P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
In a world full of division and strife Jesus calls his people to be peacemakers.
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 I enter into your presence I declare that you are the God who sees. See me now. Let me say, “Truly I have seen him who looks after me.”
*Adapted from Genesis 16:13
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 Matthew 5:9, where we read:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
This is an interesting beatitude because it does not hold out a blessing to the peaceful or those who yearn for peace. The blessing is for those who are peacemakers. Let’s look at the example of Jesus who is the ultimate peacemaker. Jesus as the Prince of Peace is not just a peaceful person himself or one who desired peace. Jesus went to great lengths to make peace. He makes peace between God and man at great cost to himself on the cross. So if we are to follow in his footsteps as Christians, little Christs, we too are called to make peace. Jesus is not only talking about spreading the good news of the gospel so that people can be at peace with God. He wants us to bring peace on this earth between parties as well. There is a great opportunity for the people of God in our current culture to be peacemakers and to shine brightly in this dark world because of that.
Lord, I ask that you would not only let me be peaceful and to desire peace, but make me someone who seeks to make peace with people. To be in the trenches of this world and bring peace where only division can be found.
Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Pour out your fullness on me so that I may be spiritually awakened. If revival is to begin let it begin first in my own heart and life.
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.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
Yielding Prayer
Jesus, let me see how you made peace for me at great cost to yourself. You saw me in my sin and brokenness and you didn’t run away. You didn’t see the great personal cost of peace that would fall on your shoulders and decide I wasn’t worth it. Transform my heart to love like that. Let me obey you now even when I think about divisions that are difficult and make me want to run away from. In obedience, I seek to be a peacemaker today. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me wisdom and power as I embark on that journey today.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Matthew 6:33:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
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.