Week: Reflect/Reboot/New Year
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, please help us to be still. We open our ears to hear You now, quietly preparing our hearts for all that You have for us as we approach the new year.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Bella
Philippians 1:6
God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on one of the many things Jesus did that His disciples would never forget.
Read by Bella
John 13:4-7
So during the meal Jesus stood up and took off his outer clothing. Taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Jesus came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.’
John 13:4-7 (NCV)
In those days, and in that part of the world, people wore open sandals – so their feet would get really dusty and dirty! It wasn’t unusual for servants to wash a guest’s feet before they had a meal, but it was very unusual – in fact it was unheard of – for a religious leader to wash his followers’ feet. But Jesus did it to demonstrate that leaders should serve others; he wanted to show that leaders are never too important to do the things that no-one else wants to do. It was one of many memorable moments that Jesus’ disciples would never forget.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: As we remember 2024 together, what were the memorable moments – the special moments that we will never forget? Maybe it’s places we’ve visited, people we’ve met, or experiences we’ve had?
We might want to spend a little bit longer than normal looking back together at the year. Maybe we could get a sheet of paper and write or draw our memories down.
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Father God, we thank You for every memorable moment in 2024 – the awesome, amazing ones, and we thank You that You were with us during the difficult ones, too. If there are things that You want us to learn from these moments, we ASK You to help us learn them.
In today’s Bible passage, Jesus demonstrates that if we want to love others and even lead others, then we need to serve them.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to show us how we can serve others as we begin a new year tomorrow. We want to start by serving. Help us to do an act of kindness for someone, even if no-one else knows about it.
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 13:4-7
So during the meal Jesus stood up and took off his outer clothing. Taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Jesus came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later.’
John 13:4-7 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
As we prepare to leave 2024 behind let’s hold out our hands and say YES to God together.
Father God, we may have hopes and dreams for 2025, but we’re choosing to make one extra-special New Year’s Resolution this year, and it’s simply this – we say YES to loving You with all our hearts, with all our souls, and with all our minds. And we say YES to loving and serving others this year too. May 2025 be memorable because it is filled with love.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 1:6
God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:6 (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.
Bella is 13 years old and lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her mum, dad and cocker spaniel Summer. She loves art, performing and Jesus!
