Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we’ve been exploring the theme that Jesus talked about more than any other, the Kingdom of God. Today is our Sabbath, and so we’re taking a break from our regular P.R.A.Y. format to pray a little differently.

The Bible tells the story of God making the Universe and everything in it in six days. Every Sunday we remember the Sabbath, when God rested and enjoyed everything that was made.

Pause

Let’s start, as we usually do, 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

Reflect

Bible Reading

We’re returning to the Lord’s Prayer, the prayer that Jesus taught His friends to pray, but we’re reading it from a different version of the Bible today. Let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit may want to say to us from this prayer.

Read by Kumi
Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Matthew 6:9b-13 (MSG)

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

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

Ask

ASK Prayers

The final lines of this prayer remind us that God is in charge. Whatever is going on in our lives at the moment, the first and best thing we can do is look to God.

Heavenly Father, we say YES, You really are ‘ablaze in beauty’. Before we bring our needs to You, we remember that You gave everything to us because of Your great love for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

The middle part of Jesus’ prayer is about putting things right. Let’s reflect for a moment on the last week; Where have things gone wrong in our relationships with other people, whether it was our fault or theirs?

Lord Jesus, we’re sorry for the wrong things we’ve said and done this week – keep us forgiven with You. And help us to forgive others too. Help us to put things right, and to love others the way that You love us.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Finally, let’s use the start of Jesus’ prayer as we think about the week ahead.

Holy Spirit, fill us up and send us once again. Show us what God wants us to do – we want to play our small part in setting the world right, and help us to do what’s best, this week.

Let’s pause for a moment and listen for anything that God might want to say to us.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Now, let’s press pause and talk about our Sabbath question which is: As our week comes to an end, what was good about it – what are we thankful for? It could be something big or small.

• PAUSE the audio player now

Yes

Memory Verse

As we finish our time together, let’s say this week’s memory verse one last time:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

SABBATH BLESSING

May this Sabbath bring rest and joy to our hearts and our homes.
May today be a little less go, go, go, and a little more slow… slow… slow…
May we care less about things, and care more for people.
As we relax in God’s love, may we take time to listen and remember that we are all God’s children.