Week: Easter
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 Selah
Matthew 28:20
[Jesus said] ‘Teach [people] to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.’
Matthew 28:20 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on one of the many encounters that Jesus had with his followers following His resurrection.
Read by Selah
Matthew 28:16-17
The eleven followers went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. On the mountain they saw Jesus and worshiped him, but some of them did not believe it was really Jesus.
Matthew 28:16-17 (NCV)
Even though Jesus was standing right in front of them, some of His followers found it hard to believe that it was really Him. They were probably still upset after watching him die on a cross just a few days earlier. And they probably felt confused when they heard stories from the women in their group about Jesus coming back to life again, because that’s impossible, right? And maybe they’d also heard the ‘fake news’ that the religious leaders and the Roman soldiers were spreading that Jesus hadn’t really come back to life after all. All of this made it hard for Jesus’ followers to know what to think and what to believe, even though Jesus was standing right there.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When did one of our friends or family members surprise us by showing up unexpectedly? Maybe they travelled a long way to visit, but we didn’t know about it? How did we feel?
Like Jesus’ followers, we sometimes find it hard to believe that Jesus is with us.
Lord Jesus, the truth is that You promised to always be with us. We know that this is true, but we don’t always feel it. So we ASK You to help us see past how we feel – especially when we’re feeling upset or confused about something – so that we can see and experience Your presence with us.
In today’s Bible verses, we read that Jesus’ followers gathered on a mountainside to worship Him. It sounds a bit like one of our church services – we gather to worship Jesus each week too, although probably in a building instead of a mountainside!
Lord Jesus, we pray for the people in our church services who are finding it hard to believe in You, a bit like Your followers on that mountainside. We ASK You to help them see You and believe in You and receive the love You have for them.
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.
Matthew 28:16-17
The eleven followers went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. On the mountain they saw Jesus and worshiped him, but some of them did not believe it was really Jesus.
Matthew 28:16-17 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we say YES, we see You and we worship You. We believe in You, and in Your incredible love for us and everyone.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 28:20
[Jesus said] ‘Teach [people] to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age.’
Matthew 28:20 (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.
Liliwyn lives in Kansas City, USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She is a good friend and enjoys designing, music, traveling, math and watching American Football (especially the KC Chiefs).
