Week: Voices of Advent
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’re looking forward to celebrating Your birth this Christmas. Help us to be still amongst all the planning and the preparations, to rest in Your presence and remember what and who we are celebrating.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Noelle
Isaiah 9:6
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on another of Isaiah’s prophecies, which describes the kind of King that Jesus will be.
Read by Noelle
Isaiah 11:1-2,5,10
A new branch will grow
from a stump of a tree;
so a new king will come
from the family of Jesse.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon that king.
The Spirit will give him wisdom and understanding, guidance and power.
The Spirit will teach him to know and respect the Lord.
Goodness and fairness will give him strength,
like a belt around his waist.
At that time the new king from the family of Jesse will stand as a banner for all peoples. The nations will come together around him, and the place where he lives will be filled with glory.
Isaiah 11:1-2,5,10 (NCV)
If you’ve ever seen a tree that has been cut down, all that remains is just a stump of wood. But what’s really incredible is that if the stump is left in place, a brand new tree can grow from it! It might take a while for the tree to be worth climbing but it is a new beginning.
That’s what Isaiah meant when he prophesied that ‘a new branch will grow’ – the stump that seemed dead would come alive again. He was saying that when God’s new king arrived, it would be a time of new beginnings.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What is the best tree that we have ever climbed?
In today’s passage, Isaiah says that the Holy Spirit gives wisdom, understanding, guidance, and power. Let’s pause for a moment… which of these do we need the most right now?
Holy Spirit, we ASK You for wisdom. We ASK You for understanding. We ASK You for guidance. We ASK You for power and strength. Thank You that You give generously.
In today’s passage we’re told that God’s new king would be a banner, or a flag, for nations to gather around. Let’s each think of a nation, and if we’ve got time, let’s do a quick Google search for its flag.
Lord God, we pray that people from each nation that we’re thinking about would come together around Jesus, as it says in today’s passage. We pray that You would fill these nations with Your goodness and Your glory.
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.
Read by Noelle
Isaiah 11:1-2,5,10
A new branch will grow
from a stump of a tree;
so a new king will come
from the family of Jesse.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon that king.
The Spirit will give him wisdom and understanding, guidance and power.
The Spirit will teach him to know and respect the Lord.
Goodness and fairness will give him strength,
like a belt around his waist.
At that time the new king from the family of Jesse will stand as a banner for all peoples. The nations will come together around him, and the place where he lives will be filled with glory.
Isaiah 11:1-2,5,10 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we trust You. You lead us with wisdom and understanding. You guide each of us, every day of our lives. You give us power and strength through Your Spirit. We say YES to You. You are our King.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Isaiah 9:6
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b (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 is 11 and 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.
