Week: Prayer - Paul's prayer for us
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Father God, as we draw near to You, please draw near to us too. Teach us to pray. Speak, Lord, we’re listening.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Eli
Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need.
Ephesians 6:18a (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we are continuing to REFLECT on the prayer that Paul prayed for the Church in Ephesus.
Read by Eli
Ephesians 1:16-17
… I always remember you in my prayers, asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better.
Ephesians 1:16b-17 (NCV)
Paul’s ASK to God is very clear – he simply wants them to know God better. And Paul says that it’s the Holy Spirit who helps to make this happen – it’s the Holy Spirit who helps us to know God.
Paul says that it’s the Holy Spirit who gives wisdom and revelation, which means that he ‘reveals’ more about who God is and what God does. A bit like pulling the curtains back ‘reveals’ the world outside.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When we first meet someone, how do we get to know them?
The prayer that Paul prays for the Ephesian church is one that we can pray for ourselves too.
Glorious Father, we ASK You to give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation – the Holy Spirit – so that we can know You better.
How about we pray this amazing prayer for someone else too. Let’s say their name quietly and then pray Paul’s prayer.
Holy Spirit, as we think of this person, we ASK You to give them wisdom and to reveal a bit of who God is, so that they know God better.
Let’s do it one more time. Let’s think of another person and quietly say their name to God.
Holy Spirit, as we think of this other person, we ASK You to give them wisdom too, and to reveal a bit of who God is, so that they know God better.
Maybe we could pray this prayer for other friends later on.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Ephesians 1:16-17
… I always remember you in my prayers, asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you will know him better.
Ephesians 1:16b-17 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES, we want more of Your gifts of wisdom and revelation so that we can know God better.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers, asking for everything you need.
Ephesians 6:18a (NCV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Eli is 11 and lives in Melbourne, Victoria with his mum, dad and two younger sisters. He enjoys music, reading, riding his skateboard and playing soccer.
