Daily Prayer Devotional – Page 25

Wednesday 8th May 2024

“I thank my God every time I remember you.⁴I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you ⁵because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.⁶For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

Father God,

It makes me sad when someone says they are not speaking to someone because they have been offended, hurt or they have had a disagreement. How can they be reconciled if they are not speaking? Or they come to church and yet do not speak with You, God, through the week.

This verse is for those of us who love Jesus and the gospel! Those who, as the hymn writers say walk daily by the Saviours side, and choose to trust and obey. One thing we can be certain of, and sure of, is that You began a good work in us when we accepted Christ and You will complete it. We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and You are at work in us! We do not have to pass perfection exams, we are not measured for pass or fail each day. You who began a good work in us, started with our permission, You did not force Your way in and yet You are God Almighty. And You will keep working in us and with us till we meet You face to face.

And the wonder of it all, is that as You work in us we can see the beauty and goodness of Christ in ourselves. Not a saccharine kind of cheesy surface beauty but an inner work. I dread to think what I would be like, and where I would be, without You, God in my life.

We can be encouraged at where we have come from. We are set free by Your forgiveness and grateful for Your endless grace. And we know You hold the future.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of grace,

For our family and friends. To know healing, support and encouragement and joy today.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. To know You are at work in them for good.
For the church worldwide that You continue to work in and through.
For new church plants to be encouraged and see Your hand at work among them.
For those newly elected locally to be encouraged to do good regardless of political parties.
For the royal family. Encourage King Charles and Princess Kate as they continue treatment.
For Ukraine, we plead for peace. An end to war. May it be Your will.
For Gaza, a good future and talks towards a peaceful way forward. Encourage peace.
For Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict and Military oppression. Encourage mercy.
For those captive to addiction to drugs, gambling, pornography violence a way of escape in You.
For us to be encouraged to let You keep working in us and through us. For a “by still waters” day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 8th May 2024
Philippians 1:6 Easiest way to learn scripture for me – is to sing it

He who began a good work in you
He who began a good work in you
Will be faithful to complete it
He’ll be faithful to complete it
He who started the work
Will be faithful to complete it in you

Lyrics: John Mohr,
Album: Gutierrez Brothers, He Who Began a Good Work in You, Bolero Soul Music

Tuesday 7th May 2024

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NET

God our Father,

I just wanted to linger another day on this beautiful verse. It is two thirds of the way through Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians. And yet is almost like a summing up, an end, a conclusion. But it is not. I have noticed that where there are chapters full of teaching and corrections, for the readers, You inspire Paul to give little encouragement breaks! You know our attention is not very long and we need breaks to digest what we are reading and learning. And You know I, and in general we respond best to encouragement!

And this is a real encouragement break. A divine comfort break to breathe in and without adverts! Reminding us that You give us eternal comfort and hope to encouragement and strength us. To be able to stand in the present, look to the future not dwell in the past. We are encouraged, not that we have got something wrong, but how to stand (Ephesians 6:13) and then go forward forgiven and loved.

I love a well done. It makes me feel so good. Even if it is for something small. I love saying a simple well done to others. Seeing someone feel good about themselves. I love Your well done when I make that phone call or say that prayer or act upon something You are asking me to do. Make encouragement a natural part of my life.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Father God,

For our family and friends. Restore their hope and grant them encouragement by Your Spirit.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. Encourage them and speak well done to them.
For new church plants to be encouraged and see Your hand at work among them.
For those newly elected locally to be encouraged to do good regardless of political parties.
For the royal family. Encourage King Charles and Princess Kate as they continue treatment.
For Ukraine, we plead for peace. An end to war. May it be Your will. Encourage peace moves.
For Gaza, a good future and talks towards a peaceful way forward. Encourage peace.
For Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict and Military oppression. Encourage mercy.
For positive voices amidst all the negative. News of all the good things which happen daily.
For teachers to encourage their pupils and parents their children to flourish and know You.
For all those starting new jobs or moving house or undergoing disruption or change today.
For us to be encouraged. To find time to remember and give thanks for those who encouraged us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 7th may 2024
Worship from a Northern Ireland worship leader.

My hope is in the Lord,
Who has renewed my strength,
When everything seems senseless,
My hope is still in Him
Who has made heaven and earth,
And things seen and unseen.
Whatever shade of passing day
My hope is still in Him.

My hope is in You Lord,
My hope is in You Lord,
My hope is in You Lord.

For I know that my eyes shall see You,
In the latter days to come
When You stand on this earth,
With my lips I will confess
That the hope of my heart is come,
That the hope of my heart is come,

Lyrics: Robin Mark

Monday 6th May 2024

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.^”2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NET

Father God,

Thank You for Your eternal comfort and positive hope. Good hope. I have never thought of hope being good can it be bad? I suppose it can be hollow? But Your hope will not disappoint us.

The Psalmist says “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12) Yes, when hope is promised and is not kept, or never materialises, it is just words. It disappoints and can makes us sick.

Father, thank You that You are honest. You only promise and give us hope for those things which are certain. Your hope Father, does not disappoint us because Your love has been poured out in our hearts by Your Holy Spirit who You gave us (Romans 5:5). Remind us of the difference that the coming of Your Holy Spirit, to live in us, makes. As we approach celebrating Pentecost in two weeks. (Acts 2:4) help us remember You are still with us by Your Spirit. Pentecost, to the world is just a bank holiday week end. For us, Your indwelling Spirit of love, helps us ‘bears all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things’. (1 Corinthians 13:7). Hope brings light as the dawn brings day. Hope brings rest and restores the soul. We put our hope in You God.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father God,

For our family and friends. Restore their hope provide their needs. Feed their souls.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. Revive them and strengthen all who believe.
For the royal family. All generations to the very youngest.
For Ukraine, we plead for peace. An end to war. May it be Your will.
For Gaza, a good future and talks towards a peaceful way forward.
For Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict and Military oppression. Easing of persecutions.
For aid agencies and medical help in the midst of many countries turmoil. and danger.
For positive voices amidst all the negative. News of all the good things which happen daily.
For all those starting new jobs or moving house or undergoing disruption or change today.
For a day to notice all the things we can give You thanks for. For good health, mind, body and spirit.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 6th May 2024
Composed in 1985 in a stressful time in Daniel life. He was balancing full-time college, full-time worship leading at Zion Christian Church, and raising two daughters with his wife. Finishing his homework for a College composition class, he rushed to prepare music for evening service. “I felt so pressed by the hands of the clock, and I felt a real need for added energy. I knew it would help me if I would relax and wait on God. I sat down at the piano and began to play spontaneously to the Lord, as I often had done during such a time. As I was playing and singing, suddenly from my ear came, ‘My life is in You, Lord.’ The words and melody kept coming until the whole of a song was given to me.” (cited in Terry, 2008, p. 185).

My life is in You, Lord,
My strength is in You, Lord
My hope is in You, Lord
In You, it’s in You.
Repeat . . .

I will praise You with all of my heart.
I will praise You with all of my Strength
With all of my life, and all of my strength.
All of my hope is in You.

My life is in You, Lord,
My strength is in You, Lord
My hope is in You, Lord
In You, it’s in You.
Repeat . . .

Lyrics: Daniel Gardner