Week: How To Be Unsuccessful
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.
So, let’s 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 sometimes get a bit confused about what things are really important and what things aren’t important at all. Help us to see our lives, our friends, and even ourselves the way that You do. We open our hearts and minds to You now – we’re ready for You to teach us and change us and make us a bit more like You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Hubo
Jeremiah 29:11
‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’
Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul tells them that he comes from an important family and that he is an important religious leader. ‘I have more reason to brag than anyone,’ he says. But then he adds something surprising!
Read by Hubo
Philippians 3:7-9
But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him.
Philippians 3:7-9a (CEV)
Throughout this week we’ve been talking about success, the important things that people try to get or achieve – things like money or popularity or power.
Paul had all of these things, but he described them as ‘worthless’. Shh! Don’t tell anyone I told you this, but some versions of the Bible translate say ‘dung’ instead of ‘worthless’ – ‘dung’ is animal poo by the way! It’s like Paul is saying, ‘All this stuff that I used to think was important – all this stuff that I used to see as success – compared to knowing Jesus, it’s just dung.’ All that really mattered to Paul was knowing that he belonged to Jesus.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we had to clean up after a pet? Or when have we visited a farm or a zoo and watched the animals being cleaned out?
Now, let’s try to forget about the animal poo for a moment and focus on Paul’s point, which is simply this – all that really matters is that we belong to Jesus. Nothing else comes even close to being as important as this.
Lord Jesus, we’re sorry for the times when we’ve allowed other things to become more important to us than knowing You. We use Paul’s words as our own prayer today: All we want is You, Jesus, and to know that we belong to You.
Let’s think of a friend – maybe someone at school or in our community – who doesn’t yet know Jesus, and let’s pray for them now.
Lord Jesus, as we whisper the names of these friends, we ASK You to speak to them, maybe through a dream, or through something they see or experience, or even through us somehow! We really want them to know that You are real and that You love 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.
Philippians 3:7-9
But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him.
Philippians 3:7-9a (CEV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, You sent Jesus to live and die for us, so that we could experience Your love and be with You always. We say YES, we want this – we want to be loved by You and to belong to You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Jeremiah 29:11
‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’
Jeremiah 29:11 (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.
Pete and his wife Sarah live in Manenburg, South Africa, where they help to lead a church called Tree of Life. Together, they spend a lot of their time sharing Jesus’ love with people and especially helping young men who want to get out of violent gangs and stop using drugs. Pete enjoys carpentry, he plays football for FC Manenburg and he recently wrote a book called, ‘How To Be (un)Successful’.
Hubolodumo (Hubo) lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with his parents and 4 siblings.
When he’s not busy trying out ninja moves, he’s practicing the latest dance moves, playing soccer, drawing or playing games with his friends.
