P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Joseph’s brothers decide his fate.
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
Father, I come before you with a humble heart, longing to meet with you. Thank you for the gift of your Word and the privilege of prayer. Quiet my mind, still my spirit, and open my eyes to see your truth. May your Spirit guide me into understanding, and may my heart be soft to receive and obey. I draw near to you now, Lord, trusting that you will draw near to me.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Psalm 33…
For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
Psalm 33:4
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
Genesis 37:12-20
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?”
Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
Genesis 37:12-20
Jacob obviously has no idea what is going on because he sends Joseph out to check on his brothers. This time the brothers have had enough. The hatred in their heart boils over and they want to kill him. Bitterness lead to hate and hate it seems will eventually lead to death.
Lord, show me what bitterness and hate I am holding onto. The ones I know about and reveal to me the ones I don’t know about.
Join us for Pray First, set your heart on God this week, asking Him to awaken a deeper longing for His presence.
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”’ Matthew 22:37
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
The Lord desires our whole heart. If we long to see His power at work, we must ensure there is nothing we desire more than Him.
Pray: Our Father, how easily the things of this world capture my heart, causing me to chase after them instead of You! Forgive me for the times I place my hope in wealth, security, power, pleasure and control, instead of placing my full trust and reliance on You alone. Shine a light on my heart, Lord. Show me what I love more than You, so that I may truly repent and be made clean before You. Help me today to seek You with all of my heart.
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?
Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
Genesis 37:12-20
Yielding Prayer
Lord, search my heart and reveal any seeds of jealousy, anger, or bitterness hiding within me. I confess that at times I’ve let sinful thoughts linger instead of surrendering them to you. Today, I choose to lay down resentment and envy, asking you to fill me with love and compassion instead. Guard my heart from sin’s deceitfulness, and help me to walk in forgiveness and grace. I yield my thoughts and desires to you, Lord, and ask that my heart reflect your love.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Genesis 50…
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good
Genesis 50:20
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.