Thank you for joining us in praying together this week. consider using the P.R.A.Y model in your prayer time today. I put it into yesterdays email but include it below in case you missed it.
The P.R.A.Y. Model
If you are looking for a different structure for your prayers, try the P.R.A.Y. model, which is based on the Lord’s Prayer.
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”
The acronym P.R.A.Y can guide and structure your prayers.
P - Praise God
R - Recognise His Gifts
A - Ask for Forgiveness
Y - Your requests
Day 2 – Pray for your family
The second day of prayer is for your family. It is important to take time to pray for those related to you. Remember, God has you in your family for a reason!
Families are wonderful and wonderfully complex. It would be foolish of me to assume any single topic or theme would apply to everyone you are now thinking of. I encourage you to spend time thinking and praying for every member of your family, and as you do so intercede on their behalf by bringing to God their joy's, challenges or concerns. Let the Spirit of God lead your thoughts and instruct your prayers. Romans 8:26-27 reminds us that it is the Spirit of God who is interceding for us. He knows our hearts.
Praise God for His wisdom to have you be a part of your family. Recognize the gift of a family, whatever yours may look like. Ask for forgiveness for times when you have not treated your family well. Present your requests to God. Ask Him to help you love your family better each day.
Questions to think about:
What are the differences in your family?
Can you start looking at those differences as strengths you can learn from?
Scripture for Today (from the Message)
'If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son."
Romans 8:28-29
If you have a moment, please read Romans 8:27-39 in your own bible today. The passage is too long for me to include here, but be reminded of how the Spirit of God knows us, prays for us and actively works in our lives. This blows my mind and today informs our prayers for our family.
