Week: Reflect/Reboot/New Year
As usual, we’re going to 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
Lord Jesus, please help us to be still. We open our ears to hear You now, quietly preparing our hearts for all that You have for us as we approach the new year.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Bella
Philippians 1:6
God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the beginning of the book of James, which is a letter written by him to Christians who were having a difficult time.
Read by Bella
James 1:2-3
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:2-3 (NLT)
Maybe we don’t feel ‘great joy’, like James, when we’re faced with troubles or when we’re finding something difficult or challenging, but he’s right that these are often opportunities for good things to grow in our lives.
Like the pearls that are formed when something gets inside an oyster shell, or the diamonds that are formed under intense pressure, sometimes things that irritate us and put us under pressure can grow good things in our lives, too. We might get a little bit more patient and persistent, learn to be kinder and more compassionate, or even find ourselves trusting more in God.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: As we remember 2024 together, what challenges did we face? What things were difficult? Can we think of a way they might have helped to grow good things in our lives?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving Father, although we may not have liked some of the challenges that we faced in 2024 and we may not feel like we’ve overcome them, we thank You that You were always with us. We also thank You for the good things that You have grown and are growing in us because of them. We ASK You to keep growing good things in our lives.
Who do we know that really needs to experience the ‘great joy’ that we just read about? We may not know what’s going on in their lives, but we feel like they could do with some joy.
Let’s imagine that we’re praying with them right now, using words from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome:
‘[We] pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace.’ (Rom. 15:13a, NLT)
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.
James 1:2-3
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:2-3 (NLT)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we say YES to trusting You, to receiving Your strength and comfort whenever we face difficulties and challenges instead of just trying to overcome them on our own. Thank You that You promise to always be with us and to never abandon us.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 1:6
God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:6 (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.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Bella is 13 years old and lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her mum, dad and cocker spaniel Summer. She loves art, performing and Jesus!
