P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We are beginning a new series titled, “Friend of God” where we will journey through the life of Abraham the Patriarch. Over the next few weeks, we will see that Abraham, who although he is imperfect, was a man that lived a life of faith. Before we get into Abraham though, this week we will be looking at the famously odd story of the Tower of Babel.
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
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
*Ephesians 3:14-19
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in 2 Corinthians 1:20…
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him [Jesus]. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
2 Corinthians 1:20
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.
Genesis 10:8-14
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?”
Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.
Genesis 10:8-14
We’ve read this verse twice so far and you may be like why am I reading this? This seems like one of those passages that is just moving the plot line of Genesis along. It does move the plot line along, but it also introduces us to Nimrod the leader of the Tower of Babel. Nimrod’s description may seem innocuous at first, but the English isn’t clear about who he really is. So hear his biography now when it says Nimrod’s name and it means “We shall rebel”. As a mighty man, he was a tyrant. He was not a hunter of animals but of men. When it says he was before the Lord, it means he is a warlord in God’s face. Nimrod was the first tyrant that ruled a large area of land, because of the great warrior he was. He was a tyrant who believed in himself in such a way that not only did he not believe he needed God, but he was actively acting against him. There is no neutrality in this life when it comes to God. We either submit to him and his reign in our lives or we are actively working against him.
Lord, I ask that you show me who I am. Show me the deep places of my heart that I try to hide from you. Let me see where my life is in your face as opposed to following after you.
Lord, awaken my soul. Fill me with your fire again. Let me see me for who I am, but let me see you for who you are. You are the God of resurrection, please resurrect the dead inside of me. Let me walk in the Spirit today.
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?
Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city. Egypt fathered Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorim.
Genesis 10:8-14
Yielding Prayer
Lord, let me not be like Nimrod! In fact, let me be the exact opposite. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and let my heart be quick to hear what you have for me and quick to obey what you have for me. In all things let me bow down to you as my King and my Lord.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Ephesians 3…
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21
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.