Week: Easter
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, You died for us but You came back to life again and You’re alive now. We’re ready to meet with You in new ways today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Selah
Matthew 28:20
[Jesus said] ‘Teach [people] to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.’
Matthew 28:20 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on what the soldiers who had been guarding Jesus’ tomb did when they discovered that it was empty.
Read by Selah
Matthew 28:11-13
While the women went to tell Jesus’ followers, some of the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city to tell the leading priests everything that had happened. Then the priests met with the elders and made a plan. They paid the soldiers a large amount of money and said to them, ‘Tell the people that Jesus’ followers came during the night and stole the body while you were asleep.’
Matthew 28:11-13 (NCV)
When the religious leaders heard the news from the soldiers about the tomb and the angels, they didn’t like it. They’d already persuaded the Romans to crucify Jesus to try and stop people listening to him and following him. If people started believing that Jesus had come back to life, then even more people would start following Him!
So, the religious leaders came up with a plan. Instead of sharing the soldier’s news, they decided to make up some ‘fake news’ of their own. They made up a Big Lie about Jesus’ followers stealing his body and pretending that he was alive again, and they paid the soldiers lots of money to tell people this ‘fake news’.
Some ‘fake news’ can be funny. Let’s press pause and quickly make up our own ‘fake news’ story about what happened when we woke up this morning – the more ridiculous the better.
The incredible good news (and it’s not ‘fake news’) is that Jesus is alive. He rose from death, and He is alive today – in fact, He’s with us right now, by His Spirit.
Lord Jesus, it’s amazing, but it’s true, and we believe it – You are alive! We ASK You to help us remember that You are with us all day, every day.
Unfortunately, we read and hear a lot of ‘fake news’ – made up stories on social media, and on news channels. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between what’s true and what’s false or ‘fake’.
Holy Spirit, the Bible describes You as the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17, NCV). So we ASK You to guide the hearts and minds of those who create content on social media, those who tell us the news about what’s happening around the world, and those who lead our nations too. May they speak the truth.
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.
Matthew 28:11-13
While the women went to tell Jesus’ followers, some of the soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city to tell the leading priests everything that had happened. Then the priests met with the elders and made a plan. They paid the soldiers a large amount of money and said to them, ‘Tell the people that Jesus’ followers came during the night and stole the body while you were asleep.’
Matthew 28:11-13 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, You said that, ‘If you continue to obey my teaching, you are truly my followers. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ (John 8:32, NCV) We say YES to this, Jesus – we want to know the truth, and we will try to always speak the truth too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 28:20
[Jesus said] ‘Teach [people] to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.’
Matthew 28:20 (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.
Liliwyn lives in Kansas City, USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She is a good friend and enjoys designing, music, traveling, math and watching American Football (especially the KC Chiefs).
