Week: Voices of Advent
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
Lord Jesus, we’re looking forward to celebrating Your birth this Christmas. Help us to be still amongst all the planning and the preparations, to rest in Your presence and remember what and who we are celebrating.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Noelle
Isaiah 9:6
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on one of the things that Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, many hundreds of years before Jesus was even born.
Read by Noelle
Matthew 4:15-16
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali
along the sea,
beyond the Jordan River.
This is Galilee where the non-Jewish people live.
These people who live in darkness
will see a great light.
They live in a place covered with the shadows of death,
but a light will shine on them.
Matthew 4:15-16 (NCV)
When Isaiah prophesied these words, Zebulun and Naphtali were under attack and being overrun by an enemy army. Through Isaiah, God reassured the people that He hadn’t forgotten them, and that He would shine a light in their darkness. Jesus, the light who has come, was telling the people listening that He is the light in the darkness.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we needed a torch? Where were we?
If possible, let’s make where we are darker by turning the lights off. Now, let’s just turn our torches on and pray together.
Loving God, as we think about the things in our lives that feel a little bit dark at the moment, we ASK that You would shine Your light in us and through us.
There are many places in our world today that, like Zebulun and Naphtali, are under attack and being overrun.
Heavenly father, we pray for the people living in these places today. We ASK that You would shine Your light into the darkness and give them hope. We pray that peace would come in these places, especially this Christmastime.
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.
Matthew 4:15-16
Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali
along the sea,
beyond the Jordan River.
This is Galilee where the non-Jewish people live.
These people who live in darkness
will see a great light.
They live in a place covered with the shadows of death,
but a light will shine on them.
Matthew 4:15-16 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jesus, You are the light of the world. We say YES to You being the light of our lives, too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Isaiah 9:6
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b (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.
Noelle is 11 and lives in Kansas City, Missouri USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She loves animals, playing basketball, creating art and teamwork. Noelle gives the best hugs.
