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 Jackson R
Matthew 1:23
‘She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’
Matthew 1:23b (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today we’re REFLECTING on the next part of Zechariah’s story. Having found his voice and used it to praise God in song, Zechariah began to speak messages from God about his son, John.
Read by Jackson R
Luke 1:76-79
[Zechariah prophesied] ‘You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us. It will shine on those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death. It will guide us into the path of peace.’
Luke 1:76b-79 (NCV)
When we go to a concert there is usually a ‘warm up’ act before the main show, to get us ready for the big performance. Zechariah declared that his son would be the one who let people know that Jesus was coming; John was like the warm up act for Jesus. He got everyone ready to meet the coming Messiah. It was John’s job to tell everyone of God’s rescue that was about to come.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When was the last time we told someone else some exciting news?
John’s task was to get people ready to meet Jesus. We can use this season of Advent as a time for us to get ready to meet Jesus too.
Lord Jesus, we want You to take centre-stage in our lives – we want You to be more important than anyone or anything else. We ASK you to help us get ready to meet with Jesus and be with Jesus in new ways this Christmas.
God still speaks to His people, in all sorts of different ways, including through prophecy. God wants to speak to all of us.
Lord God, it’s exciting to read and hear about prophecies that You give to people – words to strengthen, encourage and comfort them (1 Corinthians 14:3, ICB). We ASK You to give us words to strengthen, encourage and comfort others 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.
Luke 1:76-79
[Zechariah prophesied] ‘You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven. With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us. It will shine on those who live in darkness, in the shadow of death. It will guide us into the path of peace.’
Luke 1:76b-79 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Father God, we say YES to receiving the greatest gift this Christmas, Your Son, Jesus. We say YES to telling others too, just like John did.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Matthew 1:23
‘She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel,’ which means ‘God is with us.’
Matthew 1:23b (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 lives with his younger brother and parents in Surrey. He loves pretty much all sport but his favourites are football, golf and jumping off high stuff into water! He enjoys gaming and is always ready to build something on Minecraft.
