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 the story of Hagar. Things went horribly wrong between her and Sarah and so she ran away from Sarah and Abraham’s house. She escaped into the desert, and this is where we join her, alone and afraid, not knowing what to do next. But then an angel appeared!
Read by Hubo
Genesis 16:11,13
The angel [said], ‘You are now pregnant, and you will have a son. You will name him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your cries.
[Hagar] gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are “God who sees me,”’ because she said to herself, ‘Have I really seen God who sees me?’
Genesis 16:11,13 (NCV)
There are lots of special names given to God in the Bible. For example, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as ‘the Comforter’, the prophet Isaiah describes Jesus as ‘the Prince of Peace’, and in today’s Bible story Hagar describes God as the ‘God who sees me’. The Hebrew phrase for this is ‘El Roi’. Let’s say it together – ‘El Roi’.
When Hagar had no-one else to turn to, when she was afraid and alone and didn’t know what to do, God saw her and sent an angel to her.
Let’s press pause and try to be really honest with each other as we talk about today’s question, which is: When have we felt alone or afraid? Who was there for us? Can we remember what they said or did to help us?
Most of the time, it’s the people who seem successful that get all the attention – other people want to be with them or they follow them online. But in today’s Bible story we read that God’s attention is on those who feel alone and afraid too. When we feel like this, God sees us.
Loving God, El Roi, thank you that You see us and that You are with us when things are going well in our lives, and when things aren’t going well too. We ASK You to help us remember this.
If we’re feeling alone at the moment or afraid about anything, let’s talk quietly with God about it now.
Loving God, we also ASK You to be with children and young people, all around the world, who feel overlooked and unappreciated; heard but not listened to; noticed but not really seen or loved by anyone. El Roi, You are ‘the God who sees’ – please help our churches to see children and young people who feel this way and to reach out to 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.
Genesis 16:11,13
The angel [said], ‘You are now pregnant, and you will have a son. You will name him Ishmael, because the Lord has heard your cries.
[Hagar] gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are “God who sees me,”’ because she said to herself, ‘Have I really seen God who sees me?’
Genesis 16:11,13 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving God, thank You that we don’t have to try and attract Your attention by doing great things or appearing successful in any way. You are ‘El Roi’ – the God who sees us, just as we are. We say YES to being seen by You, and YES to seeing others the way that You see them too.
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.
