Week: 3 Loves, 6 Practices
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, as we start this new year together, we remember that You are with us. Our minds are ready to learn more about You, our hearts are ready to receive more from You, and our hands are ready to do more for and with You. Come, Lord Jesus.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Max
1 John 4:16
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16 (NIV UK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Creativity can be described as the ability to see, communicate and make things in unique ways. Today, we’re REFLECTING on the way that Jesus creates new things in and through our lives. The Bible calls this ‘fruit’.
Read by Max
John 15:4-5
[Jesus said] ‘Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If [a person remains] in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.’
John 15:4-5 (NCV)
To those who feel like we’ve heard this Bible passage recently, well spotted! Yesterday we focused on Jesus’ invitation to ‘remain’ connected with Him – for Him to live in us, and for us to live in Him. But then Jesus says that if we stay connected with Him, He will grow good fruit in our lives. That might mean learning a new skill or making a new friend. Or it might mean that we become more patient, more kind, or more hopeful. Isn’t that incredible? The God who created everything in the Universe wants to grow good things – good fruit – in and through our lives.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What good fruit is growing in our lives at the moment? (Sometimes it’s hard to spot good fruit in our own lives, so let’s ask each other what they see growing in us too.) And what good fruit do we want to grow in our lives this year?
Now, let’s close our eyes and be quiet for a moment.
God made each one of us. God is still making us, creating new things in us.
Creator God, we thank You for the good fruit that You are growing in our lives – the things that we see, and all the things that we find it hard to see too. It all belongs to You. We belong to You.
Let’s pray for someone we know who has a creative gift. Maybe they have a talent for organising things or for helping people to resolve problems? Maybe they make the best milkshakes? Or maybe it’s something else?
Creator God, we ASK You to encourage these friends to use their creative gifts so that other people can taste the good fruit in their lives.
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.
John 15:4-5
[Jesus said] ‘Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If [a person remains] in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.’
John 15:4-5 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Creator God, we thank You for making all of us creative in different ways – for growing all kinds of good fruit in our lives. We’re dancers and designers, bakers and builders, poets and problem-solvers, and so much more. We say YES to loving You by using all of our gifts.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
1 John 4:16
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:16 (NIV UK)
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.
Max is 9 years old and lives in Melbourne, Australia with his older brother and mum and dad. He often rides his bike to school and enjoys being creative by drawing or building with Lego. Max is also learning how to play the electric guitar and loves turning it up loud!
