Week: Me and Others
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
Jesus, You came to bring peace and healing, and because of You we can now be reconciled with God, with ourselves, with other people and with the whole world. We’re ready for You to restore our relationships a little bit more today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Kumi
Colossians 3:14
Clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
This week we have been thinking about how we should be reconciled to others. Today we’re REFLECTING on some instructions, written by Paul, about how to love one another really well.
Read by Kumi
Ephesians 4:29-32
When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need – words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Spirit is God’s proof that you belong to him. God gave you the Spirit to show that God will make you free when the final day comes. Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.
Ephesians 4:29-32 (NCV)
The title for this part of Paul’s letter could be something like, ‘How to be the world champion at loving others’. It’s a great list of how we should love one another and be kind to one another, and even though it may be challenging – sometimes it may feel almost impossible – it would definitely have a positive impact on our relationships with others if we tried to live more like this.
The first thing this list tells us to do is to use our words to help others become stronger. Let’s press pause and think for a moment about something encouraging that we can share with someone. Let’s do it right now. They may be with us or we may need to send a quick message to them.
And now let’s ask God to help us and others.
Loving God, we ASK You to continue to change us, from the inside out, to help us love others more like You do. Help us to be encouraging to everyone we meet.
There are probably lots of people who have never felt loved in the way that today’s Bible passage describes.
Holy Spirit, we ASK You be with those who feel unloved, undervalued or even hurt. And we ASK You to bring people into their lives who will share Your love with them.
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.
Ephesians 4:29-32
When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. And do not make the Holy Spirit sad. The Spirit is God’s proof that you belong to him. God gave you the Spirit to show that God will make you free when the final day comes. Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.
Ephesians 4:29-32 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we say YES, we want to be more loving and encouraging towards other people. May our words and our actions show Your love to other people.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Colossians 3:14
Clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 (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.
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.
Kumkanikazi (Kumi) is 12 years old, and lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with her parents and 4 siblings.
You’ll often find her in a stylish outfit, baking up a storm or creating videos.
