Week: Peace
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
Holy Spirit, You help us grow, each and every day, into who God made us to be. We’re ready to be changed a little bit more by You today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Kumi
Philippians 4:7
And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on some verses that the prophet Isaiah wrote about 700 years before Jesus was born.
Read by Kumi
Isaiah 9:6-7
A child has been born to us;
God has given a son to us.
He will be responsible for leading the people.
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Power and peace will be in his kingdom
and will continue to grow forever.
He will rule as king on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom.
He will make it strong
by ruling with justice and goodness
from now on and forever.
The Lord All-Powerful will do this
because of his strong love for his people.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NCV)
Although he didn’t realise it at the time, when Isaiah prophesied these words, he was talking about Jesus, and the kind of leader He would be – a Prince of Peace.
Throughout this week, we’ve been talking and praying about the ways that God grows peace in us, as a fruit of the Spirit. However, Jesus comes not just to grow peace in us, but between us too.
With all the conflict that we see around us – between individual people, between groups and even between nations – it’s hard to imagine a world where everyone lives in peace with one another. But that’s what Isaiah foresees, and ultimately it’s what Jesus has come to do… to bring peace on earth, forever.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question which is: What can we do to help people get along with each other better – to help them be at peace with each other?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to help us grow peace with others.
If there’s anyone who we’re not ‘at peace’ with at the moment – maybe we’ve upset each other or fallen out over something – let’s quietly ASK God to show us how we can make peace with them again.
There are lots of charities and organisations around the world that are working hard to grow peace and reconciliation between people.
Father God, we ASK You to give all those who are working to bring peace between people all the grace and wisdom that they need. We pray that Your peace would be with them, and that it would flow through them too.
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.
Isaiah 9:6-7
A child has been born to us;
God has given a son to us.
He will be responsible for leading the people.
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Power and peace will be in his kingdom
and will continue to grow forever.
He will rule as king on David’s throne
and over David’s kingdom.
He will make it strong
by ruling with justice and goodness
from now on and forever.
The Lord All-Powerful will do this
because of his strong love for his people.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace. We say YES to receiving Your peace – may it fill our lives and overflow into our relationships with other people. Help us to live in peace with everyone, as far as we possibly can.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 4:7
And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 (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) 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.
