Week: Voices of Advent
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
Lord Jesus, we’re looking forward to celebrating Your birth this Christmas. Help us to be still amongst all the planning and the preparations, to rest in Your presence and remember what and who we are celebrating.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Noelle
Isaiah 9:6
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on what God said through the prophet Micah about where Jesus was going to be born.
Read by Noelle
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah,
from you will come one who will rule Israel for me.
He comes from very old times,
from days long ago.
Micah 5:2 (NCV)
Bethlehem wasn’t a big important place, and yet God chose it as the birthplace of Jesus. From then on, Bethlehem would be known as the town where something amazing happened!
Sometimes we feel like we aren’t important, that our lives are too small and insignificant for anything special to happen to us, that nothing we do will be good enough for God. But God loves to choose people like us, just like He chose Bethlehem, to be an important part of His rescue story for the world!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What are our favourite things about the place where we live?
And now, we ASK God to help us and others.
Father God, You chose an unimportant place for something incredible. Even though we might feel unimportant, too small or insignificant to make a difference, we thank You for choosing us to be a part of Your story.
Today, Bethlehem is a popular place for people to go and visit. However, there is also a lot of conflict in that part of the world, mostly between people of different beliefs.
Father God, the place of Jesus’ birth is not a place of peace – yet. We ASK that You would send Your Holy Spirit to end the violence and to heal and unite people there.
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.
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah,
from you will come one who will rule Israel for me.
He comes from very old times,
from days long ago.
Micah 5:2 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Heavenly Father, we may feel small, insignificant and unimportant sometimes, but we say YES to knowing the truth – that we have been chosen by You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Isaiah 9:6
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6b (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.
Noelle is 11 and lives in Kansas City, Missouri USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She loves animals, playing basketball, creating art and teamwork. Noelle gives the best hugs.
