Week: God's Mission
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 God, we look forward to discovering more of Your wisdom in the Old Testament. Show us the way You want us to live, and help us to walk in it today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Liliwyn
1 Corinthians 1:24
Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:24 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the prayer that Moses prayed to God before he travelled to a new place with the Israelites after they’d left Egypt.
Read by Liliwyn
Exodus 33:15-16
Then Moses said, ‘If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favourably on me – on me and on your people – if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.’
Exodus 33:15-16 (NLT)
Moses refused to go anywhere without God. He knew that he needed God’s presence more than anything else – it’s what would make the difference. That’s what being ‘set apart’ means – it’s about being made different by God’s loving presence with us. As we go everywhere with God – as we live in God’s presence – His love changes us and it has the power to change the world through us, little by little.
Moses wanted God to go with the Israelites on their journey. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: If we were going on an adventure, who would we want to come with us? Let’s pick three people each… not including God!
We are slowly being changed by God’s loving presence, but like the Israelites we’re on a journey and we still make lots of mistakes. Let’s take a minute to talk with God about ways that we haven’t loved others well this week.
Forgiving God, we’re sorry for messing up. Thank You that Your love for us never runs out. Help us to love others well as we are changed more by Your love.
Now, let’s pray for our church too.
Father God, help us be a church that changes the world through love! Help us to listen to Your voice, to go where You lead us, and to always be aware of Your presence with us. Transform us, and the communities that we live in, with Your love.
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.
Exodus 33:15-16
Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favourably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
Exodus 33:15-16 (NLT)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, thank You for the wisdom that we’ve heard from Your Word today. We say YES to walking the way You want us to. Wherever we go, we want to go with You!
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s see if we can remember our memory verse and say it together:
1 Corinthians 1:24
Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:24 (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 is 16 and 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).
