P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We meet a strange character in Scripture named Melchizedek 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
Lord, as I come into this time with you will you meet with me? You promise that if I draw near to you, that you will draw near to me. I ask for that today. Let me experience your presence.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Psalm 103…
As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,
to those who keep his covenant
and remember to do his commandments.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:15-19
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis 14:17-20
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?”
After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis 14:17-20
The king of Sodom comes to honor Abram, but Abram meets with an unusual person first. This strange character whose only appearance is in this story. The character is Melchizedek. Listen to his description. His name means “king of righteousness”. He is a priest of God Most High. He speaks with the authority of God to bless others. He is the king of Salem or the king of Peace. He brings out bread and wine. Lastly, Abram gives this man a tenth of everything. Many theologians believe that this is an early manifestation of the pre-incarnate Jesus. Abram gives him ten percent to show his gratitude to God for the great victory he had just achieved. Abram is honored by God for risking his life to rescue people who frankly did not deserve it. God is showing us his heart for those who are undeserving and need rescue.
Lord, show me who you are and show me who I am. Fill me with your Spirit as you speak to me through this text.
Lord, meet with your people again. Revive the hearts of your Church. Bring us back to our first love. Grace our cities with your Holy Spirit that brings resurrection life. Bring those who are dead in sin to life in you.
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?
After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Genesis 14:17-20
Yielding Prayer
Lord, you are the God who blesses those who bless others. Abram understands who you are and how his life should be given to that same effort. Make me a vessel of resurrection in this life. Let me not run away from those who are time consuming and messy, but let my heart be for those around me like your heart is for me.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Hebrews 7…
Consequently, he [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25
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.