“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:1-3 NLT
Generous God,
It sounds to me like James had heard that the church was not all sweetness and light! I sort of feel this should be read with a little annoyance in the voice. They didn’t have what they wanted because they didn’t ask You, and were asking for unsuitable things, things offensive to You even!
A great preacher I was reading recently said, ” I don’t understand electricity but I’m not going to sit around in the dark till I do.” We don’t have to understand prayer fully in order to pray. But maybe we need to know our motives. James clearly says we need to know our motives! Win the lottery? We would give nearly all of it away? If we can’t give from the little we have now how would we ever give a lot?? Sometimes we need to have a word with ourselves to find the motives.
You do want us to be joyful and to provide for our needs. You are our Good Shepherd delighting to lead us into green pastures and refresh us. But we do not need envy, jealousy, malice or pride. Help us not to be afraid to ask from a seeking heart or a worried mind. You love to answer.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Generous God,
We pray for friends, family, neighbourhood and our church fellowship. All those people with so many different needs, But we can ask for their best from Your generous heart.
Pour out the hope of the end of war across Russia and Ukraine. May it be a reality and not just a hope. Pour out Your compassion upon those struggling from disaster and loss. May it also be felt through human hands and aid to feed and provide shelter and all they need.
Rain down righteousness and goodness and truth upon our politicians and councillors. May there be a consensus to do what is right rather looking to getting voted back in. We pray for Birmingham and that a solution would be found that would not cause suffering to those living there.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Monday 2nd October 2023
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
Lyrics: Eddie Espinosa
This song was written in a car in the middle of Southern California traffic not far from Disneyland. Eddie Espinosa was driving to work one day, and he prayed as he drove. He wanted to get closer to God, but there were things in his life that weren’t pleasing to God. So he prayed this prayer out loud: “God, do something. I need You to change my heart.” In the middle of traffic this song came to him and he began to sing it. He didn’t know what he was singing until he sang it.
He reached for a scrap of yellow paper, and when he stopped at the next traffic light, scribbled as quickly as possible. He tried to keep the tune in mind until he got to work. That night he taught it to a Bible study group that met in his home.