Category: Daily Prayer

Wednesday 6th August 2025

“Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh—all that he did, and the sin that he committed—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 18 So Manasseh rested with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. Then his son Amon reigned in his place. 19 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. 20 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. 21 So he walked in all the ways that his father had walked; and he served the idols that his father had served, and worshiped them. 22 He forsook the Lord God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord. 23 Then the servants of Amon conspired against him, and killed the king in his own house. 24 But the people of the land executed all those who had conspired against King Amon. Then the people of the land made his son Josiah king in his place.” 2 Kings 21:17-24 NKJV

“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.” 2 Chronicles 34:1-2 NKJV

Father God,

Swings and roundabouts it feels like. I wonder what the difference the king made to everyday living. They seem by what we are told to follow the leanings of the KIng. The sinful ones because it called to their indulgence and not having to be concerned with laws? The good God fearing ones I wonder if it was because of the benefits they were told about and the victory over the enemy reforms often brought?

Who do we follow and why? Why follow Jesus? Because of the benefits? Better than a billionaire best friend. A ticket to heaven? A God who will look after us who we can call on when we are sick, worried or in need? A God who can help us sleep nights? Paul says it Lord better than I ever could in Philippians 3:8 “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” It is in knowing You and being known that is of infinite value and all the rest is a bonus? Follow? There is no-one else good enough. and who else welcomes penitent sinners to forgive and love.?

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 6th August 2025

All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this

Knowing You, Jesus, Knowing You
There is no greater thing
You’re my all, You’re the best
You’re my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord

Now my heart’s desire is to know You more
To be found in You and known as Yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness

Chorus

Oh, to know the power of Your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like You in Your death, my Lord
So with You to live and never die

Knowing You, Jesus, Knowing You
There is no greater thing
You’re my all, You’re the best
You’re my joy, my righteousness
You’re my all, You’re the best
You’re my joy, my righteousness
You’re my all, You’re the best
You’re my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord

You’re my all, You’re the best
You’re my joy, my righteousness
And I love You, Lord

Lyrics: Graham Kendrick

Tuesday 5th August 2025

“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” 2 Kings 21:1-4

“The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. 11 So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” 2 Chronicles 33:10-13 NIV

Lord God,

Twelve years old and his mother was Hephzibah. Hephzibar the wife of Hezekiah, a righteous king of Judah and mother of Manasseh the most wicked king of Judah? Did her heart ache watching her son destroy every righteous reform his father had made? And Hezekiah had had to make the righteous reforms after King Ahab his father. There was no consistency and the people just went with whatever?

A good father does not always mean a good son and a bad father does not always mean a bad son. And do we say Manasseh was worse than Ahab? When we are weighing up how bad people are do we try to count their sins? How many have they murdered or how much have they stolen or how many people did they mistreat. But You God see sin as sin. The first sin is the one that separates us from Y0u. Though some have more consequences than others and these are what make them seem worse.

We will never know what the thief on the cross next to Jesus had stolen. Perhaps a loaf of bread for his family or perhaps livestock or money. But You forgave him. You did not condemn, criticize, belittle or lecture him. John tells us, “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4). Sin can be an attitude, action, neglect or intent. It cannot be avoided how ever hard we try. But You changed Manasseh and You can change me. And in Jesus we know how to be changed. There is still much work to do in me Holy Spirit.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 5th August 2025
This is such a simple song and yet it so clearly reflects 2 Corinthians 2:18, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

FROM glory to glory He’s changing me,
Changing me, changing me,
His likeness and image to perfect in me,
The love of God shown to the world.

For He’s changing, changing me,
From earthly things to the heavenly,
His likeness and image to perfect in me,
The love of God shown to the world.

Lyrics: Alan Hall (Written in the 1970’s?)

Monday 4th August 2025

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV

God of Glory,

We move on reading through our Bible and we see Isaiah looking deep into the future and seeing a time to come in 700 years! Though I am not sure he knew the dates. He speaks of the One to come the Messiah. A day of vengeance and yet the acceptable year of the Lord. A time of comfort, of beauty from death’s ashes and joy from mourning and praise at a time of heaviness. But out of that death, mourning and heaviness would come righteousness planted in Your people.

Not just these called Your people – but for people of all the nations. No longer having to prove lineage from Abraham to call upon You, God. But free to choose You as God and Saviour, and belong to Your family. Jesus, emmanuel, You God with us, healing the brokenhearted, setting free those made captive to sin. Those who need to be released from their past sin and shame. Those who want to be made new and start afresh.

It is the thread of the promised of life which weaves through the Old Testament and bursts into the new. The thread of the promise of life, renewal, hope and a future. Isaiah spotlights it and for those of us who know Jesus we rejoice in His light in our hearts. Now we too have the Spirit of the Lord, Your Spirit in us, and upon us, to preach the good news. Help us to find opportunities, to speak of You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Monday 4th August 2025
Two hymns because I wasn’t sure about the first one but . . . so I added the other one too.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon you
Because he has anointed you to preach good news
(Repeat)
He has sent you to the poor (This is the year)
To bind up the broken hearted (This is the day)
To bring freedom to the captives (This is the year)
And to release the ones in darkness

(This is the year) of the favour of the Lord
(This is the day) of the vengeance of our God
(This is the year) of the favour of the Lord
(This is the day) of the vengeance of our God

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon us
Because he has anointed us to preach good news
(Repeat)
He will comfort all who mourn (This is the year)
He will provide for those who grieve (This is the day)
He will pour out the oil of gladness (This is the year)
Instead of mourning you will praise

Lyrics: Andy Park.

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Repeat first 4 lines

Lyrics: Charles Wesley.