Week: Voices of Advent
As usual, 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.
The prophet Isaiah lived about 700 years before Jesus was born, and God spoke to him about things that hadn’t yet happened. Today, we’re REFLECTING on something that Isaiah said to King Ahaz.
Read by Noelle
Isaiah 7:13-14
Then Isaiah said, ‘Ahaz, descendant of David, listen very carefully! Isn’t it bad enough that you wear out the patience of people? Do you have to wear out the patience of my God also? But the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and she will name him Immanuel.’
Isaiah 7:13-14 (NCV)
King Ahaz had turned his back on God, and things in his kingdom weren’t going well. In the middle of this mess, God’s message was that He would send a sign – a way of pointing back to God. A son would be born and be given a really special name: Immanuel.
Immanuel is a Hebrew name which literally means ‘God with us’. Isaiah was prophesying that in Jesus, God would be with us.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: We’re at the start of the build up to Christmas. What are our favourite things about Christmas?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving God, You know how we’re feeling today. We ASK You to help us remember that Your plan was, and always will be, Immanuel… to be with us.
Isaiah spoke God’s words to King Ahaz, and he was the leader of his nation. Let’s pause and think about the leaders in our country.
Heavenly Father, we pray for politicians, for business leaders, for teachers and church leaders, and any other leaders who come into our mind. We ASK You to open their ears so they can hear Your words to them today.
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 7:13-14
Then Isaiah said, ‘Ahaz, descendant of David, listen very carefully! Isn’t it bad enough that you wear out the patience of people? Do you have to wear out the patience of my God also? But the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and she will name him Immanuel.’
Isaiah 7:13-14 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, You are Immanuel – thank You that You promise to be with us. Like Isaiah, we say YES to opening our ears to hear what You want to say to us, so that we can speak out Your words of love to others this Advent.
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.
