Category: Daily Prayer

Wednesday 20th August 2025

“During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.”
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. 4 “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon 5 The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. 6 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. 7 The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was called Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.

8 But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” 11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.”
Daniel 1:1-13 NLT

Lord God,

These young men were indeed wise. Knowing they had no choice, they made the best of it but kept their identities even though their names were changed. Many use this passage to promote becoming vegetarians or abstaining from alcohol. On pondering this Lord I tried to stand in Daniels shoes for a moment.

Daniel wanted to show they were followers of You, Yahweh, without seeming rebellious or self righteous. So they declined to eat meat which had been offered to Babylonian idols and not slaughtered as You God demanded. The drink may have also been dedicated to one of their idols or false gods. They showed that You, God were able to keep them healthy. And they could control their appetites and flourished.

There are times when You ask us to control our appetite (not just for food). And sin has no great and small, just bigger consequences? Thank You that you care enough to strive with us for good. The verse in Hebrews 5:8 says that Jesus Your Son, learned obedience from the things he suffered.  He never sinned. If he needed to learn how much more do I.

As You God say, “My child, don’t make light of My discipline, and don’t give up when I, the Lord correct you. For I discipline those I love, and I punishes each one I accepts as My child.” (Hebrews 5:5b-6)

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 20th August 2025
Two choices. One from 1909 and one from 1997. Both challenge me . . .



Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after thy will,
while I am waiting, yielded and still.

2 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Search me and try me, Master today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
as in thy presence humbly I bow.

3 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Wounded and weary, help me I pray!
Power, all power, surely is thine!
Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!

4 Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway.
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me!

Lyrics: Adelaide A Pollard (1909)

Lyrics: Darlene Zschech

Tuesday 19th August 2025

“After the king burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up. 29 Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned that scroll and said, “Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and wipe from it both man and beast?” 30 Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night. 31 I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.’” 32 So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.” Jeremiah 36:27-32

Lord and Father,

Baruch was not one who heard prophesies like Jeremiah. He was not sought for counsel by the king or officials or anyone of any position. But he had a skill. He could write down dictation word for word.. But more than the he had gained the trust of Jeremiah to faithfully do what was asked in difficult circumstance. He could have been thrown in prison as easily as the scroll was in the fire.

Later Baruch says he is worn out with groaning and can find no rest. (Jeremiah 45:3) But You, Lord promised him that amidst more trouble to come, he should not seek great things for himself, but wherever he goes he will escape with his life. (Jeremiah 45:4-5) What an assurance!

Jeremiah could not have managed without him. He served. They did not listen to Your message, through Jeremiah and Barak saw no victories. He kept going. You told him it would get worse. He kept going. And You, the God of the universe took time personally to reassure Baruk.

Sometimes we feel we are doing our best and seeing no fruit from it. We remember that You, God of the universe took the time to come and tell us personally not to seek great things for ourselves (Philippians 2:3. And because of Jesus wherever we go we will have life (John 11:25,26). And Your Holy Spirit to help us (John 14:26) Thank you a million times.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 19th August 2025

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.

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.

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 sings Your praise unending,
Ten thousand years and then forevermore.

Chorus

Lyrics: Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin

Monday 18th August 2025

“The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 2 So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: 3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. 4 And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.” Jeremiah 25:1-4 NIV

“8 Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, 9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin. 10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 “But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate forever.”” Jeremiah 25:8-12 NIV

Lord Almighty,

You gave the people of Judah so many opportunities to return to You And then You had to do what You had spoken. 70 years labour under Babylonian rule. Hard servitude whether taken to Babylonia or left to serve in Judah.

I think back and see how many opportunities You gave me to find out about Jesus and Your love. I wonder You didn’t give up on me. And I am filled with gratitude that You are a God slow to anger. 70 years is a lifetime and their relief would again be seen by the next generation as with Moses in the wilderness. But like Your people Israel the church survives from one generation to the next. Not from children born to the family as with the tribes of Abraham but children adopted into Your family through Jesus.

And You promised the exiles that they would return to their home land, just as You promise us we will return to be with You one day (John 14:1-3). But help us to be faithful in heart and mind, so You do not have to send Jeremiahs among us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 18th August 2025
This is a challenging promise for a Monday morning or any morning . . . thank God for Jesus

If you curse me, then I will bless you
If you hurt me, I will forgive
And if you hate me, then I will love you
I choose the Jesus way

If you’re helpless, I will defend you
And if you’re burdened, I’ll share the weight
And if you’re hopeless, then let me show you
There’s hope in the Jesus way

I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way

If you strike me, I will embrace you
And if you chain me, I’ll sing His praise
And if you kill me, my home is heaven
For I choose the Jesus way

I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way

And I choose surrender
I choose to love
Oh, God my Savior, You’ll always be enough
I choose forgiveness
I choose grace
I choose to worship, no matter what I face

I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way
I choose the Jesus way

I follow Jesus, I follow Jesus
He wore my sin, I’ll gladly wear His name
He is the treasure, He is the answer
Oh, I choose the Jesus way

Lyrics: Jonathan Smith and Phil Wickham