P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Today we will see that Jesus’ heart for the lost is not just a one-off with the woman at Simon’s dinner.
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 my desire is to taste and see that you are good! Let me be blessed because I find my refuge in you. Let me lay down all that is going on in my life and the world around me at your feet today. Meet with me now and let me hear what you have for me today.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 138:
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Psalm 138:7-8
As you read the passage, ask the Lord to reveal a word or phrase that stands out to you.
but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Luke 8:1-11
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?”
but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Luke 8:1-11
The Pharisees trying to trick Jesus use this woman who was caught in the act of adultery. Let those words sink in. These men barged into the room and ripped this woman out into the middle of the street. Interestingly though the man she was with is nowhere to be seen. They give Jesus what they believe is two options. Obey the Law of Moses and stone this woman or break the Law and let her go. Jesus has a third option. He turns the crowd’s attention from this woman’s sin to their own sin. No one there is perfect besides Jesus and that’s what he wants them to see. Slowly, but surely they all leave. Jesus is now alone with this woman. How will he respond to her in private? His heart is not one of condemnation, but his heart also desires transformation. He doesn’t want this woman to stay in that place. He wants the same for us. He doesn’t condemn us for our sin because he was already condemned for it. He doesn’t want us to stay stuck in it. He wants us to find freedom from the weight of our sins in him.
Jesus, let me experience the deep love you have for me. Let me not come to you in a scared way afraid of rejection from you. Let me come open and honestly, because I know your heart for me.
Lord, we ask that you would move in our city and in the hearts of the people in Fort Lauderdale. Pour out your Spirit in a supernatural way in this season of time drawing all people to yourself.
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?
but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Luke 8:1-11
Yielding Prayer
Lord, let me yield to you today. You are God and I am not. Forgive me for all the ways I make this life all about me. Give me a heart that desires to see others experience you. Wherever I feel stuck today would you set me free? I need your transformational power in my life.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Romans 5:6-8
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6-8
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.