Slices
Prepare
Think back through your week. How did you see God at work? Give thanks for what he has done and the people you encountered.
Bible passage
A song. A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, do not remain silent;
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
2 See how your enemies growl,
how your foes rear their heads.
3 With cunning they conspire against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.
4 ‘Come,’ they say, ‘let us destroy them as a nation,
so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.’
5 With one mind they plot together;
they form an alliance against you –
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
of Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Byblos, Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia, with the people of Tyre.
8 Even Assyria has joined them
to reinforce Lot’s descendants.
9 Do to them as you did to Midian,
as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the River Kishon,
10 who perished at Endor
and became like dung on the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,
all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, ‘Let us take possession
of the pasture-lands of God.’
13 Make them like tumble-weed, my God,
like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest
or a flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so pursue them with your tempest
and terrify them with your storm.
16 Cover their faces with shame, Lord,
so that they will seek your name.
17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
may they perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord –
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Explore
Are there times when you feel under attack? Or that God’s world is under attack? It can be hard to know how to pray. Asaph’s song provides us with a model.
Asaph cries out to God, urging him to speak, to help and to come near (v 1), to bring comfort but also to act. Asaph then reminds God that when the people of God are attacked or persecuted, it is an attack against God himself (vs 2,3). The focus of his prayer is a concern for the reputation of God’s name and character. Do we pray concerned only for our own comfort or with the desire to see God’s name protected and honoured in our lives, community and world?
Next Asaph remembers how God has acted to rescue his people in the past (vs 9–12). Following his example will be reassuring and hope-bringing. If God did it then, he can do it now. Finally, Asaph prays for his enemies. He prays for justice (vs 13–15). But he also prays that they will recognise their sin, feel shame and turn to God (vs 16,17). In this way, God’s name will be honoured, and he will be acknowledged as the ‘Most High over all the earth’ (v 18).
Respond
Read Matthew 5:43–45. Who do you consider to be your enemies? Pray for them, following Asaph’s example.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Samuel 10,11; Psalms 46,47
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that God will provide the necessary funding for the construction of SU Burundi’s campsite centre in the north and that it will become a sanctuary of spiritual renewal and transformation for all who come.
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
