Week: Mark's Gospel
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
Jesus, we hear Your invitation, and so we choose to follow You, with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our souls and with all our strength.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson J
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ because he gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 (NCV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Jesus had sent his friends – the twelve disciples – into the towns and villages to tell people the good news about God and God’s kingdom. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened when the twelve returned.
Read by Jackson J
Mark 6:30-31 (NCV)
Mark 6:30-31
The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught. Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.’
When Jesus’ friends returned, they couldn’t wait to tell Him what had been happening. People had been healed from sicknesses, and many wanted to change their lives and start following Jesus too – it was so exciting!
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: When have we come back from doing something exciting, or from being away somewhere special? What did we want to tell everyone?
Jesus liked spending time with His friends. When the crowds arrived, Jesus suggested that they go somewhere else, so they could hang out together. Let’s think about the people that we like hanging out with.
Lord Jesus, we’re really grateful for the friends and family that You have given us. Show us what we can specifically pray for them today.
Sadly, lots of people don’t feel like they have friends or family to hang out with, or to share their stories and their lives with. Maybe we know someone like this?
Father God, we ASK that You comfort and strengthen those who feel like they are all alone. If there’s someone in particular that You want us to reach out to this week, speak to us about them now.
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.
Mark 6:30-31
Mark 6:30-31 (NCV)
The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught. Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest.’
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s imagine that Jesus is offering the same invitation to us that He offered to His friends that day… ‘Come with me…’
Lord Jesus, we hear Your invitation, and we say YES. Lead us this week, into quiet places to be alone with You, and into crowded places too – into our schools and workplaces, our homes and our churches. Wherever we go, we want to go with You.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ because he gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 (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.
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.
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.
