Week: How To Be Unsuccessful
As usual, 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.
So, let’s 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, we sometimes get a bit confused about what things are really important and what things aren’t important at all. Help us to see our lives, our friends, and even ourselves the way that You do. We open our hearts and minds to You now – we’re ready for You to teach us and change us and make us a bit more like You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Hubo
Jeremiah 29:11
‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’
Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on a few verses from the book of Isaiah which describe how God wants us to live, and what happens when we do!
Read by Hubo
Isaiah 58:9-11
[The Lord says] ‘If you stop making trouble for others, if you stop using cruel words and pointing your finger at others, if you feed those who are hungry and take care of the needs of those who are troubled, then your light will shine in the darkness, and you will be bright like sunshine at noon. The Lord will always lead you. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands and give strength to your bones. You will be like a garden that has much water, like a spring that never runs dry.’
Isaiah 58:9b-11 (NCV)
In these few verses, Isaiah describes what success looks like to God. When people stop making trouble for each other, that’s success. When people are kind instead of cruel, that’s success. When people feed those who are hungry, that’s success. When people do things to help and care for those who are in trouble, that’s success. This is what it means to be a successful human being! It’s all about loving God by loving others in real, practical ways!
And if we do all this, if we love people in this way, God says that we will be like bright lights in the darkness and that we will feel good too. Amazing!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Who do we know who seems to shine like a bright light because of the way that they love and care for people?
And now let’s ask God to help us and others.
Lord God, sometimes we feel a bit overwhelmed by the needs in the world, by all the unfairness and injustice that we see. We ASK You to give us strength and show us what we can do, even if it feels small. So, help us to say kind words instead of cruel ones. And help us to recognise when others are in trouble and show us what we can do to care for them.
Now, let’s pray for the people we talked about a few minutes ago – those who shine like bright lights because of the way that they love and care for other people.
Loving God, we ASK You to be with them and to strengthen them. Fill them with love so that they can continue to share it with those in need. And give them courage to continue bringing a bit more of Your fairness and justice into the world.
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.
Isaiah 58:9-11
[The Lord says] ‘If you stop making trouble for others, if you stop using cruel words and pointing your finger at others, if you feed those who are hungry and take care of the needs of those who are troubled, then your light will shine in the darkness, and you will be bright like sunshine at noon. The Lord will always lead you. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands and give strength to your bones. You will be like a garden that has much water, like a spring that never runs dry.’
Isaiah 58:9b-11 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, You promise that one day there will be no more trouble and no more pain. Until then, we say YES to shining like bright lights in the darkness by loving others and caring for those in need and doing everything we can to challenge unfairness and injustice.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Jeremiah 29:11
‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’
Jeremiah 29:11 (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.
Pete and his wife Sarah live in Manenburg, South Africa, where they help to lead a church called Tree of Life. Together, they spend a lot of their time sharing Jesus’ love with people and especially helping young men who want to get out of violent gangs and stop using drugs. Pete enjoys carpentry, he plays football for FC Manenburg and he recently wrote a book called, ‘How To Be (un)Successful’.
Hubolodumo (Hubo) lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with his parents and 4 siblings.
When he’s not busy trying out ninja moves, he’s practicing the latest dance moves, playing soccer, drawing or playing games with his friends.
