Category: Daily Prayer

Friday 25th August 2023

“Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. 2 He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.” Isaiah 49:1-2 NLT

Father and Lord,

In the New King James version it opens with, “listen O coastlands” and the NIV says, “listen to me O Islands”! Suddenly You are addressing us, an island and the rest of the world of gentiles and not just Israel. How exciting.

And with hindsight which, Isaiah did not have, we see Jesus. Called from heaven, spoken into an earthly womb to be born as one of us. And we picture Mary being called to carry Him and give birth. You pronouncing His name to Mary in Luke 1:31. Your trusting us with Him and us having no plan B.

We remember how those that heard Him said he spoke with authority, commanding even unclean spirits (Mark 1:27). The writer to the Hebrews tells us, “the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Nothing is as powerful.

And we know that Jesus was hidden in plain sight until Your time was right. Your arrow, Jesus, was used to kill death, deal with sin and judgement and provide a safe way back yo You.

We love to listen to You, O Lord. You have the words of eternal life (John 6:68) and we worship You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Father and Lord,

Bless all those we love, know and care about, with life and life in all its fulness. Open their eyes to see the wonder in the world, Your love for them and the hope that springs eternal in Jesus. Bless their day with good things and good health.

Bless Ukraine today with a break from war and the hope of peace to come. Work out Your purposes in Russia and change their agenda to peace.

We pray for all those who will work long and hard today and pray the time will go quickly and they will see the benefit of their labours. We ask that where the workers are oppressed, enslaved and not paid a fair wage You would to change their circumstances for good. Direct them to paid, safe employment and uncover those who take children and grown ups into slavery so they can be freed and helped. For those who work to change these situations we pray You will empower, enable and protect them.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 25th August 2023
Thank You that Jesus came for the world, for us, for me.

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”

Lyrics: Henry Smith



Thursday 24th August 2023

“This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. 7 Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come—yes, let them foretell what will come. 8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Isaiah 44:6-8 NIV

Lord Almighty,

Amidst all the trouble of sin and rebellion in the Old Testament I love passages like this, Lord. Amidst all the trouble in the present, in my own time I love these passages, Lord. I find the truth in these verses a solid foundation. Today when we read or listen to the news we sometimes doubt. Are they telling the truth, is there a political slant are we being lied to? Where are You God?

But here in the midst of all Israel and Jacobs trouble is an unchangeable truth. You are God, and there is no other. Today we understand the rights of others to believe, to have their own faith. And You did give us freedom, free will. But there You are reminding us not to tremble or be afraid. Nothing changes the fact that You are God, You have always been God and You will always be God and You will have the last Word.

Thank You that amidst a changing world You are our foundation and security. To answer Your question – no there is no other God in my life, my heart and my affections because of Jesus. I worship You.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Lord God Almighty,

It is a wonder that You should choose to be involved in our lives, hear our prayers and answer them. Sometimes we may doubt when we see all the trouble in the world, much of it man made. But that does not change You. So we bring the needs of those we know to You and our own concerns and yearnings. Hold us, help us, provide for us.

We pray today for a new generation who though they have all the benefits of todays invention and modern living, that they would treasure old truths. The 10 commandments and loving their neighbour as themselves. Help us to do the same.

As we hear the news headlines we pray. Pray that You will be in the middle of all that is being reported, touching those who need comfort, bringing those who have done evil to the place of repentance and bringing good out of bad.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship
Its great to sing this in church at the top of your voice. But this version for me makes it a personal act of worship – me telling God how great I think He is.

Oh Lord, my God
When I, in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art

Lyrics: Stuart H Kine

Stuart K. Hine was a British Methodist missionary on a mission trip in Ukraine in 1931 when he heard the Russian translation of a German song inspired by Carl Boberg’s poem “O Store Gud” (O Great God). Hine began to translate the song to English and added several verses. The third verse was inspired by the conversion of villagers in Russia who cried out to God loudly as the repented and realized God’s love and mercy – “And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.” 

Stuart Hine and his family left Ukraine as famine and World War Two began, and settled in Somerset, Britain, where he continued to serve as a missionary to Polish refugees. The forth verse of “How Great Thou Art” was inspired by displaced Russians who experienced great loss and looked forward to seeing their loved ones again in heaven – “When Christ shall come with shoult of acclamation to take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.”

The final English version of “How Great Thou Art” was published in 1949 and quickly spread among Britain, Africa, India, and America. 



Wednesday 23rd August 2023

“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you blaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;” Isaiah 43:1-3 NIV

Lord our Creator,

You formed us and more than that breathed life into us. And here You promised Your people Israel that if they would be true to You, You promised to redeem them. And we mread of the many occasions You did in the Old Testament.

Here You, Lord are speaking to Jacob and Israel, but underlying these are truths, realities spoken to us who trust in Christ as a part of the church – the people of God. We know that in this world we will have trouble and difficulty. It is different for all of us but these verse give us something to hold on to. You the God of the Universe know us and call us by name. And whatever we, I am going through You are with us, our shield and defender (Psalm 28:7).

What an awesome truth that You are personally with us in our daily challenges and trials and struggles. Helping us, holding us, loving us. Help this truth to soak in to us today.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Lord our Creator,

Keep our family, friends, neighbours, colleagues in the centre of Your care and shelter today. Reveal Yourself to those who do not really know You yet and continue to soften the hearts of those who have turned away. Meet the needs of those who are going through trouble or trials and touch those who need healing today.

Foe Ukraine we again plead for Your intervention and a path to peace. We pray for our world with so many places going through actual fire and flood. Yes, we ask that You would not only help those fighting the fires and trying to stem the floods, but that You would reach out and calm the weather systems causing them.

Help those passing through the trials of losing their homes. Comfort those who have lost loved ones. Provide for those who need places of safety, words of comfort and help and hope for the future.

In Jesus name we pray Amen.

Worship Wednesday 23rd August 2023

 O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendour and girded with praise.|

O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old;
Established it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

Lyrics: Robert Grant