Week: Voices of Advent
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, as we look forward to the Christmas season, we’re looking forward to celebrating Your birth. Help us to be still amongst all the planning and the preparations, to rest in Your presence and keep our minds and hearts on celebrating You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson R
Matthew 1:23
‘She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’
Matthew 1:23b (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on the actions of an old man. His name was Simeon, and he’d waited patiently for God to fulfil a promise to help the people of Israel.
Read by Jackson R
Luke 2:26-30
Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do, Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:
‘Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation.’
Luke 2:26-30 (NCV)
Talk about God’s perfect timing. Simeon had waited patiently his whole life for this promise to be fulfilled, and the Holy Spirit nudged him to go to the temple at exactly the same time that Mary and Joseph were there with the baby, Jesus.
What a moment. In his old age, Simeon’s dream came true – he saw with his own eyes what God had promised. As Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms, he knew that the saviour of the world had finally come.
Simeon finally got the gift he had been patiently waiting for. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What gifts are we hoping for this Christmas? Have we written a list?
The Bible says that God has dreams and plans for our lives too (Jeremiah 29:11).
Loving God, we ASK You to help us wait and be patient, like Simeon, for your dreams and plans to come true in our lives too.
Let’s think of someone we know who is waiting for something to happen, or for something to change in their lives.
Loving God, waiting can be frustrating and really difficult sometimes. We ASK You to be close to those we know who are trying to wait patiently right now. Comfort them and give them the strength that they need.
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.
Luke 2:26-30
Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord. The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do, Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:
‘Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said. With my own eyes I have seen your salvation.’
Luke 2:26-30 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, thank you that You speak to us – just like You spoke to Simeon – at just the right moments. We say YES to listening out for Your voice, especially when we’re waiting for something to happen or for things to change.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 1:23
‘She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’
Matthew 1:23b (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.
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 lives with his younger brother and parents in Surrey. He loves pretty much all sport but his favourites are football, golf and jumping off high stuff into water! He enjoys gaming and is always ready to build something on Minecraft.
