Week: The Advent Voices - Heaven
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
Lord Jesus, we are excited to be celebrating Your birth this Christmas. Amongst all the busyness of this season – all the planning and the preparations – please help us to pause and be still. We open our ears to hear You now, and we prepare our hearts to receive You once again.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Vera Lynn
Luke 2:10
The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.’
Luke 2:10 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the moment that an angelic visit changed some shepherd’s lives forever.
Read by Vera Lynn
Luke 2:8-10
That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.’
Luke 2:8-10 (NCV)
In the time when the Bible was written, shepherds would stay out in the fields with their sheep at night to protect them and keep them safe.
That’s what the shepherds in today’s Bible reading were doing. And God trusted these humble shepherds, who were out protecting their sheep, with the news that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the one who loves and protects everyone, had been born in Bethlehem.
At first, the shepherds were scared and confused, but God’s messenger – the angel – reassured them, ‘This is good news! This will bring joy for everyone!’
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Have we ever camped out overnight, maybe in a field or at a festival? What can we remember about it?
In John’s gospel, Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd, the one who lays down his life for his sheep. And he also says that his sheep know his voice and they follow him. That’s us – we’re Jesus’ sheep, and he is our Good Shepherd.
Lord Jesus, You are our Good Shepherd and we trust You. Help us to recognise Your voice when You speak to us – we want to follow You.
Jesus is not only our Good Shepherd, but God sent Jesus into the world to be the Good Shepherd of absolutely everything.
God of all Creation, we thank you for all the good things that You have made; for the sheep in the fields and the sharks in the sea, for birds and bees, flowers and trees – thank you for everything. And thank you for sending Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to lead us and guide us in caring for all You have made.
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.
Luke 2:8-10
That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened. The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.’
Luke 2:8-10 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we say YES to listening for Your voice and following wherever You lead us.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Luke 2:10
The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.’
Luke 2:10 (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.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Vera Lynn is 10 years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA with her parents, sister, and dog Max. Her favourite hobbies include reading, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She is very creative. Her favourite book is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
