P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Today Paul shows us how important it is that each of us does what we are called to!
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, your word promises that if I draw near to you, you will draw near to me (James 4:8). I believe your word and claim your promise now as I spend this time with you. May your Holy Spirit draw close and fill me anew today in a way that I have not experienced before. Grow your fruit in me today Holy Spirit. Let me hear your voice, that I may receive and act upon the things you give me.
-Mark Rosewell
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 107:
Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
Psalm 107:23-32
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 12, where we read:
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:14-31
Paul is pretty clear and I don’t think much commentary is needed here. Paul is pointing us to the importance of finding and living in the gift set that we have been given and not seeking to be something that we are not. God is good and can be trusted. The world that we live in teaches us differently though. It subjectively takes some gifts and makes them greater than others which causes us all to want one instead of the varieties that God has created. God wants us to enter into what he has for us, not what we want for ourselves. As difficult as that can be it is completely worthwhile. And in all of that, it makes us deeply desire and need others in this life. We cannot do it all on our own. I need you and you need me. It is amazing what the Lord has called us to do!
Jesus, I thank you that you know me better than I know myself. Show me how you have created me and where you have given me gifts. Give me contentment and purpose in the place where you have me, yet give me a desire for all that you have for me and to not settle in comfort where I don’t belong.
1)Where has God gifted me uniquely? What part of the body am I in this metaphor?
2)Am I using the gifts I’ve been given or desiring others?
3)What does it look like for me to encourage others that are gifted differently than me?
4)What do you think Paul means by desire the higher gifts?
Lord, would you humble your people at your feet? Open our eyes and show us that it is in you alone that we find life. This world has nothing for us. Break us of our desire for the mute and lifeless idols of this world. Give us a longing for more. Give us a desire to have whatever it is you want to give us. Pour out your Spirit in a supernatural way during this season of time as we seek your face. To you alone be all glory and honor.
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.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 12:14-31
Yielding Prayer
Lord, you are good. Give me trust in that goodness. Show me who I am and the purpose for which you have created me. Give me your Spirit and clarify the gifts that you have given to me. Give me clarity and in all of this let me submit to your will for my life above my will for my own life. You are God and I am not. Let my life be honoring to you today.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Ephesians 3:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Closing Prayer
Holy Spirit, may I display your fruit today to everyone that I meet. Help me to love more; to radiate joy and peace; to be patient in trying situations; to be kind and good when my natural reaction may be to lash out; as you have been gentle and faithful to me Lord, help me to be so to others today. Grant me the self-control I will need to triumph for your kingdom today, bringing glory to the name of Jesus
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.