Welcome to Lectio for Families. This week, we’ve been exploring some of God’s names in the Bible, and reflecting on what they show us about who God is. But today is our Sabbath day, and so we’re taking a break from our regular P.R.A.Y. format to pray a little differently.

The Bible tells the story of God making the Universe and everything in it in six days. Every Sunday, we remember the Sabbath, when God rested and enjoyed everything that was made.

Pause

As usual, 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

Reflect

Bible Reading

Let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit may want to say to us today from Psalm 100.

Read by Selah
Psalm 100
Shout to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with joy; come before him with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends.
Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving and into his courtyards with songs of praise.
Thank him and praise his name.
The Lord is good. His love is forever, and his loyalty goes on and on.
Psalm 100 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out to us from this Psalm?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

God made the Universe and everything in it, and this Psalm is a reminder that He also made us; we belong to a loyal God whose love will never end.

And so, on this day of rest and joy, as we prepare to pray, let’s reflect on what it means to belong to God, to be loved by God.

Pause

Ask

ASK Prayers

In one of his letters to the church, Jesus’ disciple, John, wrote; ‘the Father has loved us so much! He loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children.’ (1 John 3:1a, NCV)

Thank You, Father God, for loving us so much, and for welcoming us into Your family. Help us to know your love more this week.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

In John, Jesus says, ‘I am the way. And I am the truth and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.’ (John 14:6, NCV)

Thank You, Jesus, for showing us the way to the Father and for inviting us into a brand-new life. Help us to follow You this week – we give our lives to you.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Jesus also gives us a name for the Holy Spirit, saying ‘I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and he will be in you.’ (John 14:16-17, NCV)

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for living with us and in us. You are our Helper – we ASK You to help us to become more like Jesus this week.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Let’s press pause and talk about our Sabbath question which is: As our week comes to an end, what was good about it – what are we thankful for? It could be something big or small.

• PAUSE the audio player now

Yes

Memory Verse

As we finish our time together, let’s say this week’s amazing memory verse one last time.

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Sabbath Blessing

May this Sabbath bring rest and joy to our hearts and our homes.
May today be a little less go, go, go, and a little more slow… slow… slow…
May we care less about things, and care more for people.
As we relax in God’s love, may we take time to listen and remember that we are all God’s children.