Welcome to Lectio for Families. It’s the start of a new series, in which we’re going to focus on heroes from the Bible whose lives were shaped by one of the six practices at the heart of Lectio for Families and 24-7 Prayer. These six practices are: prayer and creativity, justice and hospitality, learning and mission. This week’s hero is Hannah, whose life was shaped by prayer.

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

Father God, as we draw near to You, please draw near to us too. Teach us to pray. Speak, Lord, we’re listening.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

This week, we’ll be reflecting on a woman named Hannah, who encountered God in difficult circumstances. When Hannah’s story begins, we learn why she is feeling so sad.

Read by Zoë
1 Samuel 1:2,6-8
Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Although Peninnah had children, Hannah did not have any.
Peninnah liked to make Hannah feel miserable about not having any children, especially when the family went to the house of the Lord each year. One day, Elkanah was there offering a sacrifice, when Hannah began crying and refused to eat. So Elkanah asked, ‘Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why do you feel so bad? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?’
1 Samuel 1:2,6-8 (CEV)

Hannah’s life was difficult. She wanted to have a baby, but wasn’t able to. This upset her so much that sometimes she couldn’t even eat. It felt even worse when the people around her were mean to her and teased her about it. And yet, every year, even though she was feeling so sad, Hannah went to meet with God at the temple. In the midst of Hannah’s pain, we get a little clue that God is involved in her story. In the saddest moments of our lives, God is always loving, always with us, and always working.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What do we do when we feel sad? Is there a particular place or a person that we go to?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

We’ve probably all experienced being made fun of or teased – it doesn’t feel good! Let’s bring those experiences to God.

Heavenly Father, we think of the times when we’ve felt hurt by others’ unkind words, and we ASK for You to comfort us and heal the parts of our hearts that are sad. Help us to remember that You, Lord, are always kind and always with us.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Sometimes, the people that hurt us often feel hurt themselves.

Loving God, we ASK You to come alongside those who hurt other people, those who say and do unkind things. We know that they are Your children and You love them. Help them to stop doing and saying hurtful things and show them your love for them.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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.

1 Samuel 1:2,6-8
Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Although Peninnah had children, Hannah did not have any.
Peninnah liked to make Hannah feel miserable about not having any children, especially when the family went to the house of the Lord each year. One day, Elkanah was there offering a sacrifice, when Hannah began crying and refused to eat. So Elkanah asked, ‘Hannah, why are you crying? Why won’t you eat? Why do you feel so bad? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?’
1 Samuel 1:2,6-8 (CEV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Loving God, we say YES to being like Hannah, by spending time with You even when we feel sad or hurt by others. We say YES to your work in our lives. Even when we can’t see it, we can trust that you are always working because you love us.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.