Week: Justice
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
Mighty God, open our eyes, stir our hearts and teach us how, ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly’ with You today. (Micah 6:8)
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Ruby
Matthew 5:7
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
Matthew 5:7 (NLT)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on another one of David’s Psalms, in which he describes God as being in charge of everything, forever.
Read by Ruby
Psalm 9:7-10
But the Lord rules forever.
He sits on his throne to judge,
and he will judge the world in fairness;
he will decide what is fair for the nations.
The Lord defends those who suffer;
he defends them in times of trouble.
Those who know the Lord trust him,
because he will not leave those who come to him.
Psalm 9:7-10 (NCV)
David knows that, ultimately, God is in charge of everything, and he trusts that God will do things right and will treat people fairly because He is a God of justice and mercy.
Today’s Psalm is really about trusting God. As we learn to trust God more – as we focus more on God than on our own problems or the problems in the world – it helps us to stress a little bit less. Trusting God doesn’t necessarily mean that there are less problems, but it does make them feel a little bit smaller.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What examples can we think of where we need to trust someone else?
What are we worried about at the moment? What problems are we struggling with? Let’s close our eyes and clench our fists, imagining that we’re holding on tightly to these worries and problems. Now, let’s slowly unclench our fists as we pray…
Loving God, you’re in charge of everything and you’re in charge of our lives too. We trust You.
In today’s Psalm, David says that ‘the Lord defends those who suffer; he defends them in times of trouble.’
Loving God, we ASK You to show mercy to those who are suffering, those who are in trouble. Be close to them, and help them to trust You.
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 9:7-10
But the Lord rules forever.
He sits on his throne to judge,
and he will judge the world in fairness;
he will decide what is fair for the nations.
The Lord defends those who suffer;
he defends them in times of trouble.
Those who know the Lord trust him,
because he will not leave those who come to him.
Psalm 9:7-10 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
God of Justice and Mercy, we know that we can trust You to judge what is right and fair for the world. And we say YES to trusting You to be in charge of our lives too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 5:7
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
Matthew 5:7 (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.
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.
Ruby is 12 and she lives in Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland with her family. Ruby is a gymnast who never sits still! She loves dogs (but her mum won’t get her one), she loves her friends and she’s always up for a laugh. Ruby would love to work with animals when she’s older.
