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 1:18
I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people.
Ephesians 1:18 (NCV)
In this part of Paul’s prayer he prays that the Ephesians will have a better understanding of the blessings and promises that they already have in Jesus (in the past), all that they can receive now through the Holy Spirit (in the present) and that they will continue to hope for everything God promises for ever (in the future).
The Bible actually contains more than 8000 promises like these, and about 88% of them are God’s promises to us, His people.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question: When was the last time we made a promise to someone? Or when was the last time someone made a promise to us? Did we, or they, keep the promise?
Earlier in Ephesians (1:3) Paul says that we have already received every promise and blessing from God in Jesus. Maybe the most important promise of all is Jesus’, to never leave us, but to always be with us.
Father God, thank You that You loved us so much that You sent Jesus so that we could receive every one of Your promises and blessings. We especially ASK You to help us remember that You promise to always be with us.
If we were to pray through all of the thousands of promises and blessings in the Bible, it would take hours. So let’s take just one of them and pray it for someone else. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus promises rest for those who are weary. Who do we know that seems weary, and could do with a rest?
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to be with them, and to be gentle with them. We ASK You to lift off whatever heavy burden is making them weary, and may they find rest in You.
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 1:18
I pray also that you will have greater understanding in your heart so you will know the hope to which he has called us and that you will know how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised his holy people.
Ephesians 1:18 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we say YES to receiving all of Your promises and blessings through Jesus. Thank You Jesus!
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.
