P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
The woman is healed and Jesus has a question.
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
Jesus, I come into your presence as one who is weary and heavy-burdened and I am looking for rest. The yoke of this world is too heavy for me to carry. Teach me and show me your humble and gentle heart at this time. Let me find the rest that my soul is looking for. Give me your yoke that is easy and your burden that is light.
*Adapted from Matthew 11:28-30
We choose to rejoice in the power of God’s Word, with all his people in Psalm 105:
1 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
Psalm 105:1-6
Today we are reflecting on the words of Scripture in Luke 8:45-48, where we read:
45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Luke 8:45-48
The woman was healed instantly as she touched the fringe of Jesus’ garment. Jesus turns after he feels power released from his body, “Who touched me?”. Everyone around him denied it of course. Peter is the only one bold enough to point out that they are in a massive crowd and it could have been anyone. Jesus asks again though. It seems like he will not let this go. The woman has a choice does she come forward and reveal herself or not? Remember, she’s already been healed. In her mind, if she comes forward things could only go badly. What if Jesus sees that it is her who has been healed and believes she isn’t worthy? What if Jesus sees that an unclean woman touched him, would he be upset? In her mind, she is wondering if Jesus is going to treat her, in the same way, everyone else has in the last 12 years. She courageously comes to Jesus. Her body is trembling as she falls before his feet. She declares in front of the whole crowd who knew her and her illness that she had touched Jesus and she was instantly healed. The crowd must have been shocked. She touched him! How will Jesus respond? He looks at her and doesn’t rebuke her. He doesn’t talk about how she was so unclean. He looks at her and calls her daughter. Maybe for the first time in 12 years, she felt seen and loved by someone. And Jesus says that her faith which caused her to reach out and experience Jesus has made her well. She leaves in peace. One moment, one touch with Jesus, and her life is transformed.
Lord, I ask for faith like this woman. Faith that overcomes fear and perceptions of me. A faith that will do whatever it takes to experience Jesus.
Lord, we join with the psalmists as we pray for revival (Psalm 85:4-9):
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
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.
45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
Luke 8:45-48
Yielding Prayer
Jesus, you are the God who heals. You are the God who sees the outcast. You are the God who does not forget his people. I ask that you meet me just like you met this woman that day. Lord, I need a healing of some sort. I come to you in faith and I ask you to heal what is broken in me. Meet me like you met this woman that day.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Romans 8:11:
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Romans 8:11
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.