Week: Creativity and Presence
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
Lord God, we look forward to discovering more of Your wisdom in the Old Testament. Show us the way You want us to live, and help us to walk in it today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Asaph
Psalm 33:6
The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
Psalm 33:6 (NLT)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the story of creation one more time, looking at what happened after God had completed His work.
Read by Asaph
Genesis 2:1-3
So the sky, the earth, and all that filled them were finished. By the seventh day God finished the work he had been doing, so he rested from all his work. God blessed the seventh day and made it a holy day, because on that day he rested from all the work he had done in creating the world.
Genesis 2:1-3 (NCV)
Having completed the work of creation, God rested. God didn’t rest because the work was tiring, but rather because the work was finished – He wanted to enjoy all that He had made. There is joy and delight in creating things!
The wisdom of God in this part of the story of creation is that it’s good to rest. This is why we are encouraged to practice a weekly ‘Sabbath’, a day to slow down, spend time with God and enjoy all that God has done and all that we have done too.
Let’s press pause and imagine that we were helping God during creation as we talk about today’s question, which is: What other things would we have asked God to create? Maybe a new kind of animal or a new kind of plant?
Let’s close our eyes and think of something in God’s creation – something that God made – that makes us smile, that brings us joy.
Creator God, thank You for making things that bring us joy. Help us to rest and relax with You and enjoy all that you have made.
Let’s think of people around the world who have to work long hours or multiple jobs just to survive and feed their families. The thought of resting or taking a day off might feel impossible to them.
Loving God, we pray for those who are unable to rest – those who feel exhausted or overwhelmed. We ASK You to give them comfort and strength. Please give them rest.
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 2:1-3 (NCV)
So the sky, the earth, and all that filled them were finished. By the seventh day God finished the work he had been doing, so he rested from all his work. God blessed the seventh day and made it a holy day, because on that day he rested from all the work he had done in creating the world.
Genesis 2:1-3 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, thank You for the wisdom that we’ve heard from Your Word today. We say YES to walking the way that You want us to. We also say YES to learning how to rest properly with You, and to creating space for others to rest too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s see if we can remember our memory verse and say it together:
Psalm 33:6
The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
Psalm 33:6 (NLT)
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 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.
Asaph is 9 years old. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his younger sister Adelina, father and mother. He enjoys riding his bike, camping, reading, playing flag football and watching Bible Project videos. Asaph is kind and smart and loves hanging out with friends!
