Week: Be Still
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.
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
Father God, we prepare our hearts to spend a quiet time together with You. As we pause to be still, help us to become just a bit more aware of Your constant love for us today.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Annika
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God!
Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today’s story comes from Mark’s Gospel. Jesus’ disciples take Him across a lake, but in the middle of their trip there is a storm, which Jesus calms.
Read by Annika
Mark 4:36-39
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Mark 4:36-39 (NCV)
Have we ever been caught in a really wild storm? Were we in a house or were we outside at the time? If we were outside, we can probably imagine what it must have been like for Jesus and His disciples. How do we think they felt? Maybe they were frightened that the boat was going to sink?
Maybe they felt a bit frustrated with Jesus at first? After all, He was asleep on a cushion! Why wasn’t he helping? Maybe we’ve felt a bit like this too – why isn’t Jesus helping us? But then, when Jesus woke up, he wasn’t afraid and He knew exactly what to do. The disciples just needed to learn to trust Him.
Some people seem to actually like storms. Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question which is: What is our favourite kind of weather? What do we love about it?
And now we ask God to help us and others.
Lord Jesus, thank you that You are with us when we feel afraid and You are with us when we feel frustrated. In fact, You are with us whatever we’re feeling. We ASK You to help us trust You.
Who do we know that might really need Jesus to calm a storm in their life right now?
Lord Jesus, we ASK that You will be close to them, so that they know You are interested in their lives. We pray that You will come and calm the storm in their lives.
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.
Mark 4:36-39
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Mark 4:36-39 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Lord Jesus, we know that You can calm storms on lakes and seas, and You can calm the storms in our lives too. We say YES to trusting you – that you can bring calm to our storms.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God!
Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
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.
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!