Welcome to Lectio for Families. We’re continuing our new series focusing on heroes from the Bible whose lives were shaped by one of the six practices at the heart of Lectio for Families and 24-7 Prayer. These six practices are: prayer and creativity, justice and hospitality, learning and mission. This week’s heroes are Abraham and Sarah, whose lives were shaped by mission.

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

God of rescue and restoration, thank You for Your beautiful mission to save the whole world. Here we are, Lord. Fill us with Your Spirit, and send us so that we can join in with Your mission.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

We’re reflecting on an encounter with God that changed the course of Abram’s life (who we’ll later call Abraham); an encounter that starts with a command and ends with a promise.

Read by Jackson R
Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you.
I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you.
I will make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
I will bless those who bless you, and I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you.’
Genesis 12:1-3 (NCV)

God asked Abram to do something huge – to leave everything behind and follow Him to a new place, even though God didn’t tell Abram where that new place would be. Imagine having to trust God that much!

But then came the promise… if Abram did what God was asking, then God promised to bless Abram more than he could possibly imagine – and not just Abram, but God promised to bless Abram’s family, and ‘all the people on earth’ too. Wow!

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Have we ever gone on a surprise or mystery trip before? If so, where did we go and what was it like?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Later on, we discover that Abram did what God asked – Abram trusted God even though he didn’t know exactly what was ahead. Maybe God is asking us to do something at the moment? Maybe it feels hard or challenging? If so, let’s ask God to help us.

Heavenly Father, we ASK you to help us listen to what You might be asking us to do and, like Abram, to trust You with our whole lives, believing that Your promises are greater than anything we could imagine.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

There are millions of people across our world who have had to leave their country, their homes, families and friends, not because they want to, but because they have been forced to for many different reasons, including wars and natural disasters.

God of compassion, we ASK You to be with those who have been forced to leave their homes and their lives behind. Comfort them, protect them and provide for them. We also ASK that governments and people in other countries would be welcoming towards them and make them feel at home.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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.

Genesis 12:1-3
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land I will show you.
I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you.
I will make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
I will bless those who bless you, and I will place a curse on those who harm you. And all the people on earth will be blessed through you.’
Genesis 12:1-3 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

God of all blessings, like Abram, we say YES to whatever adventures You are inviting us on. We trust that You will always be with us, even if we don’t know what’s ahead.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.