Week: How To Be Unsuccessful
As usual, 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.
So, let’s 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
Lord Jesus, we sometimes get a bit confused about what things are really important and what things aren’t important at all. Help us to see our lives, our friends, and even ourselves the way that You do. We open our hearts and minds to You now – we’re ready for You to teach us and change us and make us a bit more like You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Hubo
Jeremiah 29:11
‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’
Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on one of Jesus’ parables – the short stories he used to explain things about God and the way that God wants us to live.
Read by Hubo
Matthew 13:31-32
Jesus said: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. That seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes big enough for the wild birds to come and build nests in its branches.’
Matthew 13:31-32 (NCV)
When we think of the word ‘success’, do we think of sports teams who win big competitions, or bands who fill huge stadiums whenever they play live concerts, or people who earn huge salaries or have millions of online followers? Whatever we think of, it’s probably big.
The funny thing is, when Jesus tells stories about God and the way that God wants us to live, He almost always talks about small things, like grains of sand, tiny pearls and mustard seeds. It’s like He’s saying, ‘Don’t try to do big things and don’t compare yourself with those who do big things either – that’s not what success looks like in my Kingdom. Do small, good things instead… you’ll see that they can make the biggest difference!’
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When has someone done or said something small – something kind or encouraging – that made a big difference to us?
Let’s be quiet for a moment and ASK Jesus to show us something that we can do for someone else this week – something kind or generous or caring or encouraging (the smaller the better!).
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to give us an opportunity and the courage to do what You’ve asked.
Now let’s each think of a celebrity who is also a Christian – someone who seems to be ‘successful’. Maybe they’re a sports personality, or an actor on TV or in films, or someone who sings or plays in a band, or an online influencer, or maybe they do something else.
Lord Jesus, we simply ASK You to be with them. Help them to not be distracted or overwhelmed by the success that they seem to have – by money or popularity or power – but to stay focused on You instead.
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.
Matthew 13:31-32
Jesus said: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. That seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants. It becomes big enough for the wild birds to come and build nests in its branches.’
Matthew 13:31-32 (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 to loving God and living the way that God wants us to live, whether we do big things that lots of people see or whether we do small things that only You see. Help us to remember that most of the time, it’s the small, good things that we do for You that make the biggest difference in people’s lives.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Jeremiah 29:11
‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’
Jeremiah 29:11 (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.
Pete and his wife Sarah live in Manenburg, South Africa, where they help to lead a church called Tree of Life. Together, they spend a lot of their time sharing Jesus’ love with people and especially helping young men who want to get out of violent gangs and stop using drugs. Pete enjoys carpentry, he plays football for FC Manenburg and he recently wrote a book called, ‘How To Be (un)Successful’.
Hubolodumo (Hubo) 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.
