Week: Prayer
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
Father God, as we draw near to You, please draw near to us too. Teach us to pray. Speak, Lord, we’re listening.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Hubo
Philippians 4:6
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.
Philippians 4:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on how to be honest about what we’re feeling when we pray and talk with God.
Read by Hubo
Psalm 42:5-6
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again,
my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you.
Psalm 42:5-6a (NLT)
This might come as a surprise, but the poems and the prayers in the book of Psalms are filled with all kinds of feelings. Are we feeling afraid? That’s in the Psalms. Are we feeling angry with God? That’s in the Psalms too. Are we feeling joyful and excited? That’s in the Psalms. Are we feeling sad and lonely? That’s also in the Psalms.
The writers of the Psalms were really open and honest with God, whatever they were feeling. They didn’t try to cover up the bad and the sad feelings and pray ‘nice’ prayers instead. They trusted that God loved them and they just let everything out.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What different feelings have we felt today? If it’s hard to find the right words, maybe we could choose a colour to represent our feelings, or find an emoji that looks like how we feel?
Let’s bring what we’ve just been talking about to God, trusting that He loves us and that we can let everything out to Him.
Loving Father, we’re so grateful that You are always with us and that You always love us, whatever we’re feeling inside. We ASK You to help us with what we’re feeling at the moment, especially any difficult emotions.
In today’s Psalm, the writer talked about feeling discouraged and sad. Maybe there’s a friend at school or at work, or maybe someone in our family that feels like this?
Loving Father, we ASK You to be especially close to those who are feeling discouraged and sad right now. We ASK You to encourage them – lift them up and give them hope.
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.
Psalm 42:5-6
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again,
my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you.
Psalm 42:5-6a (NLT)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, as it says in today’s Psalm, YES, we will remember You. Whatever is going on in our lives, whatever we’re feeling, we will remember You because You never let us down, and You always give us hope.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 4:6
Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.
Philippians 4:6 (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.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Hubolodumo (Hubo) is 10 years old, and lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with his parents and 4 siblings.
When he’s not busy trying out ninja moves, he’s practicing the latest dance moves, playing soccer, drawing or playing games with his friends.