Week: Voices of Advent
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
Lord Jesus, we’re looking forward to celebrating Your birth this Christmas. Help us to be still amongst all the planning and the preparations, to rest in Your presence and remember what and who we are celebrating.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Noelle
Isaiah 9:6
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the passage in the book of Isaiah that this week’s memory verse comes from.
Read by Noelle
Isaiah 9:6-7
A child has been born to us;
God has given a son to us.
He will be responsible for leading the people.
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Power and peace will be in his kingdom
and will continue to grow forever.
He will rule as king on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom.
He will make it strong
by ruling with justice and goodness
from now on and forever.
The Lord All-Powerful will do this
because of his strong love for his people.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NCV)
Have we ever made a promise that’s taken a while to keep? Maybe we promised to do a chore before dinner but then just got distracted? Maybe we promised to bring our Pokémon cards into school to trade, but in the rush of getting ready we forgot to bring them with us?
Samuel the prophet had told David that his family and his kingdom would continue forever. A few hundred years later, Isaiah reassured the people of Israel that God hadn’t forgotten this promise. It would take another 700 years, but it would be fulfilled when Jesus came. God keeps His promises.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When was the last time we made a promise to someone? Did we keep it?
And now, we ASK God to help us and others.
Loving God, Your Word, the Bible, is full of awesome promises. You promise to hear us, to comfort us, to be faithful to us, to give us good things. The problem is that we forget – we worry, and we feel afraid. We ASK You to help us to remember the promises in Your Word.
We’ve already prayed for our leaders this week – for politicians, business leaders, teachers and church leaders – that they would hear the voice of God speaking to them. Let’s pray for them again, but this time using words from today’s Bible passage.
Wise Father, we ASK that You would help our leaders. Give them wisdom and courage to lead with goodness, and help them to make decisions that are fair.
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.
Isaiah 9:6-7
A child has been born to us;
God has given a son to us.
He will be responsible for leading the people.
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Power and peace will be in his kingdom
and will continue to grow forever.
He will rule as king on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom.
He will make it strong
by ruling with justice and goodness
from now on and forever.
The Lord All-Powerful will do this
because of his strong love for his people.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, Isaiah described You as a good leader. We say YES to You being the leader of our lives. We promise to follow You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Isaiah 9:6
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b (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.
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.
Noelle is 11 and lives in Kansas City, Missouri USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She loves animals, playing basketball, creating art and teamwork. Noelle gives the best hugs.
