Week: Me and God
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
Our Father in heaven, we know that You are with us and that You want to talk with us – so we respond very simply by saying: ‘Here we are, we’re ready. Teach us how to pray.’
In some of the hardest circumstances imaginable, Corrie ten Boom kept on praying and trusting God. Let’s REFLECT on a passage from the book of Psalms about trusting God during tough times.
Read by Ruby
Psalm 119:114-117
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
Get away from me, you who do evil,
so I can keep my God’s commands.
Support me as you promised so I can live.
Don’t let me be embarrassed because of my hopes.
Help me, and I will be saved.
Psalm 119:114-117a (NCV)
Corrie ten Boom was born in the Netherlands in 1892. During the Second World War her country was invaded by the Nazis, who were incredibly cruel towards anyone who they saw as different, like disabled people, Black people and especially Jewish people. The Nazis sent them all to horrible prison camps, where many millions died.
Corrie’s family were followers of Jesus and they wanted to do something to help, so they built a secret room in their home where they could hide people who were being hunted by the Nazis. However, Corrie’s family were eventually arrested. Her father died soon after, but Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to a cruel prison camp.
Although the Nazis had banned the Bible, someone smuggled one into the prison camp. Corrie and Betsie used it during secret prayer meetings with other prisoners, and many of them started following Jesus too.
The prison camp was horrible, but God was with them. Sadly Betsie died in the camp but Corrie survived and the Nazis were eventually defeated. After all she had gone through, Corrie could have felt bitter and angry but instead she chose to forgive those who had hurt her and she encouraged them to receive God’s love and forgiveness too.
Let’s pause and talk about today’s question which is: When can we remember God being with us during a difficult time?
What’s happening in our lives at the moment that we’re finding difficult or worrying?
Loving God, in the same way that you comforted Corrie and Betsie, please comfort us. We ASK You to lead us through this situation, and we ASK You to give us peace.
As we know, wars between nations and violence between people still goes on today. What situation do we know about from the news or social media?
Loving God, we ASK You to bring peace where there is war and conflict. And we ASK You to change the hearts of those who are violent. Come, Lord Jesus.
In a book about her life, Corrie described one of the prayer meetings in the prison camp:
‘Like waifs clustered around a blazing fire, we gathered about [that Bible], holding out our hearts to its warmth and light. The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the word of God… I would look about us as Betsie read, watching the light leap from face to face.’*
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, thank you for being with Corrie and Betsy ten Boom in that awful prison camp. We say YES to trusting that You are with us too, wherever we are and whatever’s going on in our lives. May we have even just a tiny bit of the faith that Corrie had in You!
Pause
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.
*The Hiding Place – Chosen Books, p.206
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.
