Week: David & Jonathan
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
What a friend we have in You, Jesus. We’re ready for the new things that You want to show us and say to us about being friends with You, and with others too.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Liliwyn
John 15:12
My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.
John 15:12 (NIVUK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
David became more and more successful, and the Israelites loved him. All except King Saul, that is. Saul was jealous and afraid of David’s popularity and so he decided to try and kill him. Today we’re REFLECTING on this frightening time in David’s life.
Read by Liliwyn
1 Samuel 19:1-3
Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan liked David very much. So he warned David, ‘My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Watch out in the morning. Hide in a secret place. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are hiding, and I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll let you know what I find out.’
1 Samuel 19:1-3 (NCV)
David’s story is full of plot twists; one moment the King loves him and things are going well and then, all of a sudden the King hates him and David is afraid for his life.
Jonathan took a big risk to go against the King – his own father – to protect David, but that’s what good friends do. We all need a friend like Jonathan, don’t we? Someone who is there for us during the really difficult, scary times in our lives. Perhaps we could be that kind of friend to someone else too.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When our friends are going through hard times, what are some of the ways that we can show support for them or help them?
Is there something we are worrying about at the moment? Is there something we are feeling fearful about?
In this quiet moment let’s talk to Jesus about it and ask for His help and support. Don’t forget, Jesus is our friend – a better friend than anyone else could ever be.
Let’s think of one of our friends who is having a hard or difficult time at the moment.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to be especially close to them so that they know they are not alone, whatever it is they are facing. And help us to be good friends, just like Jonathan, and do what we can to help 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.
1 Samuel 19:1-3
Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David, but Jonathan liked David very much. So he warned David, ‘My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Watch out in the morning. Hide in a secret place. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are hiding, and I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll let you know what I find out.’
1 Samuel 19:1-3 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, thank you that you are always there for us. We say YES to being there for our friends too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 15:12
My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.
John 15:12 (NIVUK)
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 is 16 and 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).
