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’re continuing to REFLECT on the prayer that Paul prayed for the Church in Ephesus.
Read by Eli
Ephesians 1:19-20
And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world.
Ephesians 1:19-20 (NCV)
This part of the prayer is literally POWER packed. In the Greek language that this part of the Bible was originally written in, Paul uses four different words that all mean power to make his point. He wants the people receiving his letter, and us reading it, to know that there is no end to God’s power and that it is available to us through the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit, released through prayer, can bring healing and forgiveness and hope – it can literally change lives.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: If we could have one superhero power for just this week, which one would we want and why?
And now let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving Father, we ASK for more of Your great power in our lives. Help us to have faith – to believe – that You will give us everything we need to live life to the full.
Let’s think of someone, or a situation we know of, who could really use some of the power of God to bring healing or forgiveness or hope.
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to pour out Your loving power upon these people. Meet their needs. Heal their hurts. Help them to forgive. Give them hope and peace.
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 1:19-20
And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world.
Ephesians 1:19-20 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we simply say YES to receiving more of Your great power in our lives.
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.
