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Be Still

God is Awesome

Week: Be Still

  • P.R.A.Y
  • Pause
  • Rejoice
  • Reflect
  • Ask
  • Yes
Annika
With Annika
Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week we are exploring how to spend a quiet time with God. Some of the ideas come from 24-7 Prayer’s book, Be Still, a Simple Guide to Quiet Times.

As usual, 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

Father God, we prepare our hearts to spend a quiet time together with You. As we pause to be still, help us to become just a bit more aware of Your constant love for us today.


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

Today, we’re REFLECTING on another story from the first book of the Bible, Genesis. In it, we meet a man called Jacob who was on his own, sleeping in the desert. He had a dream about angels and God, and when he woke up he realised that God had actually been in the desert with him.

Read by Annika
Genesis 28:16-17
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.’
Genesis 28:16-17 (NIVUK)

When Jacob realised that God had been in the desert with him he was afraid; not because God is scary but because God is awesome. It was more like the sort of fear we get on a roller coaster – we know it’s going to be OK, but it still makes our hearts beat faster. Jacob felt a mixture of other things too: surprise, excitement and awe.

Let’s press pause and talk/chat about today’s question, which is: When did we do something so exciting that it made our hearts beat faster?

  • PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Jacob said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’

Lord God, we Ask You to help us be more aware of Your presence with us, wherever we are.

  • OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Who do we know that might be going through a hard time? Maybe they feel like they’re alone in a desert, like Jacob was.

Heavenly Father, we ASK You to be with those who are experiencing difficult times. We pray that you would show up and surprise them, like You did with Jacob.

  • 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 28:16-17
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.
Genesis 28:16-17 (NIVUK)

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.

Father God, we say YES to becoming more aware of You today. We look forward to You surprising each of us in gentle, but exciting ways.

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.

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Your Memory Verse

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Annika

Annika

Annika is 10 years old and lives in Melbourne, Australia with her parents and older brother and sister. Annika enjoys playing Cricket and Aussie Rules Football and loves going to watch her favourite team play football. Annika also learns the drums and enjoys making up her own beats!

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