“These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. 2 The Lord first gave messages to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah. 3 The Lord’s messages continued throughout the reign of King Jehoiakim, Josiah’s son, until the eleventh year of the reign of King Zedekiah, another of Josiah’s sons. In August of that eleventh year the people of Jerusalem were taken away as captives. 4 The Lord gave me this message: 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” 6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!” The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”” Jeremiah 1:1-8 NLT
Sovereign Lord,
Jeremiah like many before him, when You, God made a request, tried to get out of it. HIs excuse was: I am too young! Moses excuse was that he spoke slowly and with difficulty, could not speak well (Exodus 4.10). Gideon’s excuse was that his clan was the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and he was the least in his entire family (Judges 6:15). Jonah tried to get out of it by going the opposite way literally (Jonah 1:3). Fortunately, even Jonah, faced with Your patience and encouragement relented and amazing things happened. Even if afterwards he sulked.
You knew Jeremiah before he was in his mothers womb. Now that takes some thinking about. The Psalmist talks about You knitting him together in his mothers womb (Psalm 139:13). Selah!
You know us, have known us since before we were in our mothers womb? There have been many who could have given excuses when You asked them to do something. Perhaps they did at first but then got on with it. Charles Wesley, William Booth and countless missionaries and evangelists we will never know the names of. So why is it so hard for us to listen, hear and do the small tasks where we are? Help us to be the one’s who say yes. Not to everything, but to those things You lay on our hearts.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 7th August 2025
And we pray for your young disciples and those called in their retirement . . . all ages . . .
Queen Esther’s story shows me that I can stand for right
Elisha taught that angels protect me by my side
Like David, I can slay Goliaths in my way
Like Deborah, I can lead my friends to Christ
I will choose to serve the Lord
Like my scripture heroes of old
As I learn and grow in faith
God will be my strength
With every step I take
I will choose to serve the Lord
Like Moses, I find courage, for God provides a way
Like Noah, I will listen to heaven and obey
I’ll trust the Lord, like Job, and live with love and hope
Like Hannah, God will hear me when I pray
Ch0rus
Caleb was brave, Joseph forgave
Ruth stayed, Daniel prayed
Jonah changed
Chorus
God will be my strength (God will be my strength)
With every step I take (with every step I take)
I will choose to serve the Lord
Lyrics: Angie Killian and Blake Gillette ‧ 2025