Thursday - Pray Like This

Welcome to Daily Prayer. We're continuing our series on the Lord's Prayer called Pray Like This. This week, we're reflecting on the phrase, "Give us today our daily bread." In John 15, Jesus teaches us that if we abide in him, and his Word abides in us, we can ask whatever we wish, and it will be done for us. It's to the Father's glory that we bear much fruit and show that we are his disciples. Let's ask together for the glory of God.

As we begin our time together, let's quiet our hearts and minds to be with the Lord.

Praise:

Lord, I draw near to abide in you. I worship you as the only true God, the only one worthy of my trust and love. I praise you as the good shepherd. Father, I praise you as the great gardener. Jesus, you're the vine, the true source of life. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we worship and adore you.

A Scripture reading from John 15:5 & 7–8:

"I am the vine, you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;

apart from me you can do nothing...

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

A time to rejoice in the Lord:

Lord, I rejoice at the idea that if I abide in you, I will bear much fruit. There's life that can flow through me. How can that be, except that you do it?

You have given us your Word and Spirit so that we can abide in you and experience your life.

Father, I rejoice that you're the Gardener, and you can make beautiful things.

Jesus, I rejoice that you are the Vine, the source of life, and that you've invited me. You've made your life available for me. For that, I adore you.

A time to acknowledge our needs:

Lord, I acknowledge that apart from you I can do nothing.

And yet, I live so much of my life seeking to be independent. To do things on my own. Lord, forgive me.

I repent of trying to produce a fruitful life without you.

I acknowledge that I need you, and I pray for your help.

Ask:

Lord, we ask that you would provide what we need today. We want to glorify you in our lives. Teach us to abide moment by moment with you.

Let's ask the Lord to meet specific needs that we have in our lives or the lives of people that we know.

Lord, we're asking that you would meet our needs today and help us walk in love.

As we listen to the passage again, let's listen for a word or phrase that the Holy Spirit may want to impress on your heart or mind today:

"I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

Yield:

Jesus, I yield to you. I am your disciple. I'm a branch. I say yes to yielding my heart to your words and receiving your word and spirit as my nourishment today. I abide in your love. I receive your invitation to draw near and to receive your life as my life.

Lord, 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 pray the Lord's Prayer together as we close:

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.