Tag: Daily Prayer Devotional

Wednesday 29th May 2024

 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” Luke 7:36-40 NKJV

Omniscient (all knowing) God,

We read again today about what Jesus did and said at Simon the Pharisees house. A story of every day events. Like being invited to a meal. Jesus took up the invitation. And as the scene unfolds someone uninvited arrives, and not one of Simon’s circle. Would I have responded like Simon to a dubiously dressed gate crasher? Then I notice in verse 39 that Simon did not speak out loud. But we hear his thoughts! Luke would not have explained this unless it was important. Simons inner dialogue is not mentioned like this in the other gospels (Matthew 26:8-9; Mark 14:4; John 12:4-5).

 Then I remembered Simeon who said to Mary Jesus mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”(Luke 2:34-35).

Our talking to ourselves, our internal monologue helps us know our thoughts and emotions and gives us time to assess them before we say anything! And these thoughts You know all about. You, Lord used the opportunity to teach Simon not to judge and showed it by Jesus loving reaction to the repentant woman.

Help us be aware of our inner dialogue and let You correct it so we can learn like Simon not to take our forgiveness for granted or jump to conclusions or take the high ground.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Omniscient (all knowing) God,

For our family and friends and neighbours. Each one individually a touch from You.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Opportunity to share the gospel.
For the royal family. To be able to plan and execute their duties in this run up to the election.
For our nation and Government at this time of words and more words. Truth and honesty.
For Ukraine, show Your power for peace and disassemble this war. Deal with Putin and His advisors.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. We despair but turn our hopes to You for a way to peace.
For families in half term to be able to do things together and teachers to be rested and refreshed.
For the overseas missions we support to prosper and grow. Give vision to the leaders.
For those who do not see people as unique and valuable. Who enslave, bully, abuse. Interrupt their inner dialogue, change hearts.
For those who liberate and offer sanctuary to endangered men and women and children.
For us to invite You to be with us and remind, restore to us the joy of Your salvation (Psalm 51:12)

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 29th May 2024
One traditional hymn and one more recent – take your choice or both . . .

Lyrics: Edwin Hatch 1878
The simplicity of this profound hymn belies the education and knowledge of its author, Edwin Hatch (1835-1889). It was inspired by John 20:21-22: “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even, so send I you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (RSV) The passage in John correlates with Genesis 2:7 where “the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The author invokes the Holy Spirit to come into his life and transform it. Using the first-person perspective adds to the hymn’s power to all who sing it to seek the breath of God (Genesis 2:7) as a source for life and renewal.


Lyrics: Jason Ingram, Chris Tomlin, Brenton Brown, Pat Barrett 2021


Tuesday 28th May 2024

 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:47-48 NLT

 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,” Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV

God of lavish love,

The religious Pharisee who had invited Jesus to be his guest, when this woman came in uninvited, was offended. Not that she had come but that she dared to touch Jesus feet. He had already judged her. And judging Jesus for allowing her to touch His feet! How quick we are to jump to the wrong conclusion sometimes, to see situations from a skewed angle. You remind us that You do not jump to conclusions. You do not judge us by what we look like, what we have done or not done or who we are. You want us to come to You, meet us in the mess we are in and give Your love and forgiveness.

You know us because you created our inmost being and knit us together in our mother’s womb.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made by You (Psalm 139:13,14). Yet You love us regardless of our faults and failings (Ephesians 2:4,5). As the verse says in Ephesians, in accordance with Your grace and lavishly. As we consider the depth of Your love for us, help us to see how much You love even those who do not love You. How You long for them to seek You and to say those words to them, ‘Your sins are forgiven’. Help us not to judge but prompt us, when we have opportunity, to say a word about You. To whoever it may be.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of lavish love,

For our family and friends and neighbours. Open their lives to You. Help, heal, and lift their spirits.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Opportunity to share the gospel.
For the royal family. Protect their families.
For our nation and Government at this time of words and more words. Highlight truth on all sides.
Ukraine, show Your power for peace and disassemble this war. Deal with Putin.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Turn our hopes to You for a way to peace.
For families in half term to be able to do things together and teachers to be rested and refreshed.
For the overseas missions we support to prosper and grow. Give vision to the leaders
For our mental heath service. Those who work with children and adults whose needs are complex.
For us to know the things we can change and the things that we cannot. Thank You for being our ever present help.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 28th May 2024
This song may not be that well known outside the Salvation Army but is a beautiful hymn.

Many are the things I cannot understand,
All above me mystery I see;
But the gift most wonderful from God’s own hand
Surely is his gift of grace to me!

Higher than the stars that reach eternity,
Broader than the boundaries of endless space,
Is the boundless love of God that pardoned me;
O the wonder of his grace!

When I came to Jesus with my sin and shame
And to him confessed my deepest need,
When by faith I trusted fully in his name,
God’s rich grace was granted me indeed.

Passing understanding is his boundless love,
More than I can ever comprehend,
Jesus, in his mercy, left his throne above,
All to be my Saviour and my friend.

Lyrics: Howard Davies
The author said in 1986: “The inspiration for the song came through seeing the beauty of the Australian night sky with the stars so clear – the thought from Psalm 8 coming to mind: ‘When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?’”




    





Monday 27th May 2024

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 ESV

“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:5-7 ESV

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”“ John 8:12 NKJV

God of light,

In the past, historians tell us, people worshipped the sun and the moon. But You know that God You were there! Aligning great stones with the power of the sun at certain times of the year. Could they have imagined the sun was just one small one of countless others! People still worship the stars or science or knowledge. But we believe You are the source. You first created our light. In all its awesome magnitude, power and speed! The sun witnesses that You are the source of all light. For since the creation of the world Your invisible qualities, eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen in creation(Romans 1:20).

I wonder that some of us see it so clearly and others deny it completely. Well, Jeremiah knew this problem too, he said, ” O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not,” (Jeremiah 5:21).

This is as good a day as any to take the opportunity to thank You for light which makes us feel good and is helpful both inside and out, in the literal sense. A room light, a night light, a torch a reading light. But we worship You our inner light Your Spirit within us. Chasing away fear, bringing the warm of Your love, highlighting verses of Scripture and lighting our way forward. Thank You that You illuminate the whole of our lives for good.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of light,

For our family and friends and neighbours. For Your light to help, heal, lead and lift their spirits.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. May their be no darkness Send Your light.
For the royal family. Thanksgiving and continued healing and help.
For our nation and Government, light the way now and ahead. Open eyes to discern the best.
Ukraine, show Your power for peace and disassemble this war.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Pause, a time to talk, a time to not throw stones, talk peace.
Light the way ahead for our NHS, emergency services and social services.
For Bible translators, light of understanding of dialects and languages.
For our schools and those who help children diagnosed with learning disabilities.
For our mental heath service. Those who work with those whose needs are complex.
For our needs today and this week. Thank you for light mornings and lighter evenings.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

 Worship Monday 27th May 2024

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, Let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
So highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came to the earth you created
All for love’s sake became poor

Cborus

I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

Chorus

Lyrics: Tim Hughes