P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We look to the prophecy of Isaiah today and its fulfillment in John the Baptist.
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 this time, I ask that you fill me with your Spirit. Let me set all distractions aside. Let this time not be dictated by my agenda, but by yours. Meet with me and speak to me through your Word and prayer.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Psalm 34…
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
John 1:19-23
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?”
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
John 1:19-23
Hundreds of years before Jesus, Isaiah writes about one who will come before him. That preparer of the way is John the Baptist. John, when questioned by the religious leaders about his identity, he refuses to make much of himself. Instead, he points entirely to the One coming after him. John knows who he is not, which frees him to boldly live out who he is: “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.” His calling is not to draw attention to himself but to prepare hearts for Jesus. In a world obsessed with titles, recognition, and self-promotion, John reminds us that the most significant work often comes from those who are content to simply be a voice pointing others to Christ. His identity is rooted not in status but in obedience. And that same freedom is available to us today—when we know who God is, we learn who we are.
Lord, I ask that you show me my role in all of this. Teach me what it looks like for me not to be the destination for glory, but to be the one who points people to you.
Lord Jesus, in this Advent season of longing and light, awaken our hearts again. Stir in us a holy hunger for your presence. Revive what has grown weary, rekindle what has grown dim, and breathe new life into every place that has settled for less than your fullness. As we wait for your coming, come now—into our homes, our churches, our city, and our own hearts. Make room in us for your Spirit to move in power. Let your hope rise, your joy break in, your peace settle over us, and your love shine through us like a new dawn. Revive us, O Lord. We are waiting for you.
As I read the passage for the final time, I listen to 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?
A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
John 1:19-23
Yielding Prayer
Father, like John the Baptist, I surrender my desire to be seen, known, or elevated. Teach me to find my identity in you alone. Make me a faithful voice that points others to Jesus, not to myself. Strip away pride, insecurity, and every false identity I cling to. Prepare my heart for obedience, and let my life help prepare the way for yours. Use me today as you choose, and may Christ alone be magnified through me.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Romans 8…
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:26
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