“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 NIV
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
‘Flourish’ what a wonderful word. I thought it was a gardening term It has become a very popular word in the school where I am a governor. Want all children to flourish in their own way. We too need to flourish. We need Your light, the water of Your word, and to be good soil, to grow, thrive like healthy plants and flourish. Not to be distracted, and as Pilgrims Progress puts it, enter the slough of despond. Been there, its not pleasant.
But this verse from Ephesians promises to help us thrive and flourish. It gives us the promise that You God, will give and provide what we need in those despondent and down situations of life if we trust, depend on and obey Christ. And if we trip off Your path or stumble over trouble as we do . . . Christ our risen Lord, seated at the Your right hand (Mark 16:19) the seat of honour and power, will pick us up and lead us back.
Spiritual blessings! Every spiritual blessing that You, Father can bestow, that the Son can provide and that the Spirit can apply. Too much to unpack here . . . pardon, peace, redemption, adoption, forgiveness of sins, joy, an inheritance, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise . . .
Help us to flourish and when dark, low or rocky times come, keep us looking to You, Your promises and Your blessing. And lead us through.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
For family, friends, neighbours, let them see Your goodness in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13)
We pray for our neighbours and their needs today, even those we do not know. Bless them.
Bless our church family and help it to be the best it can be. Bless the lent groups as they study.
For the Royal family. For gossip to end and healing to come.
For our government. Be amongst all that is going on and being said and work for good.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Send a miracle. Turn Russia away.
For Gaza. Give success to calls for peace talks. Help those delivering aid to where it is needed.
For a harvest of new people and believers to come to churches this Easter.
For those who need Your help getting over trauma, bereavement and need relief for the mind.
For us a day of blessings and to find Your blessings amongst the chores and or our responsibilities.
Help us to appreciate all we do have, and are blessed by.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 9th March 2024
Not a well known song but one to listen to perhaps.
We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things
‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
As long as we have faith to believe
Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise
Lyrics: Laura Story