Week: Me and Others
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
Jesus, You came to bring peace and healing, and because of You we can now be reconciled with God, with ourselves, with other people and with the whole world. We’re ready for You to restore our relationships a little bit more today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Kumi
Colossians 3:14
Clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on part of a letter written by Paul that includes a talking foot!
Read by Kumi
1 Corinthians 12:14-19
The human body has many parts. The foot might say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body.’ But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. The ear might say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body.’ But saying this would not stop the ear from being a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell. If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them.
1 Corinthians 12:14-19 (NCV)
Imagine if our bodies were just made up of feet – it would be pretty difficult to get around… or eat for that matter!
Paul used the image of a human body as a way of describing the church. Just as our bodies have many different parts that each do unique and important jobs, the church is also made up of many different people who each do unique and important tasks. We mustn’t all try to do the same things, and we can’t say that we don’t need the people who do things that are different to us. We need each other, and when we’re working together – when we’re reconciled – we become what God intended us to be, a fully functioning body of many parts.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Would we rather have talking feet or walking ears? Why?
And now let’s ask God to help us and others.
Creator God, You gave us all different skills and abilities, and You made us so that we could all work together. We ASK You to help us play our part in being reconciled with other people.
People sometimes don’t feel included – they feel left out, undervalued and excluded. Some people even feel like this in church sometimes – the place where they should feel welcomed the most.
Lord Jesus, we ASK that You would be near to those who are feeling left out, undervalued and excluded. We want them to know that You value and love them just as they are. And help Your church around the world to see and welcome everyone into Your family, just like You do.
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.
1 Corinthians 12:14-19
The human body has many parts. The foot might say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body. The ear might say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the ear from being a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell. If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them.
1 Corinthians 12:14-19 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, we say YES to being a hand, a foot, an ear or whatever part of the body that You have made us to be in Your family. We want to be reconciled with others – brought together – so that we can work well together with them, and for You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Colossians 3:14
Clothe yourself in love. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 (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.
Phil lives close to a beach in the north of England with his wife, his daughters and his dogs. Phil works for 24-7 Prayer, mostly doing Lectio stuff, and helping to run Prayer Spaces in Schools. He runs a lot, usually for long distances. He likes curry, mountains, reading books and he still plays Pokemon Go.
Kumkanikazi (Kumi) is 12 years old, and lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with her parents and 4 siblings.
You’ll often find her in a stylish outfit, baking up a storm or creating videos.
