Week: Love (Lent)
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.
As usual, 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, it’s You who helps us grow, each and every day, into who God made us to be. We’re ready to be changed a little bit more by You today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Eli
Psalm 89:2
I will say, ‘Your love continues forever; your loyalty goes on and on like the sky.’
Psalm 89:2 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING again on some verses that the Apostle Paul wrote about love.
Read by Eli
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NCV)
The pages of the Bible are packed full of love, from the beginning to the end. We talked on Monday about how God is love, and so as we read this passage, we could replace the word love with God. God is patient, God is not selfish, God does not count up wrongs that have been done, and so on.
Paul describes the perfect love that God has for each of us and also shows us how to be the absolute best at loving each other. It’s not always as easy for us as it sounds.
Let’s press pause and chat about today’s question, which is: Which of the ways that Paul describes love do we want to be better at?
And now, we ASK God to help us to love each other.
Loving God, Help us to love each other more like You love us.
Help us to be more patient,
Help us to be less selfish,
Help us to always love, even when it’s hard
(Maybe we could pause and add our own prayer here.)
Let’s think for a moment of someone who might not feel loved today – maybe the person in our class who nobody wants to sit next to; maybe the person who sleeps on the street in our town; maybe the elderly person who lives on their own. Who else comes to mind?
Loving God, we want them to feel Your love. We ASK You to send someone to show them Your love today. And if You want to send us, help us to be courageous and go.
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.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, You are love. We say YES to walking in the way of love: being patient, being kind and sharing Your love with everyone we meet.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 89:2
I will say, ‘Your love continues forever; your loyalty goes on and on like the sky.’
Psalm 89:2 (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.
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Eli lives in Melbourne, Victoria with his mum, dad and two younger sisters. He enjoys music, reading, riding his skateboard and playing soccer.
