P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Paul ends this week perplexed and shows us his love and determination for the people in Galatia.
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 your presence fill me with your Spirit. Remind me that I come to you as your child. I enter your throne room as the child of the King with the full access that comes with that. I do not come in with any fear, but full of confidence that I will be heard by my Father who loves me.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 30:
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Psalm 30:11-12
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in 4:13-20, where we read:
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Galatians 4:13-20
Paul begins by reminding them of how they treated him. It seems that while Paul was in Galatia something happened to him health-wise. Whatever it was it was serious enough for it to be a trial to the Galatians around Paul. They did not treat him with scorn or despise him because of it. In fact, they received him and this is a bold statement like an angel of God or even as Christ Jesus. Paul came as a messenger with the authority of the true gospel and they received it. When he left though. They fell for the flattery of the Judaizers. The Judaizers wanted to shut the Galatians out of the family of God so that they could be lifted high. How does Paul describe his attitude to these very difficult Galatians? He is in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in them. In the midst of the foolishness and difficulty, Paul isn’t giving up on them. He’s perplexed by them, but he is not walking away from them. He knows he was loved by God at his most difficult. God met him as he was on his way to kill more Christians. So with the love that he has been given, he now gives to the Galatians
Lord, I ask that you would transform the way I love. Break me of my selfishness.
1)How do I normally handle difficult people?
2)Who am I currently called to love and pursue in this season of my life?
3)Where do I need to pray for the strength of the Holy Spirit to fill me so that I can love the people that God has placed in my life?
Lord, set a fire down in my soul that I can’t control. I want more of you God. Pour out your Spirit that all will be drawn to you. Wake the slumbering and find the lost. Let us experience all that you have for us.
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.
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Galatians 4:13-20
Yielding Prayer
Lord, I ask that you show me how I have been loved by you. When I was at my worst you loved me. Now give me that kind of love for those around me. Fill me patience and concern for those who are difficult in my life. Give me an attitude that doesn’t give up on people, because you don’t give up on me.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Galatians 4:7:
So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Galatians 4:7
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.