Week: Kindness
As usual, 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.
Let’s 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
Holy Spirit, You help us grow, each and every day, into who God made us to be. We’re ready to be changed a little bit more by You today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Noelle
2 Timothy 1:7
God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re returning to the book of Galatians to REFLECT on Paul’s list of what he calls the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Read by Noelle
Galatians 5:22-23,25
The Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23,25 (NCV)
When Paul wrote this letter to the church in Galatia he didn’t write it in English, he wrote it in Greek, and the Greek word that he used for ‘self control’ is ‘egkrateia’. Let’s try and say it together – ‘egkrateia’.
Athletes need ‘egkrateia’ when they are training to compete in the Olympics – they need to control what food they eat, what exercises they do and what rest they get too. They do all of this so they can be the very best that they can be at their sporting event. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit grows the fruit of self control in us so that we can be the very best that we can be at… loving other people and loving God too.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When did we train or practise hard to get better at something?
Let’s think about the week ahead. What are we doing this week? Where are we going? Who will we be spending time with?
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to use the things that happen this week, and the people that we meet, to grow the fruit of self control in us a little bit more.
In another of Paul’s letters, he says that church leaders should be hospitable and welcoming, they should love what is good (Titus 1:7-8), and they should be self controlled too. Let’s pray for the church leaders that we know.
Lord Jesus, as we think of the leaders in our church, including those who lead the children’s or youth ministries, we ASK You to be with them – help them to be self controlled, to be the very best at loving the people that they serve.
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.
Galatians 5:22-23,25
The Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23,25 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to the good fruit that You are growing in our lives. We want all the fruit of the Spirit, but we’re particularly ASKing that You grow more self-control in us and through us this week.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
2 Timothy 1:7
God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (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.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Noelle lives in Kansas City, Missouri USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She loves animals, playing basketball, creating art and teamwork. Noelle gives the best hugs.
