P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We enter into Psalm 46 today and see that there is a river that make glad the city of God.
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 I am reminded of who you are. You are the God who is holy and all-powerful, yet you desire to be with your people. In this time fill me with your Holy Spirit and let me experience all that you have for me.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Isaiah 25…
O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you; I will praise your name,
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
Isaiah 25:1
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 46
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?”
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 46
Psalm 46 shows us the power of God. He has the power to make wars cease. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots with fire. He will be exalted among the nations and all over the earth. With all of that he invites you and I into a beautiful relationship. He invites us in the midst of trouble to find him as our very present help. He invites us into his holy habitation where there is a river that makes the city of God glad. He invites us to be still and to trust him in the midst of it all. Will we receive his invitation?
Lord, I ask that you would be my refuge and strength today. Meet me in my troubles with your very present help.
Heavenly Father, we come before You, thirsty and longing for Your presence. Let Your Spirit flow through us like a mighty river, cleansing our hearts, refreshing our souls, and renewing our minds. Wash away all that hinders us from drawing near to You. Let the waters of Your grace flood our dry places, bringing life where there was once barrenness. Lord, may Your love flow like streams of mercy, uniting Your people and awakening us to Your purpose. Revive us, O God, and let Your Spirit overflow, carrying us deeper into Your will.
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?
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 46
Yielding Prayer
Lord, in obedience I seek you as my refuge and strength. You are my very present help and I will turn to you with all things big and small. In the midst of the chaos of my life and of this world I seek to be still and know that you are God and you can be trusted with it all.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Matthew 11…
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
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.