Week: Holy Spirit Adventures
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
Holy Spirit, like the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, we’re patiently waiting for You to fill us with Your power and with Your presence. We’re ready for You to send us on new adventures.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Vera Lynn
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the time when God sent Saul and Barnabus on a new adventure.
Read by Vera Lynn
Acts 13:1-3
In the church at Antioch there were these prophets and teachers. They were all worshipping the Lord and fasting for a certain time. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for which I have chosen them.’ So after they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out.
Acts 13:1-3 (NCV)
While Barnabas and Saul were praying with some of the church leaders the Holy Spirit gave them a new special work – there were new places to go, things to do and people to meet. It was special work for Barnabas and Saul, but the whole community supported them.
In church, we all have a part to play. The Holy Spirit sometimes asks us to do a special work – maybe it’s a place for us to go, or something for us to do, or it might be people that the Holy Spirit wants us to meet or talk with. As the Holy Spirit speaks, it’s important that we listen alongside other people so they can pray with us and support us.
The first thing the Holy Spirit did was send Barnabas and Saul to the island of Cyprus. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Where would we love the Holy Spirit to send us?
The Holy Spirit might have a special job for us to do this week – maybe it’s a person for us to reach out to, a friend we can pray for, or a kind thing we can do at home.
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to speak to us. Show us how we can share Your love, and the story of Jesus as we go about our lives this week.
The Holy Spirit sent Barnabas and Saul on an adventure, to spread the good news of Jesus into different parts of the world. They may have had mixed feelings about how things would change. Let’s pray for those who have big changes coming soon – new schools, different responsibilities or challenges, a new home, or something else.
Faithful God, we ASK you to give strength and comfort to all those who are experiencing change right now. Fill them with joy and excitement… and in the moments when they feel afraid, we ASK you to help them put their trust in you.
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.
Acts 13:1-3
In the church at Antioch there were these prophets and teachers. They were all worshipping the Lord and fasting for a certain time. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for which I have chosen them.’ So after they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out.
Acts 13:1-3 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You, big and small. We know that you don’t change – you’re stable and steadfast, even when everything else is changing around us, and so we choose to put our trust in you.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (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.
Vera Lynn is 10 years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA with her parents, sister, and dog Max. Her favourite hobbies include reading, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She is very creative. Her favourite book is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
