P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Today we will explore the power of the Law of Love.
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
Our Father, we look to you, the one who opens rivers on the bare heights, fountains in the midst of valleys, and pools of water in the wilderness! Pour your Spirit over us afresh as we seek your face today! For we know that, with you, is abundant life. (based on Isaiah 41:18)
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the love God has for us as displayed in Psalm 86:
“I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.”
Psalm 86:12-13
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
“And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.”Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:35-40
As I reread the passage, I reflect on the questions, “How is my life touched by this word?” and “How does this passage connect with my life?”
“And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.”Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:35-40
The great power in the universe is love. Jesus, son of God, able to wipe out all his enemies with the snap of a finger, conquered the power of sin and death with his offering of himself, in love for us. It is not the power of armies, the power of money and resources, the power of intellect and education, but the power of love that heals and defeats darkness. And in this power, we, as Christians, are to go forth into the world and do the same.
But as the world seems to get darker and darker, loving those around us can feel more difficult, as our rights and freedoms as Christians seem to be under attack. The temptation is to fight back, using our intellect, our resources or any other means to stop the tidal wave of darkness. And yet Jesus says to us, “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). We are not to return evil for evil, (Romans 12:17), but must allow God to avenge (Romans 12:19). This is so important for us to understand, Jesus even tells us if we do not forgive, God will not forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15)!
That does not mean we are to lay down and let darkness win! But it means that we must fight in the power and love of God. We must see through the actions of those who would come against us to the power that fuels their darkness: Satan, the one who has blinded their eyes. And we should have compassion for them, as Jesus did on the cross, when he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”(Luke 23:34).
As people who are seeking the fullness of God, we must understand that our unwillingness to do this, to love as God calls us to, cuts off the flow of his Spirit into our lives and worlds. As we allow even little unloving and judgmental thoughts to flow unchecked through our minds, it is like a dam stopping up the flow of God’s love to us and to others around us. It hurts us, and then ultimately, it hurts the world! Let us humbly come before God and ask him for his help in loving others the way he would have us to (because we can’t do this on our own), so that his light and love would shine brightly in this dark world!
Gracious Father, is there any place in my life where I am trying to fight the darkness with the weapons of the world? Do I have anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, or resentments in my heart toward anyone? Jesus, please help me see each person or situation that has caused this as you see it. What would you say to me about very real hurts that have been inflicted upon me? Can I trust you enough to lay them down? Help me to see and understand the cost you paid for my sins, so that I can then, in faith, lay down everything I hold against others.
Lord, I want all of you that there is to have! I want that personally, I want that for Rio, and I want that for the Church here in South Florida! So, give us faith for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our day! And teach us to wait on you, to listen for your voice, to pray persistently for your Empowering Presence, and then to walk in your power. Do a great work through us for the sake of your Kingdom and your glory!
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?
“And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.”Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:35-40
Yielding Prayer
Corrie ten Boom, holocaust survivor and author and speaker said, “You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies.” Our faithful Father, please help us understand the power, freedom and love which you hold ready to pour out in fullness when our hearts are open to your will and way! Help me daily yield to love others extravagantly, as you call me to, and then come empower that love as you alone can. Let me know this ocean of your love!
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Ephesians 3:
“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19
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.