Category: Resources

  • Our God

    Our God

    Our GOD Hears – Our God Sees – Our God Rescues – Our God Remembers

    Our God  sees us, He  hears us , He rescues us, and He remembers us. 

    We often carry within us a personal image of God, shaped by our experiences and interpretations. But let us set aside our preconceptions and consider the truths revealed in scripture.

    In Exodus, we encounter Moses at the burning bush. God declares, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress… I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them” (Exodus 3:7). This powerful declaration reveals a God who is not distant or indifferent, but intimately involved in the lives of His people. He sees their pain, hears their cries, and acts to deliver them.

    Even before Moses, we find the story of Hagar, an Egyptian slave. In her distress, wandering in the wilderness, the Angel of the Lord finds her. Hagar, in her own words, names God “Behr El Roi – the God who hears” and “the God who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13-14) 

    When the Angel of the Lord met Hagar, He asked her: “Where are you coming from, and where are you going?”

     Our lives are narratives, stories we tell ourselves to make sense of our experiences. Yet, these stories are often incomplete, shaped by our biases and selective memories. But God sees the complete picture, the hidden depths of our hearts. He hears our unspoken cries and understands our deepest struggles.

    To truly see and be seen is a profound human need. It is an affirmation of our worth and existence. God, in His infinite love, sees us completely, not just our outward appearance, but our innermost being. He invites us to bring our stories to Him, to share our burdens, and to find solace in His presence.

    We are called to mirror God’s love by seeing and hearing others, by creating spaces of belonging and acceptance within our communities. We are not meant to live in isolation, but in together, where we can share our stories and find support.

    Reflect:

    1. How has your personal image of God influenced your relationship with Him?
    2. In what areas of your life do you feel unseen or unheard?
    3. How can you create space to truly see and hear those around you?
    4. What stories are you telling yourself about your life? Are they complete and truthful?
    5. What do you need to tell God today that you have been holding back?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we thank you for being a God who sees and hears us. We acknowledge that our understanding of you is often limited and flawed. Help us to set aside our preconceptions and embrace the truth of your love and compassion. We bring our stories to you, the triumphs and the struggles, the joys and the sorrows. Help us to see others as you see them, with love and understanding. Grant us the courage to be vulnerable and honest, both with you and with those around us. May we create communities where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Watch the sermon – You Tube

  • DAY 7 | SUNDAY | Celebration

    As our week of prayer comes to an end, we want to celebrate together and demonstrate what it means to be a people who belong.

    Jesus spent much of his time sharing a meal with people from all walks of life.

    Lk 19: 1-10          Jesus invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house, a tax collector

    Lk 10: 38-42     A woman named Martha opened her home to Jesus

    Lk 7: 36-50       A Pharisee invited Jesus to have dinner with him

    There are many more stories in gospels like this.

    Sharing meals creates a space for people to feel loved and accepted, heard and connected. We can encounter God and one another and demonstrate hospitality in a tangible way.

    As we begin our journey together, creating a community of people who belong, let’s celebrate the end of our prayer journey around a table and share a meal together.

    My Prayer Response:

    Ask God to show you who you can invite to the table

    Ask God to show you who to pray with

    Ask God to make you a listening presence for someone

    My Daily Response:

    Have fun

    Laugh together

    Make time for connection

    Have communion together

    Build relationships with someone new

  • DAY 6 | SATURDAY | reflect on your race

    Paul the Apostle, writing to the church at Phillipi, encouraged them to continue growing in Christlikeness through every season of their lives. He uses the image of an athlete in a race:

    Philippians 3:13-15 (NIV)

    But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

    We are all running our own spiritual long-distance race and it’s important that we regularly reflect on where we’ve been and where we are going.

    First, reflect on your own personal journey of following Jesus. Our stories are all unique because each one of us is unique, bearing the image of God.

    • His Goodness
    • His Faithfulness
    • My Gratitude
    • My Worship
    • My Service

    And then transition to this past week and the themes of our devotions and prayers.

    What do they mean for our personal lives and the race we are running?

    What do they mean for us individual as we find ourselves in a community of people – His church?

    What do they mean for us as a community as we live out our lives together?

    • What’s your next step?               Bring your brick.
    • Identify distractions.                    Don’t stop walking.
    • Clarify your focus.                        Build a people who belong.
    • Participate with people.              Live your legacy through a Kingdom community.
    • Pray to the promise keeper.      Surrender your life to   God’s sovereignty.

  • DAY 5 | FRIDAY | Pray

    Consider Nehemiah’s first response to the news of the ruined walls of Jerusalem.

    Nehemiah writes in Nehemiah 1:4 (NLT);

    “In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God                                                                         of heaven.”

    Nehemiah was stirred with a vision to rebuild the walls when he heard about their condition and prayed.

    In his prayer Nehemiah:

    • Confessed the sins of Israel, including his own. (Nehemiah.1:6-7).
    • He asked God to show favor to His people (Nehemiah 1:8-10).
    • He prayed for success as he planned to approach King Artaxerxes for permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:11).

    Following Nehemiah’s prayer as a guide, you can come before God in prayer for our vision to build a people who belong. Start with the serenity prayer on page…… and then follow the guide below.

    A Prayer Guide:

    Confession and repentance:

    1 John 1:9 (NIV) – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

    Mercy:

    Psalm 51: 1 (NIV) – Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love

    Gods’ mercy is an active, faithful commitment to love, forgive and restore His people.

    Pray for Gods mercy to cover our church.

    His favour upon our leadership and our journey building a people who belong.

    Pray His protection over our unity and His wisdom in our decision making as we navigate the vision.

    Surrendered plans:

    Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

    Nehemiah prayed for success as he planned to approach King Artaxerxes for permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. He was surrendering his plan to God and asking God to make the path straight by giving him favor with the king.

    Submit our vision to God in prayer and ask Him to go before us, making the path straight.

    Ask God for His favor upon us with the people involved in resourcing our vision.

    Confess your trust in God over everything else and share with God the specific things in your life that you are surrendering to Him in this season.