Thursday - Pray Like This
Welcome to Daily Prayer. We are in the midst of an 8-week series called PRAY LIKE THIS, where we are journeying through the Lord’s Prayer and believing for Jesus to help us grow in the intimacy of prayer. This week, our focus is on the phrase, “Thy kingdom come,” and today we are exploring how the good news of the Gospel impacts kingdom living.
We are using a simple acrostic P R A Y, so we will:
Pause and praise
Rejoice and reflect on the scripture
Acknowledge our need and Ask for His help and finally
Yield and say Yes to His ways
As we begin this time together, let’s PAUSE and surrender this day and our lives to Him. Take a deep breath, and as you do, remember that one of the words used in Scripture for Spirit is breath. Allow the Spirit to flood your soul as you breathe deeply, releasing all your cares to Him when you exhale. For a moment, rest in the presence of your powerful Redeemer King and relinquish control, naming the people or circumstances you want to entrust to Him. Praise Him for His sovereign power over all that concerns you. He is good. He is faithful. And His mercies are new toward you in this moment.
I choose to REJOICE in the good news of the Gospel, that Jesus did for me what I could never do for myself, setting me free from the bondage of sin and destruction. I am forever grateful that He didn’t stop at saving me but continues to bring freedom in areas where I have experienced oppression and the effects of living in a broken world. He doesn’t condemn me but calls me to be restored in relationship and for kingdom purpose. Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes to see You and to see others through a spiritual lens.
A Scripture reading from Luke 4:17-19, 21
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
As Jesus quotes Isaiah 61, he initiates the work of His kingdom, the fulness of redemption, freedom and restoration available to each of us. And once we have experienced freedom, we have a daily manifesto from which to walk forth. God invites His children to partner with Him to accomplish the kingdom plan of salvation going to all peoples and nations.
Jesus, I ACKNOWLEDGE my need for greater freedom in my soul. Forgive me for my self-centeredness and self-reliance, for making life about me. I repent for harboring offense and judgment. I recognize my thoughts don’t always align with the truth of your Word, and therefore, fear creeps in to rob my peace. Break off every form of bondage from my life. Wash over me with your perfect love and cause me to once again rest in your forgiveness and favor. I come out of agreement with the lies of the enemy that declare me disqualified for kingdom purpose.
I ASK you to open my eyes today that I may see the ways the kingdom of darkness has others bound. I pray and name before you family members and friends who lack freedom and are struggling with various forms of oppression, unforgiveness, addiction and shame. By the power of the blood of Jesus, set them free. Anoint me with the power of your Spirit to share the good news of the Gospel with them and with others I will encounter today. I pray also for the nations where there is no Gospel representation. Bring salvation and freedom to those people groups around the world.
As we read back through today’s text, ask the Holy Spirit how He may want to direct you through this passage.
A Scripture reading from Luke 4:17-19, 21
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Lord, I YIELD to the powerful work of the Gospel in my life and to the anointing of the Holy Spirit to fulfill your Kingdom purpose. I say YES to all the freedom you have for me, even in areas I may not recognize in this moment. Open my eyes anew to see as you see and to proclaim liberty and freedom to those who need to know your love and forgiveness.
Let’s close 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