Tag: Daily Prayer Devotional

Thursday 29th February 2024

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:5-7 NKJV

God of light,

Thank You that you are not a God far off or a God who comes near and spies to critique our every move . . . But a God who dispels darkness in order that we might have an intimate loving relationship and walk in Your love and light. We know how You love – because You gave us Jesus.

Relationships. They should enable us to learn to trust, be blessed, grow. Being enriched by family, friends and helps us to be the best we can be. They are vital, from a very early age. We need to share our lives and help each other. They can make life meaningful, memorable and enrich us. We all have very different experiences some good and some not so. They colour our outlook and trust.

But that You want a relationship with us, imperfect as we are, is amazing. You were even willing to send Your Son to the cross to enable it to happen, almost unbelievable. That the relationship is for our good for 24 hours a day, any day of the week is life saving. And it is an unbalanced relationship. Your Holy Spirit brings not just Your company but all the gifts and blessings You send each day. And we bring You all our sins to be forgiven, our needs to be met and sometimes we remember to worship and say thank you. We share with You our joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, and receive Your love and wisdom. Thank you. Help us to be forgiving and generous to those we know.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of light,

For family, friends, neighbours, shine into their lives and give them a bright good day.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, shine Your light into all they do today.
For all the Royal family. King Charles to see healing coming with the treatment..
For our government. Light up their way. Let love for this nation drive them to de their best.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Lord disrupt Russia and lead them away, remove desire to war.
For the church in Ukraine, Myanmar and the underground church in many countries. Strong love.
For Gaza an end to all the killing, hostage taking and hate. Give success to all peace talks.
Chase away the gloom and dark in out communities. Help the police prevent crime.
Encourage and strengthen those who work in hospitals, dentist and doctors surgeries. Those who work in hospices and those who are close to the bereaved. Comfort the comforters.
For us, a day as bright as the dawn and which lifts our spirits even amidst the things we must do or try to do!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 29th February 2024

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Lyrics: Anthony J Showalter, Elisha Hoffman

This hymn was published in 1887. Anthony Showalter said that he received letters from two of his former pupils saying that their wives had died. When writing letters of consolation, Showalter was inspired by the phrase in Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms”. He wrote the lyrics to the chorus and asked Elisha Hoffman to write verses.

Wednesday 28th February 2024

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:1-5 NLT

Loving God,

It all starts with Your love. Loving us and showing us Your love, God. Then we start to discover its length, width, height and depth (Ephesians 3:18). And we learn to love each other. So how can we not realise the wisdom of Your commandments and want to please You by keep them? Are they so burdensome?

But Father, like Paul puts it in Romans 7:19 “I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” Here in John’s first letter You encouraged us to just keep on, keeping on, even when we fail, because You love us. And then we will see victories in the battle against sin.

Victory suggests that fantastic feeling of getting the better of something. How good we feel when we manage to bite our tongue and not say something unkind. Or not bear a grudge or not judge another person. Or take back what we know was an unkind thought. (No-one else even knows about!) Not be negative and not be tempted to do nothing when we should help. Victory. Help us keep on winning victories. Learning to live with Your Son and display the family likeness. And when we mess up? Thank You for the opportunity to start again every single time..

Keep us, keeping on loving You, learning to love each other and loving ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). With Your help we will be victorious in our battle with sin.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Loving God,

For family, friends, neighbours, whisper Your love into their hearts and bless their day..
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, let them know Your love today.
For all the Royal family. King Charles to know He is in Your care and love.
For our government. Help and direct them. Let love for this nation drive them to de their best.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Lord disrupt Russia and lead them away, remove the want to war.
For the church in Ukraine, Myanmar and the underground church in many countries. Strong love.
For Gaza an end to killing, hostage taking and hate. Provide a way to talk ceasefire and peace.
For all whose lives help others and who serve the community. May love be their motivation.
For Stoke hospital and all who work there. For our local police, local magistrates and judges.
For us, thank You for all those who love us, for the love You have for us and the love we have to give to others.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 28th February 2024
The harmony by these two working men made my heart sing.

I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory. 

Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood. 

Lyrics by Eugene Bartlett 1885-1941

Eugene married his sweetheart in 1917 and they raised 2 children. His hymn book was in demand, selling over 15,000 copies across the county, and contained his own and his contemporaries hymns. He was called to publish hymns and teach aspiring singers how to sight-read. He travelled the south, holding singing schools and singing conventions.
But in 1939 at age 53, his world changed drastically. He suffered a paralyzing stroke that left him unable to walk, speak and he was mostly bedridden. It ended his teaching ministry, yet It was during these dark days that Eugene would write his best-known hymn, Victory In Jesus. 

These are the verses not sung in the video..

I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow’r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came and brought
To me the victory. 

I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory. 

Tuesday 27th February 2024

“And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need. 17 I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. 18 For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:15-20 NET

God our Father,

I have had verse 19 quoted at me at various times in my life. Some people believe in in literally that if they have enough faith You, God will give them exactly what they want. I have learned that if my life You sometimes spell ‘want’ as N-E-E-D! And I thank You for not making me like a spoiled child.

I also have learned the danger of reading Your Bible verses out of context – the one about supplying all our needs is part of text about giving. This was written to the Philippians, who were the one, not well off themselves, who were generous in giving to Paul. Jesus said, Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.” (Luke 6:38 NET). Perhaps we need to learn to give first, not because we have to, but because it is a joy to give to others. And You give us so much.

Things have happened in my life, miraculously, when I have had a need. A person has turned up, money has come, help at the right time. Not because I have deserved it, not because I have given and am getting back . . . but because You have seen my need or answered prayer. We learn to give and receiving without counting the cost or remembering. It is not about what anyone else is doing.

Paul received and did not feel in their debt. It was God given. Help us to learn to give and, receive with grace, at Your Holy Spirits prompting.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God our Father,

For family, friends, neighbours, we pray answers for their prayers and for their peace of mind.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, that they will not have worries and stress.
For all the Royal family. Charles ongoing treatment and good health. Kates full recovery.
For our local council and those who work for the council in our community.
For our government to see the way ahead through Your eyes and help speak peace for the world.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Give Ukraine a living hope of peace. Change Russia to end war.
For the church in Ukraine, Myanmar. The underground church in many countries.
For Gaza an end to all the killing, hostage taking and hate.. Give a yearning for peace. Send hope into the situation.
For those who make life easier, shopping delivery, home helps, district nurses and carers . . .
For us and for our minds to see the good, hope for the best and laugh if little things go wrong!.

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Tuesday 27th February 2024

Take my life and let it be consecrated to Thee
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise

Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee

Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my King
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee

Take my silver and my gold, not a might would I withhold
Take my intellect and use every power as You choose

Here am I,
All of me
Take my life
Its all for Thee

Take my will, and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne

Take my love, my Lord I pour at Your feet, it’s treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee

Lyrics by Francis Ridley Havergal