Daily Prayer Devotional – Page 31

Saturday 20th April 2024

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;” Isaiah 42:3 NIV

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.” Matthew 12:20 NIV

Almighty God,

Many Old Testament verses talk about defeating enemies. But then Isaiah speaks of one who will come and be victorious in a new totally different way. And we see the promise of Jesus. Jesus, You came and were full of compassion for the weak, the dispossessed, the sick and those in need of Your Fathers mercy. You gave back the only son to the grieving widow at Nain (Luke 7:13-15). You allowed a woman with an issue of blood and lepers to touch You and be healed. Behaviour which offended the self righteous in Jesus time. (Luke 8:43-48). Luke’s gospel is full of Your compassion and mercy.

You were not a task driven Saviour. You did not come to tick a set of boxes and then go home. You came to love, save, forgive and heal. You still do and we love You Lord. A bruised reed, a smouldering wick – tiny things thrown out as of no value. But You see the value of every life and each vulnerable person and You are faithful. Give us faith to know Your compassion and practice it ourselves.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Almighty God,

For our family and friends. For all their needs today, those near, distant and broken relationships.
For our neighbours and neighbourhood to prosper and grow. To care for each other.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. For all those who work for You willingly.
For the royal family. For continued healing and family unity.
For our Parliament. In a world of turmoil to be calm and hear Your leading, for an end to war.
For those waiting results of medical tests, results, interviews or outcomes.
For sufferers of leprosy and those treating and researching.
For Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict. Bring an end to war. Speak peace to stubborn hearts. Bless the peacemakers with power.
We pray for children caught in the mist of conflict. Bless food and medical agencies.
For those who find it hard to understand weakness in others. Patience..
For good marriages and Your help in those that are struggling.
For what we need for today to roll along successfully. With open eyes to see Your blessings.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 20th April 2024

Meekness and majesty
Manhood and Deity
In perfect harmony
The Man who is God
Lord of eternity
Dwells in humanity
Kneels in humility
And washes our feet

O what a mystery
Meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship
For this is your God
This is your God
This is Your God

Father’s pure radiance
Perfect in innocence
Yet learns obedience
To death on a cross
Suffering to give us life
Conquering through sacrifice
And as they crucify
Prays: ‘Father forgive.’

Wisdom unsearchable
God the invisible
Love indestructible
In frailty appears
Lord of infinity
Stooping so tenderly
Lifts our humanity
To the heights of His throne

Lyrics: Graham Kenrick

Friday 19th April 2024

“For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility . . .” Ephesians 2:14 NET

Father of peace,

This tiny little verse speaks about God’s power to break down of walls of hostility. Back when it was written, it was hostility between Jews and gentiles. To reunite His people with His other people of creation. The church was having to learn to overcome prejudice and love each other. They came from different backgrounds and different cultures and were all having to learn to value and respect each other to live the Jesus way.

We can count to ten, meditate, have a cup of tea . . . But You are our real peace. Yet Father, I find myself wakeful on occasions and remembering words spoken or hurt or picky little things that have annoyed me. You never gave up on the disciples and You never once tried to get your own back, or bear grudges.

You tell us to keep our account short with God and with other people around us. Forgive others as You have forgiven us. Even if we cannot trust them. You even forgave from the cross. You do not keep account of all our faults to remind us of them. You were never sarcastic, unkind or argumentative. Your love is kind even when hard. You spoke the truth on occasions but in such a way it was for their good. Help us give up, hand over to You our hurt and irritation and unforgiveness and swop it for Your peace. Help us not take it up again.

Help us see when and how relationships can be made even better or mended. If they are harmful, help us to step aside with dignity.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Father, God of peace,

For our family and friends. For all their needs today. To find ways to keep in touch and encourage.
For our neighbours and neighbourhood to prosper and grow. To care for each other.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. To be a place of living powerful peace in You..
For the royal family. For peace of mind, continuing healing, family support and unity.
For our Parliament. In a world of turmoil to be calm and hear Your leading, together.
For those waiting results of medical tests, results, interviews or outcomes.
For Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict. Bring an end to war. Speak peace to stubborn hearts. Bless the peacemakers with power.
For those who find it hard to let go of anger, unforgiveness.
For good marriages and Your help in those that are struggling.
For our own needs and hopes today, both little and large. To put down our irritations.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 19th April 2024

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord
And where there is doubt true faith in You

Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness only light
And where there’s sadness ever joy

Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we are born to eternal life

Lyrics: Sebastian Temple

Thursday 18th April 2024

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9 NIV

God and Father of love,

I watched a TV programme, Lord, on old adverts. Memory lane of many things now long gone. But immediately I see the brand I remember the experience! OMO, Spangles, Woolworths . . . They bring memories of washing the whitest, fruit flavoured squares and being able to buy almost anything at a cheap price! We in the church have the cross, is that our brand? Visions of gruesome torture, punishment and death. Those of us who know the whole story, know the pain and sacrifice shows the depth of Your love.

The symbol of Your love God, is not a fluffy Easter bunny, not a promise of cheap promises. It is a stark instrument of torture and death. But also for us the experience of the depth and fulfilment of Your love. Help us live so we show what Your cross stands for. Love.

You, God love us completely. Though we are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, broken, not quite good enough sometimes . . . You loved us first. Help us to reflect the cross and what the church experience should be about – Your love and sacrifice.

In Jesus name, Amen

God wh0 is love,

For our family and friends. For all their needs today. For the best for today.
For our neighbours and neighbourhood to prosper and grow.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. To be there for their neighbours.
For the royal family. For peace of mind, healing and family support and unity.
For our Parliament. To find harmony not animosity and work together for national good.
For our local dentists, GP’s, chiropodists and those in training. Those choosing their careers.
For families recently bereaved. For those who work in and those who support hospices.
For all the maternity wards, the staff and those due to give birth.
For places struggling with shortage of trained staff.
For Your people and Jerusalem. For Your wisdom in making choices and peace (Psalm 122:6).
For Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict. Bring an end to war. Speak peace to stubborn hearts. Bless the peacemakers.
For other countries not to get drawn in to conflict except to speak ceasefire, peace talks and diplomacy.
For a day to notice new life bursting out in gardens, busy birds and bees and do our best at work and chores.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 18th April 2024
The “guilty pair” crucified with Jesus. One accepted the gift of life and the other sadly did not. A sobering thought.

The love of God is greater far
  Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
  And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
  God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
  And pardoned from his sin.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
  And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
  And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
  Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
  Though stretched from sky to sky.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
O love of God, how rich and pure!
  How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
    The saints’ and angels’ song.

Lyrics: Frederick M Lehman (1917)

Lehman emigrated to Iowa, America with his family at age four. He came to Christ at age 11. One morning about eleven o’clock while walking up the country lane, skirted by a wild crab-apple grove on the right and a fence with an old white-elm gate in a gap at the left, suddenly Heaven let a cornucopia of glory descend on the eleven-year old lad. The wild crab-apple grove assumed a heavenly glow and the fence an unearthly lustre. That old white-elm gate with its sun-warped boards gleamed and glowed like silver bars to shut out the world and shut him in. The ’form of the fourth,’ (Jesus who was the forth person in the fiery furnace) came into his heart. The weight of conviction was gone and the paeans of joy and praise fell from his lips. He later became a Pastor and devoted his life to writing hymns.