Category: Daily Prayer

Thursday 7th Sept 2023

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach.”
Matthew 23:1-3 NLT

Father God,

I can remember the saying but am not too sure where it came from, ” Do what I say and not what I do!” Jesus is telling his listeners to do as the teachers of God’s law say but do not use them as an example to follow!

I started to think of the Christians I have knows who have been an encouragement to me by their words and their lives. And yet none of them have been perfect! And I too if i look at my life would have to say it is not the epitome of godliness all the time.

But these teachers Jesus was talking about were teachers of the Your Law but made no attempt to live it. And they did not see it as being a relationship with the one who wrote the Law, You! They must have had no fear or realisation that they were ignoring You. But Jesus did not teach us to obey because You were watching us, to mark us down or catch us out for for judgement. He called us to know Him, know His ways, know His forgiveness and follow HIs lead for our blessing and benefit. Jesus did practice what He preached and at great cost.

Help us to hear what You say, and learn to do it. And know Your blessing, our Father.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Father God,

You told us not to worry about tomorrow because today has enough worry of its own (Matthew 6:34). So we bring You all that is on our mind today, our family, friends, work colleagues, those who help us get through the day and those who we know through church, clubs and social groups. You know their needs and we bring those who are not well or in pain for Your touch of healing.

Bless Ukraine and Russia with the end of conflict and war. Protect those places in Africa where leadership is oppressive and unkind we pray resent help and a future when You will bring them out without bloodshed.

Bless our Parliament and we pray it will be a place of truth and compassion. Uncover wrong and bless and help those who work away tirelessly for their constituents.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Thursday 7th Sept 2023

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
 Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinners to find.

Chorus . . .

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

Chorus . . .

Lyrics: Thomas Obediah Chisholm

2 verses not used in video

O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive the anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve.

Wednesday 6th Sept 2023

“But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:40-43 NLT

King of Heaven,

There are many questions I cannot answer. Some people ask questions because they know I cannot answer and want to trip me up. One of the things I have been asked on several occasions is whether pets go to heaven and are there animals in heaven.

Its a very emotional debate for some and, if they do not know You, it can colour their view of Your character. I am learning that it is OK to say I don’t know. There are some things I cannot know this side of heaven and need to trust You with that. Trust seems to come to me through Your Word, Your presence and my experience? I cannot give it to someone else only assure them that You are trustworthy.

I cannot tell if we will spend eternity
With all our pets and creatures great and small,
With fish and birds, and cat and dog and hamster,
And dogs and cats and all things that can crawl,
But this I know that Jesus is my Saviour,
And Heaven above will be a glorious place,
And I will trust him with all unknown answers,
Because I’ll see my Saviour, Jesus face to face.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

King of Heaven,

We thank You for all those we know and love and bring them before You with their needs and to thank You for the blessings in their lives. Even if they do not always see it. We ask You to help us with those difficult relationships and those which have been damaged by tragedy and hurt. Help us forgive and where possible make a way forward.

We hear snippets of news from Ukraine but we trust not in tanks and drones. We dare to ask and trust that You will lead Russia and Ukraine to end war and make peace. Have mercy Lord.

Help those families and children and staff affected by the weak concrete used in their schools and buildings. Provoke those who need to to provide funds to replace it. We pray for good temporary solutions so the new term can commence everywhere and not cause distress and concern for little minds and hearts..

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 6th Sept 2023

I cannot tell why He, whom angels worship,
Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wand’rers,
To bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary,
When Bethlehem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and laboured,
And so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered,
As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Or how His heart upon the Cross was broken,
The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted,
And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
For yet the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is here.

I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
Of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendour
When He the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation
When all the hearts of men with love are filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
And myriad, myriad human voices sing,
And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer:
At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King.

Lyrics: W. Y. Fullerton

Monday 4th Sept 2023

 “But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” 37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”” Matthew 22:34-40 NLT

Lord God,

It is like a competition, the Pharisees against the Sadducees and using Jesus in the middle. And they both wanted to get the better of Him more. You are not into taking sides and getting the better of people for personal benefit.

To love You, God with all our heart, soul and mind. Love is not something we can make up, feel at will or turn on. As will each other, with You it is both a journey and a beginning.

I remember someone telling me that everyone has a space within that only God can fill. I only realised the truth of it when I asked Jesus into my life. I began to love Him – because He first loved me (1 John 4:19). And, it satisfied my soul and like all relationships, if invested in, has deepened and grown stronger.

How do we love You will all our heart, soul and mind? Can we, all the time? How do we recognise when we are becoming drawn away or addicted or distracted by or to something else? Or side tracked by something that takes up a lot of our time before You, God? Not that we should not love our family. Help us keep healthy hearts and minds Lord, safe in Your love first. Then You can help us love others too.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God,

We bring those we love with their needs or just to give thanks for them. Thank you that You show us how to love with forgiveness, generosity and kindness. Bless our family with good hearts.

We pray for those who try to fill their God space with all sorts of other things. Loving other people and expecting them to be all they need. Trying to find peace in meditation or religious practices or doing good. Open their eyes Lord to see You.

Thank You that You created this world in love. You created mankind in Your image, to love in the best sense of the word. The highest form of love, Agape love. Thank you for all those who love, act in love and work from a heart filled with Your love. The millions of Christians who will out of love will make the world a better place to live in. Not be perfect but try!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 4th September 2023

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love thee because thou hast first loved me
and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Lyrics: William R Featherston

Verse omitted in video

I’ll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,
and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,
and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now