P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Jesus gives us two illustrations of the seriousness of our anger.
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 approach you I remind myself that you are the God who is in my midst. You are the God who is mighty to save. You are the God who rejoices over me with gladness, you quiet me with your love, and you exult over me with loud singing. Speak to me now.
***Adapted from Zephaniah 3:17
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 84:1-4:
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 Scripture in Matthew 5:23-26, where we read:
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:23-26
Jesus has just talked about anger and now he gives us two illustrations about the seriousness of our anger. He begins with someone who is going to worship. The interesting thing is in both illustrations it is not the anger in the person that needs to be resolved, but the anger he has produced in someone else because of his or her actions. Jesus knows it is easy for us to remember where we are angry with others, but we tend to shy away from the areas and relationships where we have caused anger in someone else’s heart. Jesus says if you are on your way to worship with an offering for God and you remember that you have wronged someone, the most important thing you can do at that moment is drop your offering and go and reconcile with that person. Jesus sees reconciliation as that important. Then in verse 25, he switches to a legal proceeding. He is saying don’t wait till you fight it out in court where you may end up getting thrown into debtors’ prison but handle it on the way. Jesus’ focus is on immediate action to end any anger that we hold or have caused. Anger is insidious because it grows as we hold onto it. Anger leads to bitterness. Bitterness leads to hate and before we know it we are lost in it.
Lord, show me what it looks like to reconcile with those that I have caused to be angry. Give me the humility to see that I am loved so I can pursue reconciliation to whatever degree I need to.
1)Why is reconciliation so difficult?
2)What does reconciliation mean in my mind?
3)Is there anyone I need to reconcile with today?
Lord, we ask that you would pour out your Spirit on our lands. Will you meet with your people again? Revive us with the power of your Spirit. Transform us and let us see your glory.
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.
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:23-26
Yielding Prayer
Lord, give me a heart that seeks to make amends. Give me a desire for reconciliation. Form in me a heart that takes immediate action when there is anger involved. Reconciliation is difficult, but that is what you have called me to do today. I seek to obey you today. Fill me with your Spirit that I may have life and have it abundantly.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in James 1:17:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
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.