P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We kick off our season of Pray First next week so we are laying the groundwork this week! In this season we will seek to Abide, Ask, and Follow all that Jesus has for us. Today we begin with an invitation from Jesus.
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, I ask that you would meet with me at this moment. Let me experience you deeply. Pour out your Spirit on this time. Let me rest in the fact that you know everything about me and that there is nothing I can hide from you, yet you promise to draw near to me when I draw near to you. You are the God who draws near to his people and I ask that you would do the same for me now.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 148:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
Psalm 148:1-2
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in Matthew 11, where we read:
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:25-30
Jesus beings this passage with thanksgiving. He thanks the Father that he has revealed himself not to the wise and understanding, but to little children. What separates wisdom and understanding from little children? I think it is neediness. As our wisdom and understanding grow it is easy for our pride and self-reliance to grow as well. A little child knows that he needs help and is quick to ask for it. That is what Jesus is calling his people to. With all the authority given to him, what does he invite his people into? He invites his people to rest. He looks at burdened people and he does not pile anything else on us. In fact, he offers to take all that is heavy in our lives and give us rest in its place. Then he invites us to take his yoke upon ourselves. A yoke that is far different than the yokes of our world. A yoke that guides us, but doesn’t crush us. Why is that yoke different? It’s different because Jesus is different. One of the only self-proclamations of Jesus’ own heart is that he is gentle and lowly. This is a life-transforming and life-giving invitation. Will we receive it is the question?
Lord, I give to you all that is burdensome in my life. I ask that you would give me rest. A rest where I can find peace and freedom in you.
1)What burdens me?
2)Whose yoke am I carrying? What kind of yoke is it?
3)Why is it so easy for me to disregard this invitation of Jesus?
4)Will I run towards Jesus today to find peace?
Lord, revive your people by drawing us to yourself. As we seek to abide, ask, and follow you over this next season would you do only you can do? Revive our hearts and pour out your Spirit among us. Wake those who are asleep and resurrect those who are spiritually dead. We ask that you come in a supernatural way to meet with your Church as we unify under one banner and cry out to you!
As I read the passage again slowly, I listen for anything that You would say to me in it. Help me see how to position my life in order to yield to your word.
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:25-30
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I surrender all the yokes of this earth that I carry today. Allow me to put down the yoke of status, wealth, power, success, fear, anxiety, and all others that I carry. I put all of those down so that your yoke can be on my shoulders. A yoke that leads me to true rest and freedom.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in James 4:8
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
James 4:8
Closing Prayer
Lord, you have met with me today. You have poured out your Spirit and wisdom on me. Let me now leave being renewed by who you are and who I am in you. Let me be a light in a dark world that points people to your glory.
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.