P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We begin the week thinking about the author of this letter, James.
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
Holy Spirit, make me see, make me know, make me understand, so that I may love You more and more.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Psalm 33…
The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
He assigned the sea its boundaries
and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
Let the whole world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.
For when he spoke, the world began!
It appeared at his command.
Psalm 33:6-9
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:31-35
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
James 1:1
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 his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:31-35
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
James 1:1
At a couple of places in the gospels, you see Mary and the brothers of Jesus, including James, seeking after Jesus. Not seeking in the sense of following after, but physically trying to track him down and stop him. Earlier in Mark 3, Jesus’ family went out to seize him because they thought he was out of his mind. Now we read a letter written to the church in the diaspora, written by none other than a brother of Jesus himself. How does James introduce himself? As a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. So what changed? In between the letter and trying to seize Jesus is the cross and the resurrection. I don’t know this for sure, but James must have witnessed his brother Jesus and believe that after all these years, he finally believes he is who he says he is, and James is transformed.
Lord, I ask for an experience that transforms and draws me deeper into a relationship with you.
Lord God, You are the breath of life and the fire of our hearts. Awaken us from spiritual slumber, ignite a passion for your truth, and stir a holy hunger for your presence. Revive your Church, O Lord, renew our love for you and for one another. Let your Spirit move mightily in us, that we may live boldly for Your glory and shine your light into the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As I read the passage for the final time, I listen to 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 his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:31-35
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ
James 1:1
Yielding Prayer
Lord, transform me by the power of your Spirit. Take my doubt and turn it into faith. Show me who you are and let me be obedient to you in all things because you are God. Today, I ask that you show me what you have for me as I go throughout my day. Let me see how you are at work in all things, including my life.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Isaiah 66…
Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being?”
declares the Lord.
“These are the ones I look on with favor:
those who are humble and contrite in spirit,
and who tremble at my word.
Isaiah 66:2
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.