By: Dr. Steven K. Parker
For the Kids :
· What’s been the hardest thing for you about going through this pandemic?
· Have you learned anything during this season? Has God used this time to teach you anything about yourself? His word? life in general?
Take turns reading this passage and reciting this prayer:
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13)
Take turns re-reading this passage and reciting this prayer.
Reflection For Everyone:
My nephew Toby was over at our house one day and all the boys were outside working on chores. We had just finished our chores when the “dinner’s ready” call came out. As we were washing our hands, he made a comment that has really stuck with me throughout this Covid-19 season. He said, “People say you should sing your ABCs when you’re washing your hands to make sure you kill all the germs. But, my mom told me that the Lord’s Prayer takes about the same time as singing your ABCs, so I pray the Lord’s Prayer when I’m washing up.” I have to admit that ever since he said that, I’ve been doing that as well. The ancient Celtic Christians were known for weaving prayer into their daily activities and I’ve wondered, to myself and now with you, what kind of a difference would it make if more of us would engage in this prayerful discipline. We’d definitely have cleaner hands, but might we also develop cleaner hearts in this process? I think it’d be worth a try. Let me encourage you to take the Toby Challenge and make regular prayer a part of your hand-washing ritual and see how God can use that spiritual discipline throughout your day.
Wonder:
· What do you think about Toby’s idea?
· How might incorporating this spiritual discipline of hand-washing-prayer into our lives help us obey Paul’s instruction to: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)?
Bless:
· Affirm what everyone has shared.
· Encourage each other to spend special time in prayer throughout each day.
Pray together: (Recite the Lord’s Prayer.)
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9-13)