Week: Jesus' Friends & Family
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
What a friend we have in You, Jesus. We’re ready for the new things that You want to show us and say to us about being friends with You, and with others too.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Asaph
Proverbs 17:17
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
Proverbs 17:17 (MSG)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
When Jesus was only 12 years old, His parents took Him to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast. On the way home, they realised that Jesus was missing so they had to go back to Jerusalem. After searching for three days, they eventually found Jesus in the temple chatting with the religious leaders.
Read by Asaph
Luke 2:48-49,51
When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you and have been looking for you.’
Jesus said to them, ’Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?’
Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But his mother kept in her mind all that had happened.
Luke 2:48-49,51 (NCV)
Mary couldn’t find her son for three days! She probably felt a bit confused about how they’d lost him in the first place, and she almost certainly felt frightened for him. And although Luke writes that Mary was ‘astonished’ when they found Jesus, maybe she felt a bit angry with him too for going somewhere without telling them. She was his mum, after all!
But Luke also tells us that Mary, ‘kept in her mind all that had happened’. Even though she didn’t completely understand why he’d returned to the temple, maybe in that moment she remembered what the angel had told her before he was born – that her son would also be God’s Son, and that she needn’t be afraid.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we lost something really important to us?
Like Mary, sometimes we don’t understand what’s happening in our lives.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to help us trust You when we feel scared, confused or even angry about things that are happening in our lives. Help us to remember that we are never truly alone – You are always with us.
Now, let’s pray for the people who look after us; family members and other caregivers, our friends at home and at school, teachers and people in our communities.
Father God, thank You for all the people who watch over us, who try to understand and protect us. We ASK that You remind them that You are the perfect Father and You are watching over all of us, which includes 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.
Luke 2:48-49,51
When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you and have been looking for you.’
Jesus said to them, ’Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?’
Jesus went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But his mother kept in her mind all that had happened.
Luke 2:48-49,51 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord God, the Bible tells us that we are Your children too, and that You love us. We say YES to trusting You, knowing that we are never truly lost when we are with You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Proverbs 17:17
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.
Proverbs 17:17 (MSG)
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.
Asaph is 9 years old. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his younger sister Adelina, father and mother. He enjoys riding his bike, camping, reading, playing flag football and watching Bible Project videos. Asaph is kind and smart and loves hanging out with friends!
