Monday - Pray Like This
Welcome to daily prayer. Today we are beginning an eight week journey with the Lord’s Prayer called “Pray Like This.”
This prayer was given to us by Jesus and lived out by Jesus all the way to the cross. This week we are focusing on our approach to God as Father. Prayer is not about performance but about relationship and partnership with God. Each day we will simply pray P.R.A.Y. together:
P. Pause and praise Him.
R-Reading Scripture and rejoicing in God’s goodness and greatness
A-acknowledging our needs and asking God to help us and others.
Y-saying Yes to God’s ways and yielding to Him.
As we begin our time together, let’s pause and be still in the presence of God.
Lord, I set aside all my distractions and I give everyone and everything to you.
“O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.” (Psalm 51:15)
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to your name, O Most High. To declare your love in the morning and your faithfulness by night.” (Psalm 92:1-2)
Father, today we praise you for your love and goodness. You are our refuge and strength.
A Scripture reading from 1 John 3:1-3:
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.
But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
A Time to Rejoice in the Lord:
Father, how could it possibly be that you love me more than I’ll ever know? Your Word tells me to behold your great love. To gaze on your love for me that you would call me your child. This is amazing grace. That you would send your one and only son into the world that we could live through him. Today, I rest and rejoice in your love for me.
Father, I’m so grateful for you.
A- Let’s acknowledge our needs and ask for God’s help:
Father, I wouldn’t have life or breath without you. I acknowledge that I’m dependent on you but often do not believe that I am a beloved child.
I know what I’m like apart from your grace and I’m prone to wander from you. I don’t rest in the finished work of Christ. The cleansing grace of Jesus.
Lord, you know that sometimes I act and think like an orphan in the world. Forgive me.
I don’t try to reflect the nature of our family. Lord, forgive me.
Let’s ask the Lord for help:
Father, today I ask that you would give me a revelation of your love. Give me eyes to see. Fill my heart with joy and gladness.
Lord, protect me from evil today and help me to fix my eyes on you and walk in love.
Help me to rest in your delight today.
As we listen to the passage again, let’s listen for a word or phrase that the Holy Spirit may want to say to us from todays verses and let’s be ready to say yes to God’s ways.
1 John 3:1-4
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.
But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.”
Yield and Say Yes:
Father, I yield to your love and say “yes” to receiving your love today.
Father, fill us with your love. Help us to love you and to love and see others the way you do. Give us grace and courage to do what you say.
Let’s finish by praying the Lord’s Prayer together:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen
*Special thanks to our friends at 24/7 Prayer and Lectio 365 for the outline P.R.A.Y.