P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Some actions we take have unforeseen consequences.
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, I enter into this time remembering the words of the Psalmist when he says, “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him.” I am waiting and trusting that you are the God who sees his people. See me and meet me today.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Psalm 62…
Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
Psalm 62:11
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
Genesis 16:4-6
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 he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
Genesis 16:4-6
This is a story that finds its roots all the way back to the fall when Adam and Eve take things into their own hands. They disobey God and sin enters into the world. We see that consequence in the story of Abraham and Sarah today. What they thought would solve all of their issues only brings more problems. They act in disobedience instead of obedience thinking that will be the solution. This is not a them problem, but a problem for all of us. Satan is deceptive and his greatest deception is getting us to not trust that God is God and we are not. He whispers temptations in our ears like did God really say that? Can God really do that? If he said he would do it, why hasn’t he done it yet? It is in those moments we have to preach to ourselves that God is good and he loves us. We can trust that he will do all that he has promised, And in the meantime, in the waiting, he grows our faith and trust in him.
Lord, I ask that you meet me here today. Show me where my faith is lacking and fill me with your Spirit. Protect me from the devices of Satan and turn my eyes back to you.
Lord, I am seeking after you to bring revival and waiting for you to do what only you can do. I don’t want another move of some personality on this earth, but all I desire is for the power of your Holy Spirit to fall on all of those around me and transform them powerfully. I trust in you.
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 he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress. And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
Genesis 16:4-6
Yielding Prayer
Lord, when I walk in disobedience oftentimes it leads to destruction. Renew my heart today that obedience to you matters. You are the God who designed this world and created me let me trust that obedience to you is in my best interest. In a world where obedience is laughed at, make me a disciple that follows you at all times even when I am not sure. Let me trust that you are God and I am not.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Psalm 40…
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3
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.