P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
As Christmas approaches, we enter into the final week of our Advent series. We will begin the week looking at Jesus and his encounter with Pilate as he makes his way to the cross. The rest of the week we will be looking at the characters of the Christmas story.
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 you open your arms to receive me now, I open my heart and mind to receive your wisdom and instruction. Receive my praise and adoration, meager as they are, as a fragrant offering. Let fear flee from me at this moment as I share my deepest cares and concerns openly and honestly with you, lover of my soul.
-Mark Rosewell
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 84:
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise!
Psalm 84:1-4
Today we are reflecting on the words of Jesus in John 18, where we read:
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 18:28-40
We enter into the story mid-interrogation. It is early in the morning after a night when Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and questioned by the religious elites of Israel. Now Jesus stands in front of Pilate, a Roman. Pilate’s questions are fueled by contempt and confusion in the midst of a situation that I assume Pilate would have never thought he would be in. The questioning arrives at the topic of kingship. Jesus reveals he truly is a king, but not in the manner that one would expect. His kingship is distinct in two ways. Firstly, his kingdom is not of this world. He makes it clear that he has not come to overthrow Rome because if that were true his followers would be fighting and he has already commanded them to put down their swords. Secondly, as king, he has come to bear witness to the truth. He is not just a prophet passing on the Word of God, but he is the Word in flesh. With that claim, he adds that if anyone is of the truth they get that truth by listening to his voice. Pilate blinded by spiritual blindness can’t see that the answer to his question is standing right in front of him.
Jesus, I ask that you would reveal yourself to me today so that I may know the truth. Teach me to listen to your voice, because that is what makes me of the truth.
1)What is truth?
2)What does it mean that Jesus is the truth?
3)Where do I go looking for truth?
Lord, revive our hearts this Christmas season! Fill us with your Spirit that can sing wholeheartedly that a Savior was born in Bethlehem. Fix our eyes on the eternal Son of God who entered into time and space for a broken people. Let us see that salvation has come and we ask that your salvation would come to our families, workplaces, schools, and city once again.
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.
Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
John 18:28-40
Yielding Prayer
Jesus, I submit myself to you as my king. I yield to your voice and your voice alone because you are the truth. Give me your Spirit so that I can know you more today.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, I leave this time of intimacy with you now and go about my day. I ask that you will grant me peace beyond my understanding to face any challenges today. I ask for abundant grace that I may shower it upon everyone that I meet. And I ask for your Spirit to fill me that I may share You with someone that needs to hear from You today.
Mark Rosewell
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.