Week: Holy Spirit Adventures
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
Holy Spirit, like the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, we’re patiently waiting for You to fill us with Your power and with Your presence. We’re ready for You to send us on new adventures.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Vera Lynn
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
The good news of Jesus’ love was spreading, and many people were choosing to follow Him, but others were angry and made life difficult for Jesus’ followers. Today we’re REFLECTING on someone who came to visit just at the right moment.
Read by Vera Lynn
Acts 11:19a,22-24
Many of the believers were scattered when they were persecuted after Stephen was killed. The church in Jerusalem heard about all of this, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. When he reached Antioch and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad. He encouraged all the believers in Antioch always to obey the Lord with all their hearts, and many people became followers of the Lord.
Acts 11:19a,22-24 (NCV)
The church was struggling – they were being persecuted, which means they were being treated badly, for what they believed. Jesus’ followers were probably feeling fearful and discouraged, and this was the moment when Barnabas arrived, full of the Holy Spirit.
The name ‘Barnabas’ literally means ‘son of encouragement’, and that’s what he gave them – encouragement. He reminded them that even though they were suffering, Jesus’ message of love was spreading and the church was growing. He pointed out all of the good things that were happening and encouraged them not to give up, but to keep going.
When we’re struggling, it really helps to have someone come and cheer us on. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Who are the people in our lives who are great at encouraging us to keep going when things are difficult?
Where do we need some encouragement or a reminder to keep going? Maybe it’s to do with something at school, or somewhere else?
Holy Spirit, you encouraged the church through Barnabas, so we ASK You to send us some encouragement today, through Your words, or even through one of our friends.
And Holy Spirit, we pray for anyone who is feeling discouraged today.
Let’s pause for a moment and ASK the Holy Spirit to put the name of someone we know into our hearts.
Holy Spirit, we pray for this person. We ASK you to encourage them. Comfort them, if that’s what they need. Give them strength if they’re feeling weak. Give them hope if they’re feeling hopeless. And show us if there’s anything that we can do to encourage them too.
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.
Acts 11:19a,22-24
Many of the believers were scattered when they were persecuted after Stephen was killed. The church in Jerusalem heard about all of this, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. When he reached Antioch and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad. He encouraged all the believers in Antioch always to obey the Lord with all their hearts, and many people became followers of the Lord.
Acts 11:19a,22-24 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. We say YES God, we want to be filled with Your Spirit so we can be encouragers, just like Barnabas.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (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.
Vera Lynn is 10 years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA with her parents, sister, and dog Max. Her favourite hobbies include reading, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She is very creative. Her favourite book is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
