Week: Joy
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.
As usual, 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
Holy Spirit, it’s You who helps 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 Vera Lynn
Philippians 4:4
Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.
Philippians 4:4 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re REFLECTING on a prayer that Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, in Italy.
Read by Vera Lynn
Proverbs 17:22
A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
Like patience and kindness, joy is a ‘fruit of the Spirit’, something that the Holy Spirit grows in us over time, mostly through our experiences.
However, Paul seems to suggest that, sometimes, joy is also a gift that God gives to us. Perhaps it’s when things are really difficult in our lives that we need God to give us the gift of joy, to ‘fill us with much joy’.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What brought us joy in the last 24 hours?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving God, we ASK You to help us when we feel overwhelmed and when things are difficult in our lives, whether it’s because of things at home, at school or at work. We trust You, and we ASK You to fill us with the joy and peace that we need.
Let’s think of someone we know who is finding life difficult, for whatever reason. Let’s close our eyes and imagine that we’re with them right now. Perhaps we could imagine placing a hand on their shoulder as we pray for them, using some of Paul’s words.
We pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in Him.
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.
Romans 15:13
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, it’s easy to trust You when things are good, when they’re going well. But we say YES to trusting You in the good times and the bad times too. You give us hope, and You fill us with joy and peace too.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 4:4
Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.
Philippians 4:4 (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.
Vera Lynn lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA with her parents, sister, and dog Max. Her favourite hobbies include reading, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She is very creative. Her favourite book is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
