Week: Hospitality
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
God of hospitality, thank You for inviting us into Your family. As we sit at Your table and taste Your words to us, may they give us all the strength we need.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson J
Matthew 25:35
[Jesus said] ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.’
Matthew 25:35 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on what David shows us about God’s hospitality in Psalm 3.
Read by Jackson J
Psalm 3:3-6
But, Lord, you are my shield,
my wonderful God who gives me courage.
I will pray to the Lord,
and he will answer me from his holy mountain.
I can lie down and go to sleep,
and I will wake up again,
because the Lord gives me strength.
Thousands of troops may surround me,
but I am not afraid.
Psalm 3:3-6 (NCV)
When we’re away from home, one of the hardest things can be sleeping in a different bed. Sometimes it’s really difficult to get to sleep because the bed seems too hard or too soft, or the sheets are too scratchy, or the pillows don’t feel right.
And some people find it difficult to get to sleep in their own beds too. And it’s not just adults who struggle with this. Researchers say that about 20-30% of children have difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep*. And yet, David says that he slept safe and sound, just like a baby, even though he was surrounded by an enemy army. How was that possible? Because David knew that God was watching over him.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What different beds can we remember sleeping in? Which was our favourite?
Sleep is actually really important. It helps our body to recharge, it helps us to concentrate, it helps us to feel positive – there are so many good things about sleep.
Loving God, thank you for the gift of sleep. For those of us who are sleeping well at the moment, we are very grateful. We ASK You to continue to watch over us as we sleep, to speak to us through our dreams, and give us strength for each new day.
Loving God, we also pray for those who aren’t sleeping well at the moment, for whatever reason. We ASK You to be with them, and we pray especially for peace to fill their minds and their bodies. You promise to ‘give sleep’ to those You love (Psalm 127:42), and so we ASK You to give the gift of sleep to them tonight.
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.
Psalm 3:3-6
But, Lord, you are my shield,
my wonderful God who gives me courage.
I will pray to the Lord,
and he will answer me from his holy mountain.
I can lie down and go to sleep,
and I will wake up again,
because the Lord gives me strength.
Thousands of troops may surround me,
but I am not afraid.
Psalm 3:3-6 (NCV)
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 Your hospitality towards us. You welcome us and You make us feel at home. You offer safety and protection, like a mother bird looking after her chicks. And You watch over us, while we’re awake and also while we are asleep. We say YES to being with You and making our home in You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 25:35
[Jesus said] ‘I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house.’
Matthew 25:35 (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.
* https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/sleep-facts-statistics
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 he lives in Chichester, on the south coast of England, with his parents and his sister. He loves Pokemon (who doesn’t?), music and having fun with his friends.
