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 Eli
2 Corinthians 3:17
The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
After talking with the Roman Governor Felix, and then the Roman King Agrippa, Paul was eventually taken on a ship to visit Caesar, the top Roman ruler. On the way, however, the ship got caught in a storm. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened next.
Read by Eli
Acts 27:20-24
When we could not see the sun or the stars for many days, and the storm was very bad, we lost all hope of being saved.
After the men had gone without food for a long time, Paul stood up before them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me. You should not have sailed from Crete. Then you would not have all this trouble and loss. But now I tell you to cheer up because none of you will die. Only the ship will be lost. Last night an angel came to me from the God I belong to and worship. The angel said, “Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caesar.” And God has promised you that he will save the lives of everyone sailing with you.’
Acts 27:20-24 (NCV)
In the middle of this raging storm, when the ship’s crew had lost all hope of survival, Paul told them to ‘cheer up’. An angel had spoken to him, and so even though the situation was scary, Paul had confidence that they would be OK.
Over the past few weeks we’ve read lots of stories about Paul trusting that God would provide for him, rescue him, give him boldness, etc. Paul had learned that whatever was happening to him, that he could trust God.
In today’s passage, we read that Paul warned the ship’s crew not to sail from Crete, but they did it anyway. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we done something that we were warned not to do? Maybe it was jumping off a wall, or eating a really hot chilli pepper, or putting a colourful sock in with a white wash! What happened?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving God, thank you that you are faithful. We ASK you to help us trust you whatever circumstances we are in.
Paul told the ship’s crew to cheer up. He gave them hope when they had no hope. Let’s think of someone we know who may need a bit of cheering up or a bit of hope at the moment.
Holy Spirit, we ASK you to be with them. Comfort and give them strength, whatever is going on in their hearts and in their lives right now.
And now, let’s listen for a moment in case the Holy Spirit wants to give us a message of hope for them, something that might cheer them up a bit.
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 27:20-24
When we could not see the sun or the stars for many days, and the storm was very bad, we lost all hope of being saved.
After the men had gone without food for a long time, Paul stood up before them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me. You should not have sailed from Crete. Then you would not have all this trouble and loss. But now I tell you to cheer up because none of you will die. Only the ship will be lost. Last night an angel came to me from the God I belong to and worship. The angel said, “Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caesar.” And God has promised you that he will save the lives of everyone sailing with you.’
Acts 27:20-24 (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. And we say YES to listening to You – we want to be messengers of hope, just like Paul, to those around us.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
2 Corinthians 3:17
The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (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.
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Eli is 11 and lives in Melbourne, Victoria with his mum, dad and two younger sisters. He enjoys music, reading, riding his skateboard and playing soccer.
