Week: The Advent Voices - Women
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 are excited to be celebrating Your birth this Christmas. Amongst all the busyness of this season – all the planning and the preparations – please help us to pause and be still. We open our ears to hear You now, and we prepare our hearts to receive You once again.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Ruby
Luke 1:46-47
Then Mary said, ‘My soul praises the Lord; my heart rejoices in God my Savior.’
Luke 1:46-47 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the Bible passage that this week’s memory verse comes from.
Read by Ruby
Luke 1:46-48
Then Mary said, ’My soul praises the Lord; my heart rejoices in God my Savior, because he has shown his concern for his humble servant girl. From now on, all people will say that I am blessed.’
Luke 1:46-48 (NCV)
Mary didn’t think that she was important enough for God to choose her and use her. Maybe she felt like she was too young? Maybe she felt like she wasn’t clever enough? Maybe she felt like she didn’t know the right people or have the right friends? Maybe she felt all of this, and maybe other things too… but God cared for her and chose her anyway. And when Mary realised that God really meant it, she couldn’t help but sing praises to God.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s questions, which are: What was the last song that we sang? And what songs have been going round our heads this week?
Sometimes we feel like we’re too young (or too old) for God to choose us and use us. Or we feel like we’re not clever enough for Him, or like we don’t know the right people or have the right friends. If we’re feeling any of that right now, let’s give these feelings to God.
Father God, the Bible says that we didn’t choose You, but You chose us first. (John 15:16) You picked us out. You believe in us and You want to work in our lives, and through our lives too. We ASK you to help us remember this.
In today’s Bible passage, Mary sings ‘God has shown his care for me’. Let’s think really practically for a moment. Who could we show God’s care to this weekend?
Father God, show us who You want us to care for this weekend. What could we do to encourage them, help them or let them know that they are important to You?
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 1:46-48
Then Mary said, ’My soul praises the Lord; my heart rejoices in God my Savior, because he has shown his concern for his humble servant girl. From now on, all people will say that I am blessed.’
Luke 1:46-48 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving Father, we say YES to You, making Mary’s Song our own today. Our souls praise You and our hearts are happy because You are our Saviour.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Luke 1:46-47
Then Mary said, ‘My soul praises the Lord; my heart rejoices in God my Savior.’
Luke 1:46-47 (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.
Ruby is 12 and she lives in Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland with her family. Ruby is a gymnast who never sits still! She loves dogs (but her mum won’t get her one), she loves her friends and she’s always up for a laugh. Ruby would love to work with animals when she’s older.
