Welcome to Lectio for Families. We’re continuing our series focusing on what the writers of the letters in the New Testament said about the six practices that are at the heart of Lectio for Families and 24-7 Prayer. This week we are focusing on the practice of learning.

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

Holy Spirit, You are the best teacher. As we explore the Bible and listen to You, please help us to understand more about You, and draw closer to You.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we are continuing to REFLECT on a verse from Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. We’ve already REFLECTED on the first part of the verse, which was about growing in love. So now, let’s read the second part of that verse.

Read by Bella
Philippians 1:9
This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love;
Philippians 1:9 (NCV)

It’s clear from Paul’s letter that he wanted the Philippians to grow in knowledge and understanding. All wrapped up in love.

The human brain may be the single most complex object in the entire known universe;* more wonderful than any galaxy, even more powerful than any computer. God created our brains to be amazing, and He wants us to use them… to be curious and ask questions, to explore new ideas and new places, to develop new skills, to grow in knowledge and understanding. All wrapped up in love. This is what we were made to do.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What is the hardest thing we’ve ever had to learn? How did it feel once we had learnt it?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

And now let’s ASK God to help us and others to keep on learning.

Loving God, thank You for our amazing brains. Help us to use them well. We ASK You to inspire each one of us with new and fascinating things to learn.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Some people use their brains – their knowledge – to show off, or to make other people feel less clever or less important than them. Sometimes they use cruel words like ‘stupid’ or ‘idiot’ to hurt other people’s feelings.

Loving God, we ASK You to encourage anyone who has been told that they are stupid. Show them that it’s not true. Help them to rediscover a love for learning – to enjoy growing in knowledge and understanding.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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.

Read by Bella
Philippians 1:9
This is my prayer for you: that your love will grow more and more; that you will have knowledge and understanding with your love;
Philippians 1:9 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Loving God, we say YES to having curious minds, to asking questions and discovering new things about You and about the world. We look forward to the wonderful things that You want to teach us.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.

*https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234155