Junior High
-Share your Blessings, Bummers, and where you have seen Jesus for the week
-Read Matthew 6:5-15
-What is one word or phrase that stood out to you? What image came to mind?
-Read the story again
-What is a story or experience that you have had recently that connects with this story? What is a question you have of this story? What is God trying to tell us in this story?
-Read the passage one more time
-Write and pray a prayer that speaks to what you have shared
Here is what your time might look like using my experience as an example:
I was struck by the lines "your Father knows what you need before you ask him." and "Pray in this way"
We are told that we can ask for anything from God. Later on in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you" Even when we don't know always how to ask or what to ask for it's comforting to know that God knows what we need even before we ask. It reminds us then that when Jesus says "Pray in this way" that the Lord's Prayer isn't for God...it's for us. It helps to focus us and remind us of the things that God gives and the way God helps. It also helps us to ask without getting so specific as to be disappointed. In short, the Lord's Prayer provides us with perspective.
Dear God, thank you for always giving us what we need, even before we ask. Thank you for your promise to hear us when we pray to you. Help us to listen for your voice and seek your will and kingdom in our world. All this we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Question to continue the conversation: When do you pray the most? What do you normally pay about?
Next Sunday: Check next week's Family Connect e-mail or the Facebook group for resources!
