Week: How to Hear God
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, we’re listening. We look forward to what You want to say to us today, through the Bible, through other people, through what we see and hear around us, even through our hearts. Help us to hear You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson J
1 Samuel 3:10
The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’
Samuel said, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.’
1 Samuel 3:10 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re returning to the two friends on the road to Emmaus. Jesus appeared alongside them and joined in with their conversation, but somehow they didn’t recognise him. Towards the end of the day, they persuaded Jesus to stay and eat with them. As we REFLECT on today’s Bible verses, let’s try to imagine what it was like to be at the table with Jesus and his two followers.
Read by Jackson J
Luke 24:30-32
When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them. And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. They said to each other, ‘It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us.’
Luke 24:30-32 (NCV)
As soon as they recognised that it was Jesus who had been talking with them all day, he disappeared! And it was only then that they realised something had been burning inside them the whole time… and it wasn’t because they’d had a spicy meal! The burning feeling was a kind of Holy Spirit excitement because they were in the presence of Jesus.
Our bodies often tell us how we’re feeling inside. For example, we might tremble when we feel nervous. Or our bodies might feel heavy when we feel sad. Or it might feel like we’re going to burst when we’re excited. It’s good to listen to what’s happening in our bodies, because sometimes God speaks to us in that way too.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What other ways might our bodies express how we’re feeling inside?
Let’s close our eyes and be as still as we can for a few moments. What are we feeling in our bodies right now? Do we feel relaxed and peaceful? Do we feel tense for some reason? Do we feel heavy and under pressure? Or maybe it’s something else? What might God want to say to us through what we’re feeling in our bodies?
Holy Spirit, we ASK you to come and fill our bodies. We welcome you into every part of our lives – our hearts, our minds and our bodies.
Who do we know that seems heavy with pressure or sadness at the moment?
Holy Spirit, we ASK you to be with them – please lift the heaviness from them. May they feel light and free again.
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.
Luke 24:30-32
When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them. And then, they were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. They said to each other, ‘It felt like a fire burning in us when Jesus talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us.’
Luke 24:30-32 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we say YES, we want to recognise you alongside us each and every day. Show us where you’re working in our lives and in the lives of others around us.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
1 Samuel 3:10
The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’
Samuel said, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.’
1 Samuel 3:10 (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.
* To find out more about Pete Greig’s book go to https://www.24-7prayer.com/how-to-hear-god/
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.
Jackson is 11 and he lives in Chichester, on the south coast of England, with his parents and his sister. He loves Pokemon (who doesn’t?), music and having fun with his friends.
