Week: Patience
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
Holy Spirit, You help us grow, each and every day, into who God made us to be. We’re ready to be changed a little bit more by You today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Zoë
Psalm 62:5
I find rest in God;
only he gives me hope.
Psalm 62:5 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on part of a well-known parable that Jesus told about a son who took his father’s money and ran away to live his own life. When the money ran out, he realised that he’d be better off back home.
Read by Zoë
Luke 15:18-20
[The son said] ‘I will leave and return to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me be like one of your servants.”’ So the son left and went to his father. While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for his son. So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him.
Luke 15:18-20 (NCV)
The father had been patiently watching and waiting, day after day, hoping that his son would return home. And when he spotted his son, the father ran to greet him! Even though the son had messed up, the father still loved him and welcomed him home. He didn’t even wait for his son to apologise!
Jesus told this parable to explain what Father God is like towards us, His children. When we mess up, God is always patiently watching and waiting for the moment that we turn back to Him. And as soon as we do, God comes running with open arms!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Who do we know that gives great hugs?
And now, let’s ASK God to be with us and others.
Let’s begin by being quiet for a moment – have we messed up recently? Let’s quietly whisper a sorry prayer to God about this.
Father God, thank you that You run to forgive us when we turn to You and say sorry. Thank you for waiting patiently for us, and for welcoming us back to You.
In 1 John 4:10 (NCV) it says that ‘real love is… God’s love for us’. Sadly, there are lots of people who haven’t experienced the real love that God gives yet.
Loving God, as we think of family members or friends at school or work who don’t know You yet, we ASK You to reach out to them. May they experience the real love that You have for them – far better than any other love that they could experience.
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.
Luke 15:18-20
[The son said] ‘I will leave and return to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me be like one of your servants.”’ So the son left and went to his father. While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for his son. So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him.
Luke 15:18-20 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we thank you for Your incredible love and never-ending patience towards us. We say YES to receiving more of Your love, and sharing more of that love with other people.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 62:5
I find rest in God;
only he gives me hope.
Psalm 62:5 (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.
Zoë Thandeka (Thandi) lives in Guildford, in the UK, with her family. She loves football (her favourite football team is Liverpool FC), Top Gear and car-spotting. When she’s older, Zoë wants to be a photographer or work with animals in some way.
