Week: How to Hear God
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
Father God, we’re listening. We look forward to what You want to say to us today, through the Bible, through other people, through what we see and hear around us, even through our hearts. Help us to hear You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson J
1 Samuel 3:10
The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’
Samuel said, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.’
1 Samuel 3:10 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on some of the ways that God has spoken to His people in the past and how He speaks to us, now.
Read by Jackson J
Hebrews 1:1-2
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many different ways. But now in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son. God has chosen his Son to own all things, and through him he made the world.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NCV)
Last week we learnt about the different ways that God spoke to a few people in the Old Testament, often through his prophets. But God wanted everyone to be able to hear Him speak and so He sent His son Jesus to help us.
Jesus is like God’s megaphone! Jesus makes God’s voice heard everywhere. Jesus heals the sick, loves people who have been rejected by their communities, cares for those who are poor, performs miracles, and so much more. Jesus shows us exactly what God is like and what God wants to do in people’s lives.
Jesus shows us what God is like. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What are we like? What 3 words would we use to describe ourselves? – Let’s use positive words!
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Father God, we would love to hear your voice today. We ASK you to speak to us, whether it’s through a story from the Bible, through a conversation with a friend, through nature, or even through a dream or a picture in our minds – we really don’t mind. We’re listening.
Let’s close our eyes for a moment and imagine the community where we live. Let’s imagine the schools and the shops, the homes and the hospitals.
Loving God, we know that you love everyone, and we know that you sent Jesus into the world so that everyone could experience your love in life-changing ways. We ASK that the people in our community would come to know Jesus – those in the schools and the shops, the homes and the hospitals, and everywhere else too.
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.
Hebrews 1:1-2
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many different ways. But now in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son. God has chosen his Son to own all things, and through him he made the world.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
As we sit quietly, let’s focus our thoughts on Jesus. Let’s say YES to Jesus together.
We love to spend time with you, Jesus. We say YES to staying close to you, listening to what you want to say to us, learning how to become more like you every day.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
1 Samuel 3:10
The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’
Samuel said, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.’
1 Samuel 3:10 (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.
* To find out more about Pete Greig’s book go to https://www.24-7prayer.com/how-to-hear-god/
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.
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.
