Week: Jesus' Miracles
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
Jesus, we want to know You more and we want to better understand the way You want us to live. As we consider Your miracles, we prepare our hearts to follow You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Annika
John 17:3
And this is eternal life: that people know you, the only true God, and that they know Jesus Christ, the One you sent.
John 17:3 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
One day, Jesus met a man who hadn’t been able to walk for 38 years. The man was sitting beside a pool that people believed had magic water in it. They thought that when the water moved, the first person who leapt into the pool would be healed. Today, we’re REFLECTING on the conversation that Jesus had with the man.
Read by Annika
John 5:7-9
The sick man answered, ‘Sir, there is no one to help me get into the pool when the water starts moving. While I am coming to the water, someone else always gets in before me.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Stand up. Pick up your mat and walk.’ And immediately the man was well; he picked up his mat and began to walk.
John 5:7-9 (NCV)
The man had been waiting to be healed for 38 years – that’s a very long time to wait for something! He thought that the pool was his only hope, but he could never get into the water quick enough, because he didn’t have anyone to help him. He must have been feeling pretty hopeless.
But Jesus didn’t need the power of the pool to heal the man – all Jesus had to do was speak! And as soon as Jesus spoke, the man was healed and could walk again! Jesus’ words release God’s love and God’s power – when Jesus speaks, everything changes!
In today’s passage, the man asked Jesus for help. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What have we asked for help with recently?
Let’s begin our prayers by thinking of one thing that we need Jesus to help us with. And now, let’s quietly ASK Him about this in our own words.
The Bible describes the Holy Spirit as Helper (John 14:26), and with the Holy Spirit inside us, we have an extra Helper to help us help others! Let’s think of someone we know who might need help with something. Maybe an elderly neighbour needs help in their garden? Maybe someone we know needs prayer for healing? Maybe we know someone who is new in our school or church who might need a friend?
Holy Spirit, we ASK You to help them and give them what they need. And show us what we can do to help them too.
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.
John 5:7-9
The sick man answered, “Sir, there is no one to help me get into the pool when the water starts moving. While I am coming to the water, someone else always gets in before me.” Then Jesus said, “Stand up. Pick up your mat and walk.” And immediately the man was well; he picked up his mat and began to walk.
John 5:7-9 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord God, we say YES to following Your Son Jesus. We want to become more like Him and love and help those who are in need, through the power of Your Holy Spirit.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
John 17:3
And this is eternal life: that people know you, the only true God, and that they know Jesus Christ, the One you sent.
John 17:3 (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.
Annika is 10 years old and lives in Melbourne, Australia with her parents and older brother and sister. Annika enjoys playing Cricket and Aussie Rules Football and loves going to watch her favourite team play football. Annika also learns the drums and enjoys making up her own beats!
