P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
James comes to us about our anger today.
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 8…
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
Psalm 8:1-6
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:19-21
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?”
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:19-21
If you are waiting for James to slow down and let you catch your breath, he won’t. He comes to us with a word about anger. He gives us the formula first, and then explains why it matters. He calls us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Anger does not produce what we think it does at times. We think maybe a little bit of our anger will fix this disjointed world. Our culture right now seems to think an outrageous amount of anger has the ability to fix this world, so we live in a world that is slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to anger. James says that it does not produce the righteousness of God. What’s the solution? It’s the Word of God being implanted in our lives through our meekness.
Lord, I ask that you teach me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
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?
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:19-21
Yielding Prayer
Lord, in obedience, I reject this angry world. Forgive me for joining in and only adding noise to our culture’s angry choir. Fill me with your Spirit and let me follow after you. Implant your Word. Transform me into someone who is quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
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.