Week: Creativity - David
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
Creator God, who formed us from dust, breathe in us again. We’re ready for the new things that You want to show us and say to us and even create through us today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Max
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
King David was one of the greatest kings in the Bible, but even great kings sometimes do wrong things. In today’s story, King David had done something really wrong and then carried on ruling as if nothing had happened. So God sent the prophet Nathan to talk with David about it.
Read by Max
2 Samuel 12:7b,8b,9a,13a
Then Nathan said to David… ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I appointed you king of Israel and saved you from Saul. And I made you king of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you even more. So why did you ignore the Lord’s command? Why did you do what he says is wrong?”’
Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’
2 Samuel 12:7b,8b,9a,13a (NCV)
David had done something terribly wrong and he didn’t want to face up to it. When we encounter God, we’re sometimes asked to admit the wrong things we do. But this isn’t just to make us feel bad – it’s to help us put things right. When we own up to our mistakes and say sorry, we can put things right again and leave the guilt in the past where it belongs.
The story Nathan told David had a big impact on him. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What stories have had an impact on us? Which book, film or TV show really inspired us or touched our hearts in some other way?
When we do or say something wrong – no matter how bad it is – we can always bring this to God and he will always forgive us. Let’s each take a piece of paper and think for a moment – what have we done or said recently that we know was wrong? When we’re ready, let’s simply write ‘sorry’ onto our pieces of paper.
Loving God, we all make mistakes sometimes. We all say and do things that we know are wrong. We say sorry to You now and ASK you to forgive us.
And now, let’s screw up our pieces of paper and throw them in the bin, remembering that God forgives us completely.
David’s wrong actions had an impact on others. Let’s press pause and ASK the Holy Spirit to prompt us to think of those people who we might have hurt or upset recently.
Father God, when we haven’t acted or spoken as we should towards others, we pray that our behaviour would not stop them knowing who Jesus really is. We ASK that Your Holy Spirit would reveal Your love to them despite our mistakes.
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.
2 Samuel 12: 7-9,13
Then Nathan said to David… ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I appointed you king of Israel and saved you from Saul. And I made you king of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you even more. So why did you ignore the Lord’s command? Why did you do what he says is wrong?”’
Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’
2 Samuel 12:7b,8b,9a,13a (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, You are so loving and merciful. We say YES to You, and we open our hearts to receive Your love and mercy right now… and Your forgiveness too. Thank You!
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
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, daughter 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.
Max lives in Melbourne, Australia with his older brother and mum and dad. He often rides his bike to school and enjoys being creative by drawing or building with Lego. Max is also learning how to play the electric guitar and loves turning it up loud!
