P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Paul turns his focus to the law today and how it lacks the power to save.
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, in your presence, is where I find life. As I enter into your presence would you show me who you are and let me experience all that you have for me? Fill me with your Spirit in this time and renew my spirit.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 69:
I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the Lord more than an ox
or a bull with horns and hoofs.
When the humble see it they will be glad;
you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.
Psalm 69:30-33
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in Galatians 3:10-12, where we read:
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:10-14
Paul quotes Deuteronomy here to point out the law’s lack of power in salvation. His focus is on the impossible task for humans to abide by ALL of the law. He is showing the Galatians and us what a ludicrous thought it is that we can abide by the law. The beauty of the law is how crushing it is to us. To look at the moral laws of the Old Testament and then Jesus’ interpretation of them and think that we could abide by them is crazy. Think about Jesus saying not only should you, not murder, but you should not have hate in your heart for anyone. That’s a daunting task which if we are honest has easily failed. Or when Jesus says not only should you not commit adultery, but even to lust in your heart makes you guilty. The law is so demanding purposefully to free us from our pride in accomplishing it. We need a third party, we need Jesus the only perfect one to complete it on our behalf.
Lord, open my eyes to my need for a Savior. Show me that I am no longer under the law to save, but you have accomplished what I could not, and let me rest in that today.
1)Where have I failed to keep the law in my own life?
2)Do I still cling to any hope of perfecting myself? What is holding me in that position?
3)Have I felt the freedom of knowing that I can’t save myself?
Lord, revive my heart today. If revival is to come let it begin in my own heart and soul. Fill me with your Spirit so that I can burn for you like a lamp that sits on a hill. Let me experience the steadfast love that you have for me and let that transform my heart to love you more and more minute by minute.
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.
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:10-14
Yielding Prayer
Lord, break me of my desire to try to do it on my own. I know this is a repeated theme these last couple of weeks, but would you bury this truth in my heart? That I no longer need to put on a facade of perfection, because no one is perfect but you. Would you allow me to feel the freedom today that I don’t have to hang myself up on the cross every day because you have done that once and for all?
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in 2 Corinthians 1:20:
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20
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.