P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Our passage today shows the evil and perversity of Sodom, so prepare your heart.
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, your Word tells us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” I ask now that you would do a work in me through your Word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Give me understanding and transform my heart.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Proverbs 15…
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.
Genesis 19:4-11
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?”
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.
Genesis 19:4-11
The men of the city are so wicked that word spreads quickly about two male visitors to their town. The men of the city both young and old desire to rape the two men. They fight Lot to give them to them in such a manner that as crazy as it sounds Lot offers them his own daughters. Remember Lot has become like these men in a way. The men that we know our angels and bring Lot inside. The men are struck with blindness that even as they are blinded they do not let up, but are still trying to get inside to the men. The door is what separates the judgment of the two groups. Inside the door is safe and outside is blind.
Lord, I ask that you show me what you have for me out of this story. Some parts of your Word are difficult and confusing as to why you put them in there and this is one of them. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and speak to me now.
Lord, we come before You with humble hearts, yearning for Your presence to fill our lives. We seek Your Spirit to awaken a revival within us—renew our minds, purify our hearts, and ignite our spirits with Your love and truth. Let our communities be transformed by Your grace and let Your light shine through us in a dark world. May we be vessels of Your peace, hope, and justice, drawing others to Your saving power. Revive us, O Lord, and lead us to live fully for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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?
But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” Lot went out to the men at the entrance, shut the door after him, and said, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” But they said, “Stand back!” And they said, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.” Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and drew near to break the door down. But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. And they struck with blindness the men who were at the entrance of the house, both small and great, so that they wore themselves out groping for the door.
Genesis 19:4-11
Yielding Prayer
Lord, you do not hide your people from the evils of this world. Teach me what I am to do when I face evils like what was going on in Sodom. Give me wisdom.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Deuteronomy 31…
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31:8
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.