Welcome to Lectio for Families. Throughout this week we’re looking back at 2024 and looking forward, with hope and expectation, into the year ahead – 2025!

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

Lord Jesus, please help us to be still. We open our ears to hear You now, quietly preparing our hearts for all that You have for us as we approach the new year.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we’re REFLECTING on a few verses from one of the Psalms.

Read by Bella
Psalm 34:17-18
The Lord hears good people when they cry out to him, and he saves them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.
Psalm 34:17-18 (NCV)

Earlier this week we talked and prayed about the things that we felt happy about in 2024 – things that we’re thankful for. However, there were probably some things that we felt sad about too. Maybe things that happened in our lives, or in our friends’ lives. Maybe things that happened around the world that we saw on the news or on social media.

The writer of today’s Psalm says that we can give our sadness and sorrow to God in prayer, and that God will be close to us when we feel broken-hearted. This kind of prayer is sometimes called ‘lament’.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: As we remember 2024 together, what did we find difficult? What made us feel sad? (It’s OK if we still feel a bit sad, even now.)

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

Let’s be quiet for a moment and offer these feelings and these memories to God.

Holy Spirit, the Bible describes You as the Comforter. As we offer our feelings and our memories to You, we ASK for Your comfort and Your strength. Thank You that You promise to be with us.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Let’s think beyond ourselves for a moment. Which country, or which issue of injustice, has been in our hearts and our prayers this year?

Lord God, it’s never OK when people are suffering. We intercede – we pray on behalf of those who are suffering right now – and we ASK You to do something, to make things change.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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.

Psalm 34:17-18
The Lord hears good people when they cry out to him, and he saves them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and he saves those whose spirits have been crushed.
Psalm 34:17-18 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

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

YES Prayer

And now let’s say YES to God together using words from Psalm 56.

Loving God, we’re grateful that You care enough to come close to us when we’re feeling sad. The Bible says that ‘You keep track of all [our] sorrows. You have collected all [our] tears in your bottle.’ (Psalm 56:8a, NLT). We say YES to trusting You and talking with You about how we feel.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.