P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Yesterday we saw a God who speaks. Today we will look at the fact that God guides his people.
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
Bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Sing his praise and exalt him forever. The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us [come to him now and] pray with one heart and mind.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and forever. Amen.
Church of England Book of Common Worship
– Mark Rosewell
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 112:
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish!
Psalm 112:1-10
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in Exodus 13, where we read:
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people
Exodus 13:17-22
Imagine that feeling as a Hebrew when Pharoah releases you from slavery. Feeling elated, but weary. Feeling excited, but also scared. Looking forward to what’s to come, but not having any idea what it will look like after being enslaved for generations. It is at that moment that God makes his presence with his people clear. If they didn’t see his presence and power in their lives during the plagues they will definitely see him now. In their moment of need God gives his people his guidance. In a world where they didn’t know where they should go God said, “Follow me.” He gave them a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night and he did not depart from before his people. And we see his heart in guiding his people. He lead them on a path away from fear and trouble when their souls could not handle it. His guidance is one of great care and concern. His guidance is for our good and for his glory. We may not have a pillar of cloud and fire in our lives today, but we have a God who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is still a God of guidance as the Holy Spirit fills his people.
Lord, I praise you that you are a God who hasn’t left his people alone, but you guide us in this life. I ask for your guidance today. Guide me in the simple decisions and the complex decisions. Guide me in the conversations that I will have today. Guide me as I make choices. I need your guidance so meet me today.
1)How does this passage reveal the character of God?
2)Who or what do I look to for guidance in my daily life?
3)What would it look like for me to be guided by God today? What kind of things would that involve?
4)Will I humbly follow God today?
As the prophet Isaiah prayed, “Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down” this is what we are longing for, God. Forget us not and meet us again. Pour out your Spirit in our hearts, our homes, our schools, and our workplaces in a supernatural way. Wake the sleepers and save the lost! May it happen for our eyes to see and our mouths to tell of the wonder of your glory.
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.
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people
Exodus 13:17-22
Yielding Prayer
Lord, you are the God who guides. There are so many things that seek to guide my emotions and actions today Lord. Give me eyes to see what is of you and what is not. Give me the strength to yield to your guidance in my life. I declare that I do not want to live this life as my own guide, but I need you, Lord. Let the day ahead of me be filled with obedience to what you have laid before me.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Isaiah 40:8:
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8
Closing Prayer
Lord, enable me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to love you today with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to serve you today, by loving and caring for others as I do my own self; and, to exalt you today, by telling the people in my world about the abundant and eternal life found only through faith in Jesus.
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.