Week: Mark's Gospel
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
Jesus, we hear Your invitation, and so we choose to follow You, with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our souls and with all our strength.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Annika
John 8:12
[Jesus] said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
John 8:12 (NIV UK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
John the Baptist lived in the desert, not far from Jerusalem. In today’s verses, Mark tells us about some strange things that John wore and ate, but, we’re not going to focus on that today. Instead, we’re going to REFLECT on what John said.
Read by Annika
Mark 1:6-8
John wore clothes made from camel’s hair, had a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. This is what John preached to the people: ‘There is one coming after me who is greater than I; I am not good enough even to kneel down and untie his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
Mark 1:6-8 (NCV)
We all know who John was talking about, don’t we? It’s Jesus, of course. And Jesus, he said, will baptise us, not with water, but with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would come to be with us and live in us (John 14:17), guiding us, comforting us and giving us the courage to live for Him.
In today’s verses we read that John actually ate locusts. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What’s the weirdest thing that we’ve ever eaten?
Jesus promised that God would give us the Holy Spirit if we ask (Luke 11:13). So, let’s close our eyes and open our hands in front of us for a few moments.
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to baptise us – to fill us up to overflowing. Give us all we need to live for Jesus.
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a ‘Comforter’ (John 14:26). Who do we know that may be sad or lonely at the moment? Let’s quietly whisper their name and pray for them.
Father God, we ASK You to send the Holy Spirit to comfort them, to heal their broken hearts and give them peace.
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.
Mark 1:6-8
John wore clothes made from camel’s hair, had a leather belt around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. This is what John preached to the people: ‘There is one coming after me who is greater than I; I am not good enough even to kneel down and untie his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’
Mark 1:6-8 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we welcome You. Jesus said that You would guide us into all truth (John 16:13), and so we say YES to You. Guide us today. We’ll try our best to listen to You and do what You say.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 8:12
[Jesus] said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
John 8:12 (NIV UK)
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.
Annika lives in Melbourne, Australia with her parents and older brother and sister. Annika enjoys playing Cricket and Aussie Rules Football and loves going to watch her favourite team play football. Annika also learns the drums and enjoys making up her own beats!
