Tag: Daily Prayer Devotional

Friday 23th February 2024

 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:9-11 NKJV

God of joy,

Thank you that You promised that Your joy would remain with and in us because of Jesus and Your Holy Spirit. We cannot work up joy, we cannot force it, we cannot manipulate it. Sometimes it appears we have run flat out of it! But we need it, not over the top but to bring appreciation of life.. Then we need to wait and not despair for, ‘Joy cometh in the morning’ (Psalm 30:5). The Psalmist knew to hang on. Then there are those occasions when You enable us to have our spirits raised by joy.

.Joy, but not the kind of happiness that needs things or occasions to buy or provide it. That kind passes fast and is hard to make happen again. We need Your fruit of joy that makes us smile within. The joy that wells up in us and makes us laugh and we cant always remember what about but we feel good. The overwhelming joy, when we see something simple yet beautiful that You, Lord, have made.

The gift of joy that enables us to keep the sparkle in our eyes and heart. Help us to share Your loving joy not just cheer someone up and leave them feeling better than when we found them. Help us, even when we feel down, know Your joy is still ours and waiting to be reawakened.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of joy,

For family, friends, neighbours, be with them in their ups and downs and send them Your joy.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, give them Your inner joy today.
For all the Royal family. Charles ongoing treatment. Kates full recovery. A joyful day.
For our local council. To know the joy of good service for the community.
For our government and MPs and their families. The joy of doing the right things.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Change Russia to end their war.
For families from Ukraine who are praying to go home to family, but are having to stay in the UK.
For Gaza an end to all the killing, hostage taking and hate.. Give a yearning for peace.
For the good teachers who bring joy to the classrooms.
For those who listen and those who support and help bring joy back into peoples lives.
For overseas relief agencies and medical support, for Your aid for all they do.
For those with little reason to be joyful but who need Your inner support to make today a good day.
For all those who need a good healthy laugh to bring the sparkle back to their eyes.
For us to have a day full of joy and perhaps a good laugh?

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 23th February 2024
Joy is in this place- here!

Oh I could sing unending songs
Of how you saved my soul
Well I could dance a thousand miles
Because of your great love.

My heart is bursting Lord
To tell of all you’ve done
Of how you changed my life
And wiped away the past
I wanna shout it out
From every roof top sing
For now I know that God
Is for me not against me

Everybody’s singing now Cos we’re so happy
Everybody’s dancing now Cos we’re so happy
If only we could see your face
And see you smiling over us
And unseen angels celebrate
For joy is in this place!

Lyrics by Martin Smith 1994.

According to Martin, the song wrote itself in about five minutes. It was just a little ditty. He wrote it at church. He didn’t think it was more than a little ditty. Not the kind of song people would say was amazing worship. He still does not really think it is. But that song, that moment, changed his life.

Thursday 22nd February 2024

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” Ephesians 2:8-10 NET

God of grace,

We could spend all day just talking about grace . . . but today I was challenged by verse 10. We are Your creative work – the Authorised version says we are Your workmanship! Like a sculpture or a work of art created not just by a brilliant artist but the Giver of life. And You breathed it into us!

For a purpose. You give our lives meaning and purpose. We were created and are given opportunity to have faith, to do good works, prepared beforehand not at the last minute! The opportunities You give us to respond in Your love. Whether that means in a family setting, in a mission setting, in an everyday setting. You put something before us that we can do for good in Your name. A good word, a good deed, a good action in response to Jesus, words, deeds and action.

Sometimes our lives may look random, challenging and not as good as someone else who is doing great things. Help us just to see You do not measure by those means. We are all individual with individual lives and opportunities and gifts. You placed us just where You wanted us – even from our mothers wombs. (Psalm 139). Help us to respond when we can and where we can as You would.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of grace,

For family, friends, neighbours, be with them in their ups and downs and meet their needs.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, give them Your inner strength and faith..
For all the Royal family. Charles ongoing treatment. Kates full recovery. Healing of rifts.
For our local councillors and those who will be up for election.
For our government and MPs and their families. Raise up and bring down the right people.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Change Russia to end their attack.
For Gaza an end to killing. Bombard them with Your peace and a way to negotiation..
For changes in Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, Chine, Sudan, Syria and other countries where there is war, aggression, oppression, dictatorship, slavery.
For those who run food banks and those who need them..
For overseas relief agencies and medical support.
For those who need to know their God given purpose in this life and have all they need to fulfil it.
For us to have a day full of opportunities to be kind and good and helpful.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 22rd February 2024

I Want To Serve The Purpose Of God
In My Generation
I Want To Serve The Purpose Of God
While I Am Alive
I Want To Give My Life
For Something That Will Last Forever
Oh, I Delight, I Delight To Do Your Will

What Is On Your Heart? Show Me What To Do
Let Me Know Your Will, and I Will Follow You
What Is On Your Heart? Show Me What To Do
Let Me Know Your Will, and I Will Follow You

I Want To Build With Silver And Gold
In My Generation
I Want To Build With Silver And Gold
While I Am Alive
I Want To Give My Life
For Something That Will Last Forever
Oh, I Delight, I Delight To Do Your Will

I Want To See The Kingdom Of God
In My Generation
I Want To See The Kingdom Of God
While I Am Alive
I Want To Live My Life
For Something That Will Last Forever
Oh, I Delight, I Delight To Do Your Will

I Want To See The Lord Come Again
In My Generation
I Want To See The Lord Come Again
While I Am Alive
I Want To Give My Life
For Something That Will Last Forever
Oh I Delight, I Delight To Do Your Will

Lyrics by Mark Altrogge a singer, songwriter and senior pastor at the Sovereign Grace Church of Indiana.

Wednesday 21st February 2024

 “I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. 13 I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12,13 NET

The One God,

I have experienced all sorts of times Lord, and I have learned, not always contentment, but about trust and about myself! I have learned the situations that I do not handle well and the situations I would rather avoid. Difficult people, conflict, dentists! Situations where I need to say something that not everyone will like or doing something new. . . I suppose for all of us it is something different. I would like to have Your contentment as my foundation so I do not drown in fear or feel deflated.

Paul witnessed and promised that we can find, in You, all the strength we need to do and to get through these things and times. He does not say we will not have human emotions or that we can avoid them! But even if the outcome is not good – sickness, false accusations, financial difficulties – You can see us through. We need not to be utterly defeated.

Teach us, as we go, God. Help us to own our emotions but rely on Your steadfastness to get through. Help us to hold up Your shield of faith to protect our hearts and minds. Give us confidence to know we are still in Your care in tough times and even failure. Show us the best way to handle situations when we feel out of our depth. Thank You that You are with us and for us, always.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God,

For family, friends, neighbours, be with them in their ups and downs and meet their needs.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, give them Your inner strength and faith..
For all the Royal family. Charles ongoing treatment. Kates full recovery. Healing of rifts.
For our local councillors and those who will be up for election.
For our government and MPs and their families. Raise up and bring down the right people.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Change Russia to end their attack.
For Gaza an end to killing. Bombard them with Your peace and open a way to negotiate a ceasefire.
For changes in Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, Chine, Sudan, Syria and other countries where there is war, aggression, oppression, dictatorship, slavery.
For those who are in need of a vision of heaven and the life to come.
For those going through bereavement, big or little difficulties and life’s annoyances.
For us a good day, fresh faith, fresh hope and to see beyond todays irritations and frustrations.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 21st February 2024

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

It is well, (it is well), with my soul (with my soul).
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul.