Week: Hospitality
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
God of hospitality, thank You for inviting us into Your family. As we sit at Your table and taste Your words to us, may they give us all the strength we need.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson J
Matthew 25:35
[Jesus said] ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.’
Matthew 25:35 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we are continuing to REFLECT on what the writer of Psalm 91 tells us about God’s hospitality.
Read by Jackson J
Psalm 91:3-4
God will save you from hidden traps
and from deadly diseases.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you can hide.
His truth will be your shield and protection.
Psalm 91:3-4 (NCV)
When she senses danger, a mother bird often spreads her wings over and around her chicks. She covers them and she won’t hesitate to sacrifice herself if it means that she can protect them. Beneath her wings, her chicks know that they are safe and protected.
When the writer of today’s Psalm says that God will cover us with His feathers, he isn’t actually saying that God has got wings. What he means is that God cares for us like a mother bird. Interestingly, Jesus says something very similar when he approaches the city of Jerusalem. ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem!’ he says, ‘Many times I wanted to gather your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.’ (Matthew 23:37)
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we seen a mother bird with some chicks?
Let’s imagine ourselves crouching down beneath enormous wings, surrounded and safe and protected.
Loving God, we ASK You to keep us safe and protected, just like a mother bird.
There are more than 11000 different species of birds around the world, but more than 1500 of them are very vulnerable and may soon die out completely. Remembering that God has put us in charge of caring for the world and everything in it, let’s pray about this now.*
Creator God, You made the world to be a home for us and for every other living creature. We pray especially for those who work to look after birds – to protect them and keep them safe. Give them everything they need to do this important job.
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.
Psalm 91:3-4
God will save you from hidden traps
and from deadly diseases.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you can hide.
His truth will be your shield and protection.
Psalm 91:3-4 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Heavenly Father, thank You for saving us. We say YES to remaining under Your outstretched wings, safe and protected.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 25:35
[Jesus said] ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.’
Matthew 25:35 (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.
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Jackson is 11 and he lives in Chichester, on the south coast of England, with his parents and his sister. He loves Pokemon (who doesn’t?), music and having fun with his friends.
