Welcome to Lectio for Families. At the start of this new year, we’re reminding ourselves of the ‘three loves’ that shape Lectio for Families and 24-7 Prayer: loving God, loving others, and loving the world. Today we’re exploring how we love God through creativity.

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

Lord Jesus, as we start this new year together, we remember that You are with us. Our minds are ready to learn more about You, our hearts are ready to receive more from You, and our hands are ready to do more for and with You. Come, Lord Jesus.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Creativity can be described as the ability to see, communicate and make things in unique ways. Today, we’re REFLECTING on the way that Jesus creates new things in and through our lives. The Bible calls this ‘fruit’.

Read by Jackson R
John 15:4-5
[Jesus said] ‘Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If [a person remains] in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.’
John 15:4-5 (NCV)

To those who feel like we’ve heard this Bible passage recently, well spotted! Yesterday we focused on Jesus’ invitation to ‘remain’ connected with Him – for Him to live in us, and for us to live in Him. But then Jesus says that if we stay connected with Him, He will grow good fruit in our lives. That might mean learning a new skill or making a new friend. Or it might mean that we become more patient, more kind, or more hopeful. Isn’t that incredible? The God who created everything in the Universe wants to grow good things – good fruit – in and through our lives.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What good fruit is growing in our lives at the moment? (Sometimes it’s hard to spot good fruit in our own lives, so let’s ask each other what they see growing in us too.) And what good fruit do we want to grow in our lives this year?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Now, let’s close our eyes and be quiet for a moment. God made each one of us. God is still making us, creating new things in us.

Creator God, we thank You for the good fruit that You are growing in our lives – the things that we see, and all the things that we find it hard to see too. It all belongs to You. We belong to You.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Let’s pray for someone we know who has a creative gift. Maybe they have a talent for organising things or for helping people to resolve problems? Maybe they make the best milkshakes? Or maybe it’s something else?

Creator God, we ASK You to encourage these friends to use their creative gifts so that other people can taste the good fruit in their lives.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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.

John 15:4-5
[Jesus said] ‘Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If [a person remains] in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.’
John 15:4-5 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Creator God, we thank You for making all of us creative in different ways – for growing all kinds of good fruit in our lives. We’re dancers and designers, bakers and builders, poets and problem-solvers, and so much more. We say YES to loving You by using all of our gifts.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.