Week: Hospitality
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
God of hospitality, thank You for inviting us into Your family. As we sit at Your table and taste Your words to us, may they give us all the strength we need.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson J
Matthew 25:35
[Jesus said] ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.’
Matthew 25:35 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, and for most of this week, we’re REFLECTING on Psalm 91, a poem that many people think Moses wrote while leading God’s people through the desert.
Read by Jackson J
Psalm 91:1-2
Those who go to God Most High for safety
will be protected by the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, ‘You are my place of safety and protection.
You are my God and I trust you.’
Psalm 91:1-2 (NCV)
What do we think of when we hear the word hospitality? Maybe we think of other words or phrases like… feeling welcome, being at home, eating meals with friends or guests, feeling safe, being protected.
Moses and the Israelites were on a journey through an unwelcoming, dangerous place – the desert! But because God was with them, they felt safe and protected. Somehow, even though they were in the middle of the desert, they felt ‘at home’ with God, and they trusted Him.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Who do we know that makes us feel safe and welcome?
And now let’s ASK God to help us and others…
Father God, when we feel scared or alone, or we’re in an unfamiliar place, we ASK You to be our safe place of protection. Help us to put our trust in You.
Not everyone lives in a safe place. It is estimated that 19 million children have left their homes because of conflict or violence.*
Father God, we ASK You to be especially close to children around the world who are in vulnerable situations right now. Please protect them and help them to find places where they can live safely.
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 91:1-2
Those who go to God Most High for safety
will be protected by the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, ‘You are my place of safety and protection.
You are my God and I trust you.’
Psalm 91:1-2 (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, You are our place of safety and protection. You are our God and we trust You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 25:35
[Jesus said] ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.’
Matthew 25:35 (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.
*https://data.unicef.org/resources/lost-at-home-risks-faced-by-internally-displaced-children/
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Jackson is 11 and he lives in Chichester, on the south coast of England, with his parents and his sister. He loves Pokemon (who doesn’t?), music and having fun with his friends.