Week: Creativity - David
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
Creator God, who formed us from dust, breathe in us again. We’re ready for the new things that You want to show us and say to us and even create through us today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Max
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on an encounter David had with God after he became King. For hundreds of years the people of Israel had met and worshipped God in a tent. But when David became a rich and powerful King, living in a palace, he decided to build a temple for God – a beautiful ‘house’ to replace the old tent. It seemed like a really good plan until God gave a prophet called Nathan a message for David, asking him to think again…
Read by Max
2 Samuel 7:4-7
[God said] ‘Go and tell my servant David, This is what the Lord says: Will you build a house for me to live in? From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home. As I have moved with the Israelites, I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, “Why haven’t you built me a house?”’
2 Samuel 7:4-7 (NCV)
God’s ways of doing things are not always the same as ours. When we encounter God, we sometimes have to change our ideas or rethink the way that we’re living too. Instead of automatically doing things our own way this week, let’s listen out for anything that God might be asking us to do a little differently, even a little more creatively!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: If we were to design our own house, what would it be like? What sort of rooms would we want to include?
It can be really hard sometimes to change our plans or do things differently from how we expected. Let’s ASK for help to do things God’s way today.
Lord, help us to be open to your creative ideas for our lives. We ASK You to open our hearts and minds to think and act Your way. If we need to change our ideas or behaviours, give us courage to live our lives differently.
Is there a big decision facing any of our friends or our family this week? Maybe it’s about where to live or what job to do or something else? Whatever comes to mind, let’s ASK God to give them creative solutions to the problems they are facing.
Lord, we ASK You to look after and give wisdom to our loved ones. Give them Your peace and help them to make good choices.
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.
2 Samuel 7:4-7
[God said] ‘Go and tell my servant David, This is what the Lord says: Will you build a house for me to live in? From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home. As I have moved with the Israelites, I have never said to the tribes, whom I commanded to take care of my people Israel, “Why haven’t you built me a house?”’
2 Samuel 7:4-7 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord, we say YES to your creative ways and we choose to follow them.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
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.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, daughter 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.
Max lives in Melbourne, Australia with his older brother and mum and dad. He often rides his bike to school and enjoys being creative by drawing or building with Lego. Max is also learning how to play the electric guitar and loves turning it up loud!
