Week: Justice – Esther
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
Mighty God, open our eyes, stir our hearts and teach us how, ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly’ with You today. (Micah 6:8)
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Kate
Psalm 33:5
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:5 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on what it’s like to have to hide who we really are. Esther’s story began when the King of Persia, Xerxes, was looking for a new Queen. The King picked Esther to be Queen, but she hoped that he didn’t find out her secret – that she was a Jew.
Read by Kate
Esther 2:10-11
Esther did not tell anyone about her family or who her people were, because Mordecai had told her not to. Every day Mordecai walked back and forth near the courtyard where the king’s women lived to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.
Esther 2:10-11 (NCV)
Esther lived in a world where being different to those around her wasn’t seen as a good thing, and so she had to hide who she really was and where she was really from. That doesn’t seem fair does it?
Imagine what the world would be like if everyone was exactly the same? Pretty boring right? Isn’t the world far more interesting and beautiful because of all the different cultures, races and ethnicities that exist? More importantly God created us all, different yet equally beautiful.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What things make us different from one another?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others…
Heavenly Father, we ask that you would help us to celebrate the things about us that make us different rather than trying to be like everyone else. Give us the confidence to be who you created us to be.
We also ASK God for those who feel embarrassed or scared because they feel different, and feel like they have to hide who they are.
Loving God, we thank You that every single person is created in Your image and worthy of being loved. We pray for those who feel embarrassed or scared, or have been hurt by others because they are different. We ask that they would know the truth of Your incredible love for them and help us to show your love to them too.
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.
Esther 2:10-11
Esther did not tell anyone about her family or who her people were, because Mordecai had told her not to. Every day Mordecai walked back and forth near the courtyard where the king’s women lived to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.
Esther 2:10-11 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Creator God, we say Yes to celebrating difference and to recognising the beauty in all the different types of people You have made.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 33:5
The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalm 33:5 (NIV)
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.
Kate lives in Melbourne Australia, with her parents, younger sister, and puppy Leo. Kate loves visual arts, reading, playing basketball and spending time with her family.
