Welcome to Lectio for Families. We are continuing our new series called ‘God’s Wisdom, God’s Ways’. In this series we are exploring stories in the Old Testament that reveal more about the six practices at the heart of Lectio for Families and 24-7 Prayer. This week we have been focusing on learning and wisdom.

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.

Pause

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

Prayer of Welcome

Lord God, we look forward to discovering more of Your wisdom in the Old Testament. Show us the way You want us to live, and help us to walk in Your ways today.

Rejoice

Memory Verse

We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:

God, help us to remember Your Word.

Reflect

Bible Reading

Today, we’re REFLECTING on where we can get wisdom from.

Read by Annika
Proverbs 2:6-8
Only the Lord gives wisdom;
he gives knowledge and understanding.
He stores up wisdom for those who are honest.
Like a shield he protects the innocent.
He makes sure that justice is done,
and he protects those who are loyal to him.
Proverbs 2:6-8 (NCV)

King Solomon, who scholars believe wrote some of the book of Proverbs, is described as one of the wisest leaders in the whole of the Bible. Why? Because he asked God for wisdom. In a dream, God asked King Solomon what gift he’d like. And Solomon could have chosen anything – courage, strength, even money or fame. Instead, He asked for wisdom, so he could make good decisions for his people. And just like Solomon, we can also ask God for wisdom, because it is a gift that God likes to give.

Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: Can we think of any other wise leaders, past or present? What makes us think of them as wise?

• PAUSE the audio player now

Ask

ASK Prayers

And now, we ASK God to help us and others.

Loving God, we thank You for the gift of Your wisdom. We want to be more wise – we want to know what is right, and how we should act.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

King Solomon knew that, as a leader, he needed God’s wisdom. Let’s pray for the leaders we can think of – they might be in our church, our community, or our government.

God of all wisdom, we pray for our leaders. We ASK that they would look to Your wisdom to help them lead and make good decisions.

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and pray

Yes

Bible Reading

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.

Proverbs 2:6-8
Only the Lord gives wisdom;
he gives knowledge and understanding.
He stores up wisdom for those who are honest.
Like a shield he protects the innocent.
He makes sure that justice is done,
and he protects those who are loyal to him.
Proverbs 2:6-8 (NCV)

What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?

• OPTIONAL: PAUSE the audio player now and tell each other

YES Prayer

And now, let’s say YES to God together.

Loving God, thank You for the wisdom that we’ve heard from Your Word today. We say YES to walking the way that You want us to. We say YES to learning from the Bible and looking for the wisdom that You give to us in Your word.

Memory Verse

After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:

Closing Prayer

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.