P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We work through the daunting call of Jesus on our lives.
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 see you for who you are. You are holy, just, and good. When I see myself in comparison I know that I am a sinner in need of grace. I humble myself now and ask for your forgiveness. Where there is sin in my life let me bring it to you in confession and turn from my sinful ways. I thank you for meeting with me at this time. Pour out your Holy Spirit on me.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Psalm 103…
The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always chide,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103:6-14
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:23-27
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 said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:23-27
Jesus looks at the crowd in Luke 9 and he doesn’t divide them into two groups for this talk. He doesn’t look at just his 12 disciples and say this is for them because they are on some different level. No, everyone in the crowd that day heard this same call to follow after Jesus. The crowd that day and if you are anything like me really likes the first and the last thing in verse 23. We want to go after Jesus and follow him. It’s difficult to swallow denying myself and taking up my cross. Jesus doesn’t give areas where we should deny ourselves. It’s not just the sinful parts of us, but it is all of us. We are no longer all about us. Think about what the crowd would have heard about taking up a cross. They saw people literally take up a cross and walk to their execution. Their ears heard that differently than ours. The call is serious, but it is a beautiful call on our lives. For all the sacrifices we get to be in a relationship with Jesus. It is a call that is not to be taken lightly though.
Lord, I ask that you speak to me now. Show me what you have for me in this passage. Touch not just my mind, but my heart as well.
Heavenly Father, we come before you, seeking revival for our nation. Restore our hearts, turning us back to your ways. Pour out your Spirit across America, igniting faith, hope, and love in every corner. Heal our divisions, renew our minds, and guide our leaders with wisdom and humility. May your truth and grace sweep through this land, transforming lives and drawing us closer to 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 said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:23-27
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I desire to follow after you. I’ll be honest, at times it seems daunting to do that. Forgive me for the countless times throughout my day that I blatantly choose to not deny myself and to not take up my cross. Fill me with your Spirit. I have no ability to do this without your power moving in me. Transform my heart and my desires so that I’ll see the beauty to follow after you in this way. Show me a greater way to live this life by following after you in all things.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Deuteronomy 6…
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Deuteronomy 6:24-26
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.