P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
John speaks a beautiful word to us today to reassure us of the confidence we can have in this life through 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
Father God,
As I enter into your presence I ask that you meet with me here. I call upon the Words that you gave your people in Jeremiah 32. I ask that I would be a member of your people and that you would be my God. That you would give me a heart that will fear you forever. Remember your everlasting covenant to me now and do not turn away from doing good to me. Give me a heart that fears you and does not let me turn from you. Show me your kindness today. Amen.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 111…
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
Psalm 111:5-6
Today we are reflecting on the words of John in 1 John 3:19-24, where we read:
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
1 John 3:19-24
John gives us the beautiful assurance that God is greater than our heart, which is amazing. Our culture comes to the idea that we should follow our hearts for everything whereas the Bible has a much different view. The heart in Jeremiah 17:9 is described as being deceitful and desperately sick. Think about it. Out of our hearts is where doubt and fear arise. Our hearts fail in faith day after day, but thanks be to God that he is greater! We are beloved children of God, who Jesus died for. God does not condemn us because of the sacrifice of Jesus and our hearts shouldn’t either.
We are to believe in Jesus and love like Jesus. Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit so that we have the assurance that he abides in us. All we need to do is ask the Spirit for help with that.
Jesus, I ask that you bring to light all of the condemnations that my heart throws at me day after day. Remind me of the glorious truth that you are greater than my heart. My heart may be fickle, but your steadfast love endures forever. Fill me with your Spirit of Assurance that I may abide in you.
Reflection Questions:
1) Where is my heart condemning me today?
2) What does it mean that God is greater than my heart?
3) How can I remind myself and remain in that truth today?
Lord,
Today I pray the prayer that Ezekiel prayed over the dry bones in the valley. I pray it over the dry bones of our nation. I ask and plead with you as I pray:
O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4-6)
Revive us, Lord.
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…
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
1 John 3:19-24
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I surrender my heart to you. I invite your love to overflow in my life. I take the condemnations that the evil one fills my heart with and I lay them at your feet. Take my fears, doubts, anxieties, shame, and guilt right now and fill me with your Spirit that assures me I am a beloved child of you.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Deuteronomy 32:10…
He found him in a desert land,
and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
he encircled him, he cared for him,
he kept him as the apple of his eye.
Deuteronomy 32:10
Closing Prayer
Lord,
Thank you for meeting with me in this time. As I go from here fill me with your Spirit. Do not let me forget who you are or who I am in light of that. Make me your ambassador to my family, friends, and in my workplace. Pour out your love and mercy on me as I pour it out on all those that I will come into contact with this day. Let those around me see you as I live for you. Amen.