P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
We took a brief look at the cycle of Judges yesterday and today we look for the cause.
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, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. As I approach your throne this morning I ask that you give me life according to your word. Let me experience your presence as I read and meditate on the word you have for me today.
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 119:
Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Psalm 119:19-24
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in Judges 2:6-10, where we read:
When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:6-10
The Book of Judges is filled with wild and at times awful things. It is a lesson on what it looks like when a people walk away from God. And we look at our current world that is filled with wild and at times awful things we have to ask ourselves how we got here. The Book of Judges has the answer and it is often overlooked. Judges comes at a time in history right after Joshua dies. Joshua is Moses’ successor who leads the people into the Promised Land. While Joshua led them they served the Lord, so what happened? The key is in verse 10. There arose a generation who did not know the Lord and the work that he had done for Israel. Who’s responsible for that? We see that the generation who did not know the Lord is in part, but we also understand that it is the older generations’ responsibility to teach and to pass on the knowledge of the Lord. We have to be honest with ourselves and see how we have contributed to the problem and not the solution. The beauty of the problem is the great opportunity to raise up a generation who loves the Lord and is devoted to his Word.
Lord, I ask that you show me my calling on raising up the next generation. Show me my place in the great opportunity we have of raising up a generation that loves you and loves your Word.
God, revive our hearts through the reading of your Word. Raise up a generation whose hearts are on fire for your teachings. Show us 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.
When Joshua dismissed the people, the people of Israel went each to his inheritance to take possession of the land. And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the Lord had done for Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of 110 years. And they buried him within the boundaries of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Judges 2:6-10
Yielding Prayer
Lord, let me be obedient to your Word today. Life is busy and calendars are full, but you have called me to a great work. You have called me to play a part in raising up a generation that could change the world with the gospel. Let me generously give even at great cost to myself for the good of your kingdom and heaven coming to this earth.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Isaiah 40:8:
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8
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.