Week: Who is God?
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
Awesome God, thank you for the many ways you make yourself known. Our minds are open to learning more about You, and our hearts are open to knowing You better. We’re ready for You to speak to us.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Selah
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8 (NIVUK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
today’s story, we find the Israelties fighting a battle with the Amalekites. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what Moses did to help them win.
Read by Selah
Exodus 17:11-12,15
As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites would win the fight, but when Moses put his hands down, the Amalekites would win. Later, when Moses’ arms became tired, the men put a large rock under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands – Aaron on one side and Hur on the other. They kept his hands steady until the sun went down. Then Moses built an altar and named it The Lord Is My Banner.
Exodus 17:11-12,15 (NCV)
Have we ever seen the opening ceremony of the Olympics or another sporting event? All the athletes walk into a huge stadium behind the flag of the country they are competing for.
A banner is a bit like a flag – it shows what team we’re part of. Moses said that God was ‘Jehovah Nissi’, which means, ‘The Lord is our Banner’. Moses and the Israelites were on God’s team, and when they worked together, they won the battle.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s questions, which are: What different kinds of flags can we think of, and where might we find them?
Moses held his hands up and prayed for the Israelites. Let’s stretch our arms right up into the air for a moment, just like Moses, as we pray together.
Jehovah Nissi – Lord our Banner – we are part of Your team. We ASK You to help us where we need it today – give us courage and hope and love for those around us.
When Moses’ arms got tired, he needed his friends to help hold them up. Let’s pray for our friends.
Jehovah Nissi – Lord our Banner – we’re grateful for the friends we have by our side, especially when we’re tired and things get tough. We ASK You to help us to be good friends to others too, particularly those who need our support.
Let’s be quiet for a moment – is there anyone who we could help or support over the next few days?
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.
Exodus 17:11-12,15
As long as Moses held his hands up, the Israelites would win the fight, but when Moses put his hands down, the Amalekites would win. Later, when Moses’ arms became tired, the men put a large rock under him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands – Aaron on one side and Hur on the other. They kept his hands steady until the sun went down. Then Moses built an altar and named it The Lord Is My Banner.
Exodus 17:11-12,15 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jehovah Nissi – Lord our Banner – we say YES to being part of Your team.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Psalm 34:8 (NIVUK)
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.
Selah is 14 and she lives in the middle of The USA in Kansas City, with her parents, sisters and dogs. Selah loves adventures and plays (and watches) all kinds of sports. She also enjoys science and likes inventing and building things…especially if they help others in some way.
