Week: Kindness
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 Noelle
2 Timothy 1:7
God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
For the third time this week, we’re REFLECTING on a verse from one of Paul’s letters, but this time it’s the one he wrote to the church in Rome.
Read by Noelle
Romans 12:2
Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
Romans 12:2 (NCV)
Have we ever heard the phrase, ‘going with the flow’? It can mean letting other people tell us what to do and letting them shape our lives, instead of taking control ourselves.
That’s what Paul means when he talks about being ‘shaped by the world’. It’s like he’s saying; Don’t just do what everyone else does and say what they say. Don’t just go with the flow, but go against the flow. Don’t just follow the way that other people live but follow Jesus and become more like Him instead.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we been in water that’s flowing really fast? Maybe it was at a water-park or a river? What can we remember about that?
Let’s close our eyes and imagine standing in a river. Now let’s imagine taking a step forwards, against the flow of the current. How does it feel? Now let’s take another step. And another.
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to help us to go against the flow – help us to not just do what other people are doing and say what they’re saying, especially when we know those things aren’t what Jesus would do and say. Help us to follow Jesus instead.
Let’s continue to imagine ourselves standing in that river for a moment.
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to show us something specific that we can do or say over the next couple of days that would go against the flow – something kind or helpful or encouraging or generous that would really make a difference to someone else.
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.
Romans 12:2
Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
Romans 12:2 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we want You to shape our lives, so that we become more like Jesus. We say YES to You growing the fruit of self control in us so that we can stand strong and go against the flow when You want us to.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
2 Timothy 1:7
God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (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.
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.
Noelle lives in Kansas City, Missouri USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She loves animals, playing basketball, creating art and teamwork. Noelle gives the best hugs.
