P.R.A.Y

PAUSE

REJOICE & REFLECT

ASK

YIELD

Personal Worship

The supernatural community created by the Holy Spirit is devoted to fellowship.

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.

Pause

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

Lover of my soul, all my words fall short and I have nothing new. How could I express all my gratitude? I, therefore, command my soul to get up and praise the Lord. As I throw up my hands and give you my praise, I find joy in the pain and a peace that passes all my understanding.

      – Tina Rosewell (based on “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake and God’s Word)

Rejoice and Reflect

We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 91:

 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.

       Psalm 91:7-10

Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in Acts 2, where we read:

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

      Acts 2:42-47

Try to forget all ideas of fellowship that you have. Fellowship in the early church was not just defined by a gathering that had punch where they got to know each other better. Actually, this time of fellowship had never been seen before. The Greek word used here is “koinonia” is not found in the gospels. This is the first occurrence in the New Testament. The root idea is “commonness” or “commonality”. Every time the word is used after this in the New Testament it denotes some kind of sharing. Either sharing something with someone or sharing in something that someone else is experiencing. The foundation of the early church’s fellowship was giving. Fellowship cost something in the early church unlike many of the communities we find ourselves in today. Fellowship wasn’t a sentimental feeling of oneness for them it was a fellowship that was built off of giving. It was relationships that viewed the other and their needs above themselves. It was a community that in one accord saw mutual submission and sacrificial giving as vital. 

And we need to remember who the early church was made up of because this would not have been the normal way of life before so many came to salvation after Pentecost. This new family was made up of Jews and Gentiles who were far off. People with different heritages and religions now come under the same banner. People who may have had generational hate for each other are now called to mutually give for the benefit of each other. It is a fellowship that is preeminently a work of the Spirit.

Ask

Jesus, that description of fellowship does not fit what my eyes see on this earth. I see a world that is broken when it comes to community. A world where everyone looks after themselves. Would you change that in your family? Would you open my eyes and my heart to the fellowship that is costly, but the fellowship that is transformational? Pour out your spirit of fellowship that it may be so as it was then.

        1)How would I describe our world’s version of fellowship?
        2)Is that different than what we read in Acts?
        3)What sets them apart from each other?
        4)How would I describe the current community that I am a part of?
        5)What would I be willing to give up in order to live in this kind of fellowship with others?
        6)Will I pray that the Holy Spirit would create this kind of fellowship around me so that I may be a part of it?

Lord, would you send your Spirit again? We desire to see you move just like how you did through the early church in the Book of Acts. Wake your sleeping Church and give us your Spirit that is devoted to you alone. May we be able to say that you have added to our number day by day those who are being saved? Let your power rest on us.

Yield

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.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

      Acts 2:42-47

Yielding Prayer

Lord, I know that you did not create me to be alone. Forgive me that my first instinct in any relationship is what will get from it. Would you transform me by the power of your Spirit so that I will become a person who gives, instead of taking? Give me a heart that cares for others more than I care for myself. Would you pour out your Spirit on Rio so that through your power we may be described in this way?

Yielding Promise

And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in 1 John 1:7:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

       1 John 1:7

Closing Prayer

Lord, there is no one else and nothing else, that gives me that deep bubbling joy, that takes me unaware. I desire to sit here with you longer and my soul clamors for more time with you. And yet, I know I must move! One thing I desire is that I take you with me, everywhere I go, spreading your fragrance to those you would have me meet.

       – Tina Rosewell

*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.