P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We make a pit stop today in the Book of Hebrews to see that this earth is not our home.
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 to you this morning I ask that your Word that I read and meditate on not return void in my heart. Let your Word accomplish the task that you have set before it and let it succeed in the way you have sent it. Bury the truths you have for me today in my heart.
*Adapted from Isaiah 55:11
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 101:
I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will make music.
I will ponder the way that is blameless.
Oh when will you come to me?
I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house;
I will not set before my eyes
anything that is worthless.
I hate the work of those who fall away;
it shall not cling to me.
Psalm 101:1-3
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in Hebrews 13:7-16 where we read:
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:7-16
The Book of Hebrews draws our hearts to Jesus by showing us how beautiful of a sacrifice he was on our behalf. That God came to earth in order to die so that we can live. It is amazing. The Book of Hebrews also points us to the truth that this earth is not our forever home. We are here briefly in comparison to eternity. Look at verse 14. Here on this earth, we have no lasting city, but there is a city that will last, but that city is not here yet. The way we are to live this life is based on how this life will end. For a Christian, a belief in eternity impacts how we use the time here on this earth.
Lord, give me a vision for the eternal. Let me see that this current material world is not all there is. Give me a hope that outshines the darkness in this life. Let me sacrifice here on this earth willingly knowing I get to spend eternity with you.
1) How does the hope of eternal life change the way I live my life on this earth?
2) What does it look like for me to do good and share what I have?
Lord, through the power of you speaking you bring life out of nothing, I saw that at creation. I plead with you now to do it again. Speak life into my heart. Revive the areas that are dead and do not stop there. Speak life over this city and the people in it. Revive our weary and cold hearts to shine forth 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.
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:7-16
Yielding Prayer
Lord. let me use this life as a sacrifice to you knowing that death is not the end of my story. Fill me with your Spirit that I may obey whatever you call me to in this life.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Matthew 6:33:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
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.