P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Jesus modeling what prayer looks like introduces the idea of his kingdom on this earth.
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 through prayer would you open my eyes to see you? Open my eyes to the glory of who you are. Open my eyes and let my heart follow. Show me who you are and let everything else fall away during this time in your presence.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 33:
For the word of the Lord is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Psalm 33:4-5
As you read the passage, ask the Lord to reveal a word or phrase that stands out to you.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10
As I reread the passage, I am reflecting on the questions, “How is my life touched by this word?” and “How does this passage connect with my life?”
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10
As Jesus continues teaching and modeling what it looks like to pray he points his disciples and us to the idea of his kingdom.
Jesus wants us to pray that his kingdom will be established, that his will will be done and that this earth will begin to look like heaven. Jesus is the king in the flesh. That he is sovereign over all things. He came to earth to conquer sin and death on our behalf so that we can receive salvation. He came so that we can live under his lordship as his people and there is nothing in this world that is better than that. He wants all of our heart, mind, and strength to be used for his glory. We are praying for his will to be done, but the truth is if he is the king then his will is going to be accomplished. We pray this so that our wills would begin to match his. Just like Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, not my will, but your will be done. That is the goal of our lives that our wills would start to look more like his. Lastly, prayer has the power to bring heaven to earth. As we pray those prayers earth cannot help to look more like heaven a place where Jesus rules and reigns.
Jesus, I ask that you would show me where I am living as the king in my own life. I ask that you would reveal your will to me. I ask that you would show me where my will for this life and your will for my life do not match up. I ask that you would reveal to me my role in making this earth look more like heaven.
Lord, I ask that you would rend the heavens and come down. Meet with your people again in a supernatural way for a certain period of time. Reignite your people’s hearts and bring those who are far off to faith in you. Let your glory spread in this dark world.
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?
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I yield my life to your kingdom. I lay down my life in your service as my king. I seek to obey and treasure you as the king of my life. Break me of my desire for my own will to be all that matters. Reveal to me my role and change my desires so that my focus is on seeing your kingdom come into this world. Take me off the throne of my heart that is your rightful place. I surrender to you now.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Matthew 7:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:7-11
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.