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 we’re REFLECTING on another person that God chose to rescue the Israelites when they got into trouble. His name was Gideon, and he is another of God’s reluctant heroes.
Read by Selah
Judges 6:15, 22-24
But Gideon answered, ‘Lord, how can I save Israel? My family group is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family.’ Then Gideon understood he had been talking to the angel of the Lord. So Gideon cried out, ‘Lord God! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!’ But the Lord said to Gideon, ‘Calm down! Don’t be afraid! You will not die!’ So Gideon built an altar there to worship the Lord and named it The Lord Is Peace. It still stands at Ophrah, where the Abiezrites live.
Judges 6:15b, 22-24a (NCV)
Gideon was worried that he was too young, too poor and not important enough to be of any use to God. But God told him to not be afraid, and Gideon eventually realised that even he could be used by God. To remind himself that God’s Peace was much bigger than his worries and his fears, Gideon built a small altar – a marker-place for prayer and worship. He named the altar ‘The Lord is Peace’; ‘Jehovah Shalom’.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: If we met an angel face to face, like Gideon did, what would we ask them?
Maybe we feel like Gideon sometimes, like we’re too young, too poor, or not important enough for God to use us? But we are!
Loving God, thank You that You choose us, just like You chose Gideon. Help us see what You see when You look at us.
Let’s think of a place in the world that we know is not at peace – where there is violence and conflict, where life must feel really scary.
Jehovah Shalom – the Lord is Peace – we ASK You to stop the wars. We speak peace to those who are fighting, peace to the leaders who have to make decisions, and peace to those who are suffering.
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.
Judges 6:15, 22-24
But Gideon answered, ‘Lord, how can I save Israel? My family group is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family.’ Then Gideon understood he had been talking to the angel of the Lord. So Gideon cried out, ‘Lord God! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!’ But the Lord said to Gideon, ‘Calm down! Don’t be afraid! You will not die!’ So Gideon built an altar there to worship the Lord and named it The Lord Is Peace. It still stands at Ophrah, where the Abiezrites live.
Judges 6:15b, 22-24a (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jehovah Shalom – the Lord is Peace – in our hurting world, and in the places where we feel afraid too, we say YES to receiving Your peace.
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.
