Joy! Praying His Word: Praying His Word, #1

By John Wile

Who doesn't need joy?  God's intent is that we encounter joy as we journey with him.  These prayers have been created as a path in his joy.   Each prayer is a response to something God has revealed in his Word, a response of rejoicing.

 

This prayer book is unusual.  If you've used a devotional, you know that, normally, we read it and we're done.   Our hearts may or may not connect with what we've read.  But these 31 prayers are not designed for passive reading.   There are four parts each day: (1) a selected passage of Scripture, (2) a short comment that helps to understand and appreciate what the passage is saying, (3) a reflective question that causes a person to stop and think, (4) a prayer which incorporates whatever the reflective question unearthed.

 

It's that reflective question that makes all the difference.  That's where the Holy Spirit works.  He takes that passage of the Word of God and begins to move in our hearts.   Then as we ask ourselves the reflective question with an attitude of openness to the Holy Spirit's promptings, we discover a more honest awareness of our own hearts, its needs, its desires.  We see more clearly into the character and goodness of God.  And then, by the work of the Spirit with the Word, we find ourselves wrapped into a richer appreciation of God himself and his care for us.

 

This is volume 4 in a growing list of "31 day prayer books" from the series "Praying His Word."  

1. Joy!  Praying His Word
2. He Speaks!  Praying His Word
3. Hope!  Praying His Word
4. Father, Son & Spirit!  Praying His Word

• Language: English
• Publisher: HOLOFO productions
• Release date: Jul 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201860486

John Wile

John Wile is recently retired from Barnabas International where, for several decades, together with his wife, Kathryn, as a pastoral team, they served cross-cultural workers in multiple countries around the world.  Prior to serving with Barnabas International, John was pastor of congregations in Wisconsin and Minnesota.  Recently John has been part of a team creating equipping curriculum for Shepherd’s Apprentice, a ministry of Barnabas International.  He has also been helping to produce discipleship material for the family ministry in their local congregation.  Their family includes two adult children, a daughter-in-law and an ever delightful granddaughter.

Book preview

Not Your Usual Devotional

Normally, when we use a devotional book or a prayer book, we simply read what is there.  But these prayers are designed for us to pause mid-stream and do a little thinking.  Then, after some reflection, we pray.

Scripture

God is the initiator in conversational prayer.  He speaks to us through his Word.  We then respond to what he has said.  Before reading, you might make a simple request:  O Lord, open my heart to understand and to receive what you are saying.  Read it a few times, pause over it, listen to the Spirit of God speak through it.  The passages stand on their own quite well, but it’s sometimes helpful to read the larger context.

Comment

The purpose of the comments is to highlight the truth of the passage.  The scripture remains our focus because it is God’s Word to us.  It is his Word to which we then respond in prayer.

Reflective Question

When we take time to think vulnerably and reflectively, good things happen in our conversation with God.  We hear him more clearly and we respond more honestly.  The Scripture and the Comment prepare the way for the Reflective Question.  The prayer that follows is our careful and heartfelt response.  Please take time for this reflection question, you won’t regret it.

Prayer of Rejoicing

The written prayer may be used just as it is, but you may want to rephrase it, or to keep praying when the words finish.  In each prayer there is an obvious spot for you to bring in your response to the reflective question.

Day 1:  Deuteronomy 12:7

There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

Comment

Amid detailed instructions about how God’s people are to worship is this call to rejoice.  In the larger context, we might be distracted by the commands to destroy idols and offer proper sacrifices.  Let’s not miss this: that God invites us into joy as we worship.  And he is quite specific about the source of that joy.  It’s a deliberate, thoughtful rejoicing over the good things of life – food, shelter, clothing, safety.  Yes, he says, these resulted from our own hard work, we put our hands to each of them.  But the deep truth is that each of these are a gift from him, his blessing, marks of his faithful love.

Reflective Question

What good things have you experienced in recent days (or recent years) that resulted from your own hard work? 

Prayer of Rejoicing

Oh LORD God, the hands and heart you gave me have produced many good things.  But each one is, in truth, a blessing from you.  Home,