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 Bella
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 Bella
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’ is 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 2025? What do we want to do differently or ‘change our minds’ about in 2025?
Let’s all stand up (unless we’re in a car together – 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 other way.
Loving God, we’re turning around because we are sorry for the things we have said and done that have been hurtful or selfish. We are sorry for the things we haven’t done, when we knew we should. As we wait now, we ASK for Your forgiveness. And we choose to change. Thank You so much that You forgive us instantly – as Peter said, You wipe away all our sins.
We probably all know people who have fallen out with their friends or their family during 2024. 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 that You would help them to 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 from the things that we’ve said and done wrong, when we turn away from them and turn back to You, 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.
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.
Bella is 13 years old and lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her mum, dad and cocker spaniel Summer. She loves art, performing and Jesus!
