Monday - Pray Like This (Doxology)

Welcome to daily prayer. This week we are focusing on the last phrase of the Lord’s prayer…

“For Yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 

Today, we will pray together and ask God to help our hearts see and believe that this Kingdom is worth giving up everything for. Before we begin, let’s pause and ask the Holy Spirit to settle our minds and give us the grace to be fully with Him in these next few moments.

PAUSE:

Lord, nothing can separate me from you. I am knit together with You. Bless me today with ears to hear and a heart to receive from you. Focus my thoughts right now on You Jesus.

SCRIPTURE: A Scripture reading from Matthew 13:44-46

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

RESPOND: 

Lord, when you describe your kingdom, you say it is worth giving up EVERYTHING for. There is nothing we could have on this earth that brings more security, peace, delight, and joy than finding the treasure of your Kingdom.

I want to find Your Kingdom Lord. I want to desire your Kingdom more than the treasures of this world. I want to be like the man that sold all he had in joy to gain the pearl of great price.

ASK FOR HELP: 

Father, I admit that it feels so much easier to see before me the pleasures of this world and chase after them. There are days and moments where I pursue earthly treasure and don’t even think about Your desires and concerns. Father, forgive me.

Change me, give me desire for the Kingdom. Let me see the treasure. Don’t let me find my delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasure of loving You.

My heart is where my treasure is. Help me Holy Spirit to store up treasure in heaven and not on this earth.

Lord, reveal the treasure of your Kingdom today to those who do not yet know you. May they find that you are the pearl of great price! 

SCRIPTURE AGAIN: 

As we read the passage again, ask the Lord to reveal any desire in you that is taking first place in your heart….

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

YIELD: 

Jesus, loving You means giving you the first place. It means nothing can stir my heart as you do. Give me this day the grace to see rightly and to live with You and Your Kingdom being the center of my life. I say yes to Your Kingdom being worth giving up everything for. I do not want to gain the world, but lose my soul, Lord. Keep my desires and longings in line with Yours today Father. 

Receive this blessing as we end our time together…

*"Christ be with you, Christ before you, Christ behind you, Christ within you. Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of you, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of you."

Go now protected by the strong name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

*this blessing is drawn from a condensed version of St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer