Prayer

Write on the board: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Have children sit on the floor in a circle. Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “l will choose love over revenge.”

Today in our prayer time, we are going to ask God to give us the strength to choose love. We will ask Him to help us let go, or release, any anger that we may have inside that could lead to thoughts of revenge. David chose obedience and love over revenge. Do you remember where David could have taken revenge on Saul? In the cave where David was hiding with his soldiers.

Yes, that’s right. David was in the perfect situation to take revenge when Saul was in the cave. How can we choose to show love for someone we are angry with; especially someone who has hurt or offended us?

Read Galatians 5:22–23:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

The answer is that we find God’s love inside from the Holy Spirit. Now, look at the board. I have written the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us. Can you see other fruit besides love that can help us overcome anger and revenge? All of the Fruit of the Spirit can!

Yes, every single one! Each fruit can help us conquer anger and revenge! Let’s take a few moments to bow our heads and thank God silently for the help that He gives us to love others as ourselves through the Holy Spirit. Ask God for the strength to always choose love over anger and revenge. Give the children a minute to pray silently, and then close in prayer.

Dear God, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to live inside us, and to fill us with the power to love others. Show us ways to work toward peace instead of revenge, and may others see Your goodness in us. In Jesus’ name, Amen!