Week: Holy Spirit Adventures
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, like the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, we’re patiently waiting for You to fill us with Your power and with Your presence. We’re ready for You to send us on new adventures.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Vera Lynn
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we are REFLECTING on an amazing, angelic rescue mission. Jesus’ followers were being treated badly by the religious leaders for what they believed, and Peter had been arrested and was about to be put on trial.
Read by Vera Lynn
Acts 12:5-7
So, Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Other soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Hurry! Get up!’ the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands.
Acts 12:5-7 (NCV)
Herod was a Jewish leader, and he was worried that the Christian church was becoming too big and too powerful, so he arrested one of their leaders, Peter. But the church kept praying, and Peter did too. Herod didn’t want Peter to escape so he posted about 16 guards to keep watch over Peter. But then, in the middle of the night, God set an angel to break Peter out of prison. Peter’s chains broke off and he walked straight past all the guards – he was free!
When Peter walked past those guards, it was almost like Peter was invisible. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: If we were invisible for a day, what would we do?
It’s unlikely that we’re in prison today, but maybe we do feel a bit trapped for some reason. Maybe things are happening in our lives that we don’t like and we can’t change or fix them?
Lord Jesus, we ASK You to give us the strength and the courage to keep going, and to trust that you will help us get through it or get out of it!
Peter didn’t deserve to be in prison – he hadn’t done anything wrong – and the church kept praying for him. There are lots of people in prison today because of things that they have done wrong – let’s pray for them too.
Loving God, we know that you love everyone, whoever they are and whatever they’ve done. We ASK you to be with all those who are in prison today. We pray that they realise and receive your love for them, and that they choose to change their lives for good.
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.
Acts 12:5-7
So, Peter was kept in jail, but the church prayed earnestly to God for him.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Other soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood there, and a light shined in the cell. The angel struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Hurry! Get up!” the angel said. And the chains fell off Peter’s hands.
Acts 12:5-7 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. Thank you, Holy Spirit, that wherever you are and wherever you take us, we are free.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid and don’t be frightened, because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (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.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Vera Lynn is 10 years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA with her parents, sister, and dog Max. Her favourite hobbies include reading, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She is very creative. Her favourite book is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
