Week: How To Be Unsuccessful
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.
So, 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
Lord Jesus, we sometimes get a bit confused about what things are really important and what things aren’t important at all. Help us to see our lives, our friends, and even ourselves the way that You do. We open our hearts and minds to You now – we’re ready for You to teach us and change us and make us a bit more like You.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Hubo
Jeremiah 29:11
‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’
Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on one of David’s beautiful Psalms.
Read by Hubo
Psalm 103:2-5
With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been.
The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death.
His kindness and love are a crown on our heads.
Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.
Psalm 103:2-5 (CEV)
If someone asked us what the opposite of success is, we’d probably say ‘failure’. But success isn’t really about not failing – it’s not about everything being perfect all of the time. Success is about knowing what to do when we fail or when things go wrong in our lives.
David knew what to do. He failed lots of times, and lots of things went wrong throughout his life, but he always talked with God about it, because he knew that God was always kind and loving towards him. The greatest success in David’s life wasn’t winning lots of battles or even being a king, it was his friendship with God.
Let’s press pause and try to be really open and honest with each other as we talk about today’s question, which is: When we heard the phrase, ‘things going wrong in our lives’ just now, what did we think of? Maybe we’re struggling with a particular friendship. Maybe we’ve said or done something that we know wasn’t right. Maybe someone we know is unwell. Or maybe it’s something else?
Let’s be quiet for a moment and give the things that we’ve just been talking about to God. Maybe there was something that we thought about but we didn’t feel comfortable saying out loud – if so, let’s give that to God too.
Loving God, thank you for Your kindness and for Your love. Thank You that You forgive us too. As David says in today’s Psalm, we ASK You to provide for all our needs and we ASK You to give us strength too.
David specifically says that God ‘heals us when we are sick’, so let’s pray for those we know who are unwell right now.
Lord God, as we whisper names to You now, we simply ASK You to heal them. Fix whatever is wrong in their bodies, free them from all pain, and make them well again, in Jesus’ name.
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 103:2-5
With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been.
The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, and protects us from death.
His kindness and love are a crown on our heads.
Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.
Psalm 103:2-5 (CEV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, we say YES to talking with You when we fail, or when things go wrong in our lives. Thank You, again, that You are always kind and loving toward us.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Jeremiah 29:11
‘I know what I am planning for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.’
Jeremiah 29:11 (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.
Pete and his wife Sarah live in Manenburg, South Africa, where they help to lead a church called Tree of Life. Together, they spend a lot of their time sharing Jesus’ love with people and especially helping young men who want to get out of violent gangs and stop using drugs. Pete enjoys carpentry, he plays football for FC Manenburg and he recently wrote a book called, ‘How To Be (un)Successful’.
Hubolodumo (Hubo) lives In Johannesburg, South Africa with his parents and 4 siblings.
When he’s not busy trying out ninja moves, he’s practicing the latest dance moves, playing soccer, drawing or playing games with his friends.
