Week: Easter
As usual, 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, you died for us but you came back to life again and you’re alive now. We’re ready to meet with you in new ways today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Bea
Matthew 28:6
The angel said to the women, ‘He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’
Matthew 28:6 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Mary Magdalene had told the disciples that the tomb was empty, but they were scared and didn’t understand. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened later that evening…
Read by Bea
John 20:19-22
When it was evening on the first day of the week, Jesus’ followers were together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the elders. Then Jesus came and stood right in the middle of them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. His followers were thrilled when they saw the Lord.
Then Jesus said again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, I now send you.’ After he said this, he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’
John 20:19-22 (NCV)
Let’s imagine that we are in the locked room with the disciples. All of sudden, Jesus appears in the middle of the room as if from nowhere – how did He get in? Jesus looks around the room, smiling at each of us in turn, and then He says, ‘Peace be with you, my friends’. As we stare at Him, barely able to believe what we’re seeing and hearing, our racing hearts gradually slow down and we realise that, somehow, our fears have begun to fade too.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: If we were there in that room with the disciples, what’s the first thing that we’d want to ask Jesus?
We might not be able to see Him, but Jesus is in the room with us right now, by His Spirit. Let’s take a few moments to talk with Him about anything that we’re feeling fearful about.
Let’s close our eyes and imagine Jesus speaking into each of our hearts – speaking directly to those fears – ‘Peace be with you!’
Some people feel trapped by the things that they are afraid of, such as a fear of going outside, or a fear of heights or animals, or a fear of something else. Fears stop us from living freely and fully.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to be with those who suffer in this way. Speak peace into their hearts. Set them free from their fears so that they can live fully.
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 20:19-22
When it was evening on the first day of the week, Jesus’ followers were together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the elders. Then Jesus came and stood right in the middle of them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. His followers were thrilled when they saw the Lord.
Then Jesus said again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, I now send you.’ After he said this, he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’
John 20:19-22 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, You were resurrected – brought back to life – by God, and now You are alive! We say YES to receiving Your peace in our lives, and to receiving the Holy Spirit too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 28:6
The angel said to the women, ‘He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’
Matthew 28:6 (NIV)
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.
Bea is 14 and she lives in Hampshire, in the UK, with her family. Her favourite football team is Manchester United, even though she lives a loooong way from Manchester. Bea likes horse riding and running, and when she’s older, she wants to become a vet, or a professional horse-rider.
