Week: Peace
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.
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
Holy Spirit, You help us grow, each and every day, into who God made us to be. We’re ready to be changed a little bit more by You today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Kumi
Philippians 4:7
And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re returning to the letter that Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, an area which is now part of Turkey, and we’re REFLECTING on what he said about the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Read by Kumi
Galatians 5:22-23
But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NCV)
Last week’s Lectio for Families was all about love, and this week we’re focusing on peace. Paul describes both of these as ‘fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:22, NIVUK), which suggests that they’re not gifts that God gives us immediately, but something that God grows in us over time.
One dictionary describes peace as a ‘state of security’, a feeling of ‘quietness’ or ‘freedom’, ‘harmony’ or ‘calm’. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When we hear the word ‘peace’, what comes into our minds?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to grow more of Your peace in our hearts and in our lives this week. Where things are noisy, may they become quiet. Where things or people aren’t working well together, may there be harmony. Where things feel a bit crazy at the moment, may they become calm.
And Holy Spirit, as we think of our friends and our families, we want them to be at peace too. We ASK You to help us to be peace-bringers and peace-makers for You this week.
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.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to the good fruit that You are growing in our lives. We want all the fruit of the Spirit, but we’re particularly ASKing that You grow more peace in us and through us this week.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 4:7
And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (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.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Kumkanikazi (Kumi) lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with her parents and 4 siblings.
You’ll often find her in a stylish outfit, baking up a storm or creating videos.
