Week: Kindness
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.
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
Holy Spirit, You help us grow, each and every day, into who God made us to be. We’re ready to be changed a little bit more by You today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Noelle
2 Timothy 1:7
God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
James wrote a letter to the early Christians all about how to live well and follow the teachings of Jesus. Today, we’re REFLECTING on a few challenging verses from the very first chapter of that letter.
Read by Noelle
James 1:19-21
My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily, because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants. So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. Then in gentleness accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts, which can save you.
James 1:19-21 (NCV)
Wow… there’s loads of great advice in these few short verses. However, we’re only focusing on the first line today, so here it is again: ‘always be willing to listen and slow to speak’.
Later in this same letter, James says that ‘a big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. And the tongue is like a fire.’ (James 3:5-6, NCV) What he means is that, although our tongues are small, the words that we say can have a big impact – for good or for bad. So it’s always best to stop and think carefully before we speak – before we reply to a message on our phones or join an argument or say something unkind. We all need the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit of self control in us so that we are ‘slow to speak’.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Who do we know is a really good listener?
In Psalm 141, David asks God to help him to control his tongue. He prays; ‘Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.’ (Psalm 141:3, NIVUK)
Let’s all put a hand over our own mouths as we use David’s words and ASK God to help us too.
Set a guard over our mouths, Lord; keep watch over the doors of our lips.
Who amongst our friends or family has been arguing recently? Or maybe they’re not speaking to each other at all. Let’s ASK God to help them.
Holy Spirit, as we whisper the names of these people now, we ASK You to be with them. May they be willing to listen and to speak kindly to each other. Please soften their hearts and heal whatever has broken in their relationship.
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.
James 1:19-21
My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily, because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants. So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. Then in gentleness accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts, which can save you.
James 1:19-21 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we want to be quicker to listen to people, and we need Your help with the way that we speak to, and about, other people too. We say YES to You growing the fruit of self control in the way that we listen and speak.
And Holy Spirit, one more thing… If there’s someone in particular that You want us to make time to listen to this week, or to speak kindly to, please put their name into our minds now.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
2 Timothy 1:7
God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (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.
Noelle lives in Kansas City, Missouri USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She loves animals, playing basketball, creating art and teamwork. Noelle gives the best hugs.
