P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We arrive at maybe the most well known Scripture in the world today.
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
Jesus, as I approach your throne today would you open my eyes to your Scriptures? I ask that you would make your Word burn in my heart as I meet with you.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 25…
“For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the Lord?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.”
Psalm 25: 11-15
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in John 3, where we read:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3: 16
We only have one verse today and that is purposeful. Whether you have heard this verse 1,000 times or for the very first time, let’s take some time to sit in it.
This verse starts with God because the gospel starts with God. It is God’s love that precipitates everything that will take place for the saving of the world. It is because of God’s love that the Son of Man was sent on a mission to be lifted up. Feel the intensity of God’s love for the world. God SO loved. John makes it emphatic. And what did God’s love cause him to do, because real love requires action? It caused him to give. He didn’t just give away something with little value, but he gave his Son. Not just any Son, but his only Son. God didn’t give his Son to not receive anything in return though. In return for Jesus’ great sacrifice, whoever believes. “Whoever” means whoever. God is not overstating the reaches of his love. The only stipulation is belief. And that is absolutely astounding that all that is required of us is belief, because it is our sin that causes us to be separated from God and be in need of a Savior. When we believe in Jesus death is no more, because we will be with him for eternity.
Don’t just read that, but rehearse it to yourself personally until you believe that God loves you in that way right now in this very moment no matter where you are at with him. Experience the love of God for yourself today.
Lord, I ask that I would see and experience the love you have for me. I ask that you would allow me to know and walk in your love that never ends. I ask that you would remove the doubt that so easily comes to mind when I think about your love for me.
1)Why is receiving the love of God so often difficult in my life?
2)Does my life flow out of the love of God? Another way of asking myself is, do the actions of my life reveal trust in a God who loves me in a never-ending eternal kind of way?
Lord, we ask that you would come and meet your Church in power this Advent season. As we prepare our hearts to celebrate your arrival on this earth, would you pour out your Spirit on your people? This season open our eyes afresh to the work that you are doing in us and through us. Break us of the busyness and the noise as we seek to see your face. Show us your glory.
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 God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3: 16
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I surrender to your love. Allow my life to flow out of your love for me instead of for your love for me. Give me your Spirit that I may walk in your love while I accomplish what you have for me on this earth. I surrender all my selfish desires in this life so that the world around me might know the love you have for them.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Romans 5 …
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”
Romans 5:10
Closing Prayer
Jesus, you entered into humanity to save the world. Let me experience your love and mercy as I go from this moment. Give me your Spirit to live a life in my humanity that points others to you in order that they too might be saved.
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.