Week: Reflect/Reboot/New Year
As always, we’re going to 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, please help us to be still. We open our ears to hear You now, quietly preparing our hearts for all that You have for us as we approach the new year.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson J
Philippians 1:6
God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:6 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up in the middle of a crowd and told them all about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The people were amazed and asked him what they should do. Today we’re REFLECTING on what Peter said to them.
Read by Jackson J
Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Acts 3:19 (NIVUK)
‘Repent’ can sound like a strange word, but it means something very simple. This part of the Bible was originally written in Greek, and the Greek word for ‘repent’ is ‘metanoia’, which literally means ‘change of mind’. It means changing our minds or turning away from living our own way and turning to God’s way instead. ‘Stop living for yourselves,’ cries Peter, ‘turn around and live for God instead!’ God invites us to change our lives by saying Yes to Him.
At this time of year, lots of people make changes or set goals for themselves and they call them New Year’s Resolutions. Things like… ‘learning to play a musical instrument’ and ‘using less plastic and recycling more.’ Or ‘hand-writing a letter to someone once a month,’ or even ‘doing Lectio for Families’ every day!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What are our goals or ‘resolutions’ for the year ahead? What do we want to do differently or ‘change our minds’ about this year?
Let’s all stand up together (unless we’re in a car or somewhere else where we can’t stand – if so, we’ll have to imagine this bit, or do it later). When we’re ready, let’s act out our prayer by turning around and facing the opposite direction.
Loving God, we’re turning around because we want to start the year by saying we want to turn our whole lives towards You and follow Your ways. We are sorry for the times we haven’t lived the way You want us to. As we wait now, we ASK for Your forgiveness. And we choose to change. Thank You so much that You forgive us in an instant.
We probably all know people who have fallen out with their friends or their family over the last year. It’s like they’ve turned their backs on each other. Sometimes it’s hard to say sorry and turn around again – to fix the relationship.
Loving God, we pray for those we know who feel hurt and angry with people who, deep down, they still love and care for. We ASK You to help them say sorry to one another and sort things out.
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.
Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
Acts 3:19 (NIVUK)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Loving Father, thank You that when we repent, when we turn away from living our way and and turn back to Your ways, You forgive us. We say YES to trusting You because You love us and You always do what is right. (1 John 1:9)
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 1:6
God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:6 (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.
Unathi lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and 5 kids; and has a passion for seeing families thriving.
You’ll most likely find her homeschooling the tribe, reading, writing, or dreaming about the next DIY project.
She also loves good coffee, dark chocolate and hiking.
Jackson is 11 and he lives in Chichester, on the south coast of England, with his parents and his sister. He loves Pokemon (who doesn’t?), music and having fun with his friends.
