Daily Prayer – Page 205

Tuesday 22nd August 2023

“The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name. ²All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths and their own crooked schemes.” Isaiah 65:1-2 NLT

Lord God,

I have been frustrated when someone needed help and they have not felt they could ask me or someone they knew. Yet I too have not asked on occasions when I could have done with help! We all worry about asking too much and sometimes even worry about trying to do a favour back.

Yet here we see Your attitude to giving help. Not just in the background willing to help. But eager and You went a step further by offering. Letting them know You were there to help, With open arms. But they preferred not.

Thank You that Your love remains the same, available through Your open arms, Your willing commitment to help and Your making it known to us. And today, even though You came in person as Jesus, many still follow their own paths and lives. Thank You that we can know that Jesus is the visible representation of the invisible God, YOU! And He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). Thank You for Your help. Lord we need it and we want it. Help us to help each other too.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God,

We pray for family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and our church members and fellowships and their leaders. Be their present help and hope. Those who need a miracle of grace or mercy- help them.

Grant peace to Ukraine by changing the oppressive plans of Russia. Grant those countries under military control or dictators change that would begin to bring an end to the evil control, abuse and their selfish dictates.

Inspire the church in this nation to turn to You in prayer for our present and our future. Bless and provide for all those who are answering Your call to become full time and part time church leaders and ministers.

We pray for those who have suffered loss due to murder and crime. We cannot imagine and ask that You, God, who understands the death of a Son would be their help and strength and comfort.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 22nd August 2023

Help us to help each other, Lord,
each other’s cross to bear;
let us our friendly aid afford,
and show our loving care.

Help us to build each other up
Our little stock improve
Increase our faith, confirm our hope,
and fill us with your love.

Up into thee, our living head,
let us in all things grow,
till though has made us free indeed
and spotless here below

Touched by the lodestone of thy love
let all our hearts agree;
and ever towards each other move,
and ever move towards thee.

This is the bond of perfectness,
thy spotless charity.
O let us still, we pray, possess
the mind that was in thee.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley

Monday 21st August 2023

“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! ²As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! ³For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. ⁴Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:1-4 NIV

God who acts,

Sometimes when I pray I can completely agree with Isaiah. I wish You would come down and shake up this world and make it tremble before You. I know in my heart that You will do one day and all eyes will see You (Revelation 1:7). And then I was annoyed to discover that the chapter heading had split up a pray which actually started at Chapter 63:15! |I shall have to work on my cheerfulness Lord! The Prayer begins with . . .

“Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. ¹⁶But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. ¹⁷Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance. ¹⁸For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary. ¹⁹We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called by your name.” Isaiah 63:15-19

I can empathise with this prayer. Man constantly wanders from You, holiness, goodness and truth. It does seem like the church is struggling and the enemy is breaking in. But then I return to the last words. There is no other God besides You and You will in Your time act on behalf of those of us who wait for You. And the church in other countries is actually thriving and growing. But could You rend the heavens a little ans send us revival?

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God who acts,

We bring our family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and the people who worship at our church and fellowship. Act for good in their lives and shine the light of Your countenance upon them and grant them peace (Numbers 6:26). Grant us patience, peace and joy and all we need for this coming week.

Thank You for the church worldwide and all those who faithfully worship You. Grant inspiration, Bible translations, trained Bible leaders and pastoral care even in the isolated churches. Plant seeds of faith in all the children who attend missionary schools and church schools. Water and grow them and bless their families.

Revive us and restore to us, and those we worship with, the joy of Your salvation (Psalm 51:12).

Ukraine Lord, cause Russia to quake before You and change their oppression. The church in Afghanistan, Myanmar and many other places where they are terrorised and persecuted, be their God of refuge.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 21st August 2023

This day we call upon the living Lord
And seek Your mercy and Your grace
How we as a nation have turned our face away from You
And followed other ways
May we see You as You are
Manifested glorious power Lord Jesus

Rend the Heavens and come down
In Your majesty come down
In Your mercy Lord come down upon us
Clothe Yourself in robes of grace
You are welcome in this place
Where the saints are gathered for Your worship Lord

Not for our gain but for the glory of Your name
We gather round Your throne
In humble adoration plead for this generation
Jesus let Your name be known
May they see You as You are
Manifested glorious power Lord Jesus

Lyrics: Robin Mark

Sunday 20th August 2023

“A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. ¹⁴The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly. ¹⁵All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. ¹⁶Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.” Proverbs 15:13-15

Lord of all creation,

We look at your creation and we wonder. Puffins make us smile, spiders make some of us cringe and when we see a woodlice we wonder why? Looking at any new born in creation almost (except perhaps flies and such things) always makes us happy and our faces look cheerful.

A happy heart does make the face look cheerful. But some of us do not have the kind of faces which naturally look cheerful. Perhaps we do not smile enough? Nature or nurture? Some were raised with little to smile about but do. Some were raised happy and look sad. Some people just do not seem to be able to show how they feel. But the writer of Proverbs says the happy heart makes the face cheerful. We can’t make ourselves happy or else all the comfort eating would lead to outbreaks of happiness! We cannot decide to be happy and force a smile. Real happiness and cheerfulness reaches the eyes!

Today help us to give all our heartache and worry and concern over to You. Show us what we have in Jesus to be happy about. Holy Spirit come with joy of the Lord to our hearts. All encompassing joy. Help us to have happy hearts and make our face cheerful and if it is too hard today – give us the certain hope that one day it will be so.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Beloved Saviour,

We pray for those of our family and friends and neighbours who are having it hard and need Your comfort and help and a new touch of joy. We thank You for those who keep us cheerful and we pray You will prepare for each one of us a good week.

Give us good cheer and hope that war will end in Ukraine and soon. Bring it to pass as only You can.

We pray for our nation, our King. That Parliament would return after the summer break with renewed honesty, drive to do the right thing and integrity. Speak to the leadership and Government and Royalty around the world that they might see the best for their country and this beautiful world You have given us.

Thank You for Jesus, for Your Holy Spirit and Your promises.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 2oth August 2023
A full orchestra, a full house, a full celebration of worship. 10,000 reasons to be cheerful too.

https://youtu.be/w4jEZo8q6ok

Bless the Lord O my soul, O my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name

The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes

Chorus

You’re rich in love
And You’re slow to anger
Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find

Chorus

And on that day
When my strength is failing
The end draws near
And my time has come
Still my soul will
Sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years
And then forevermore

Chorus

Lyrics: Matt Redman