P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Today we see the Sabbath as resistance to the culture and world we are a part of.
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 remind myself unless you build the house the builder labors in vain. Unless you watch over the city the watchman stays awake in vain. So, Lord, I invite your Spirit to meet me here now, because without you this time is in vain.
*Adapted from Psalm 127
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 136:
to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalm 136:4-9
As I read the passage, I am asking the Lord to reveal a word or phrase that stands out to me.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
As I reread the passage, I am reflecting on the questions, “How is my life touched by this word?” and “How does this passage connect with my life?”
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
The Sabbath oftentimes sounds soft when we speak of it. A day filled with naps and not doing much of anything sounds boring to us. The truth is the Sabbath has a lot of teeth. The Sabbath at its core is resistance against the world. What does it look like to not be conformed to the patterns of this world? Well, it looks like conforming to the patterns of God. One of which we looked at earlier this week that says to work hard for six days and rest on the seventh. That is not a pattern of this world. The Sabbath is resistance to this world. It is a shout that says all of these things don’t own me. I’m not owned by my work. I’m not owned by my phone or technology. I’m not owned by your schedule for me. I’m not owned by the badge that says busyness is an honor. That I am owned by God and God alone. I am saying no to the patterns of this world. I will spend one day a week ceasing from my strivings and trying to earn everyone’s favor because I have the favor of God not because of what I have done, but because of what Jesus has done on my behalf.
Lord, you have set me apart and I ask that you would show me what it looks like to live like that. I ask that you give me the courage and the desire to say yes to your invitation of the Sabbath in my life.
Lord, you have called us by name and because of that we humble ourselves, we pray, we seek your face, and we turn from our wicked ways. Will you hear us from heaven? Will you forgive our sins? And will you heal our land?
*Adapted from 2 Chronicles 7:14
As I read the passage for the final time, I listen for how the Lord is inviting me to respond to him. Where in my life do I need to yield in obedience to what he has for me?
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
Yielding Prayer
Lord, you care more about me than I do. Give me the courage to obey you. The world is shiny in my eyes. I am drawn to it more than I want to be. Give me your Holy Spirit to obey you in this difficult task of not being owned by this world. Show me what it looks like in my life to be owned by you and you alone.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Matthew 11:28-30:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
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.