Week: David & Jonathan
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
Mighty God, open our eyes, stir our hearts and teach us how, ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly’ with You today. (Micah 6:8).
When we see things that are unfair or wrong in the world, we long for things to change. The Bible shares this cry for justice. Let’s REFLECT on some words from one of David’s Psalms, where he asks for God’s help.
Read by Liliwyn
Psalm 7:8-9
Lord, defend me because I am right,
because I have done no wrong, God Most High.
God, you do what is right.
You know our thoughts and feelings.
Stop those wicked actions done by evil people,
and help those who do what is right.
Psalm 7:8-9 (NCV)
Rosa Parks was born in Alabama in the USA in 1913. Montgomery, the city she grew up in was segregated; which means there were different rules for black people and white people. Black people were treated unfairly and often very badly – they had different schools, different churches, different shops, even different drinking fountains. White people frequently got the better things, while black people got the worst.
When Rosa rode the bus to school or work, she and the other black people had to sit at the back, in the seats labeled ‘for colored’. If a lot of white people got on, they would lose their seats altogether and have to stand while the white people sat down. When Rosa was 42, she was riding the bus when a white man got on after her. As there were no seats left, the bus driver told her to stand up. Knowing that giving up her seat would mean going along with this unfair system, Rosa quietly refused and stayed sitting, so the bus driver called the police and Rosa was arrested!
Rosa stood up to injustice by sitting down. And she wasn’t simply protesting about who got a seat on the bus – she was drawing attention to one of the many unfair things that black people experienced. By doing this, she was putting herself in real danger, but her faith in Jesus gave her the courage to take her stand, by sitting down. ‘God has always given me the strength to say what is right’, she said.
Rosa’s brave act inspired others to protest too. For example, many people in Montgomery stopped riding on buses for over a year. Eventually, in 1964, the government said that it was against the law to discriminate against people in public places because of the colour of their skin.
Let’s pause and talk about today’s question which is: How do we think Rosa felt when the bus driver asked her to stand up? Why?
It would have been easier for Rosa to just stand up and go along with the unfair rules, instead of making a scene and putting herself in danger. However, her courage eventually brought about change.
Father God, we are inspired and challenged by Rosa Parks’ example. We ASK You to give us the courage and strength to do what we know is right even when it feels uncomfortable or scary. We ASK you to help us stand up for justice… or stay sitting, like Rosa Parks did.
Let’s think about places we know about where people are still segregated and separated because of where they come from, what they believe or what they look like.
God of Peace, we ASK you to bring people together. Help us to join in with those that are taking a stand for justice in our neighbourhood, our city, our nation and our world.
Rosa Parks understood that fear is like a prison. It wants to control us and stop us from living joyfully and freely. ‘I learned to put my trust in God and to see Him as my strength,’ she said. ‘Long ago I set my mind to be a free person and not to give in to fear.’**
Pause
Let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, we say YES to trusting You. As we do, we ASK You set us free from our fears so we can love You, love ourselves and love others more and more. As free people, help us bring freedom to others.
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 Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis
** Reflections by Rosa Parks: The Quiet Strength and Faith of a Woman Who Changed a Nation.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Liliwyn is 16 and lives in Kansas City, USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She is a good friend and enjoys designing, music, traveling, math and watching American Football (especially the KC Chiefs).
