else your Spirit will lead me.
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.