Week: One Anothers
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 Jackson R
Philippians 2:3
When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honour to others than to yourselves.
Philippians 2:3 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
We’re returning to Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus and we’re REFLECTING on some unusual advice that he gives about how we can encourage our friends.
Read by Jackson R
Ephesians 5:19-20 (NCV)
Ephesians 5:19-20
Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord. Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of God’s greatest gifts to us is music and singing, and it can affect us in deep ways. When we hear a particular song or piece of music it can make us feel happy or sad, hopeful or fearful. Research has even shown that when groups of people sing together as a choir, their hearts can sometimes synchronise and beat in time. Such is the power of music and singing!
Paul understood this power, which is why he urges us to use the Psalms (most of which are King David’s songs), hymns and spiritual songs to encourage each other. And he also urges us to carry songs in our own hearts too.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What’s one piece of music or one song that reminds us of a particular place or a person?
And now, we ASK God to help us and others.
Father God, thank you for violins and vocal chords, for harps and harmonies – thank you for creating music and giving us the ability to sing. We ASK You to help us use these gifts to encourage others and grow more gratitude in our lives.
Believe it or not, there are a few places in the world where governments don’t let Christians sing together in worship.
Father God, we ASK You to give people in these places extra strength and encouragement – even though they’re not allowed to sing out loud, we know that You hear the songs they sing to You in their hearts.
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.
Ephesians 5:19-20
Ephesians 5:19-20 (NCV)
Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord. Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we say YES to speaking words and psalms of encouragement to our friends, and to singing songs of worship and gratitude to You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 2:3
When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honour to others than to yourselves.
Philippians 2:3 (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.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Jackson is 11 and lives with his younger brother and parents in Surrey. He loves pretty much all sport but his favourites are football, golf and jumping off high stuff into water! He enjoys gaming and is always ready to build something on Minecraft.
