Daily Prayer Devotional – Page 55

Tuesday 6th February 2024

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

God,

From yesterday we step back a few verses to a familiar fruit packed verse! A sight that all the disciples would have seen – grapes on vines. At the beginning of the chapter You are called the gardener, but more than that, You created the garden. We messed it up and are in awe and wonder that You still choose and love us and want us to be in Your family.

But how often do we link it to the end of the verse -the reminder that without You we can do nothing. You are the vine and we are just little branches. Without you we are just sticks trying hard to be good and do good. It is dry, hard work trying to be a good clean stick without You! But with You we abide in the vine and draw all we need from You, the sap of real life. Ability to bear fruit and the promise of life eternal.

We may not always see fruit. We never know who is watching us to see if our faith is true and if this Jesus life works. We never know who is listening to us talk about praying and that we trust in You. We never know who is seeking for answers to the big questions, looking for You and not able to admit it yet. We may never know who we have helped and it is better sometimes not to know and glory in it!

Help us to just be ourselves, abide in You , trust You, rely on You and not be a dry twig.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God,

For our family, friends, neighbours, church fellowship. For their health, their well being.
For Kings, rulers and Governments. To be who they should be, righteous, brave and guided by You.
For HRH King Charles for healing – miracle and medical. And for his family.
For HRH Duchess of Cambridge’s continuing recovery.
For our government, Your wisdom in decisions for the many international decisions to be made.
For nations and their rulers and governments to have a desire to make peace, and make it happen.
For Ukraine and Gaza permanent peace. Along with Myanmar, North Korea, Chine, Sudan, Syria.
For Your church here and round the world. For a harvest of new Christians, those called to ministry would have all they need to respond and say Yes. For healing where churches are divided For the ability to serve You safely where they do not have freedom.
For us, our health and well being and a day full of You whatever it holds.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 6th February 2024

You are the Vine
We are the branches
Keep us abiding in You
You are the Vine
We are the branches
Keep us abiding in You

Then we’ll grow in Your love
And we’ll go in Your Name
That the world will surely know
That You have power to heal and to save

Lyrics: Danny Daniels & Randy Rigby

Monday 5th February 2024

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you.” John 15:16a

God our Father,

This little verse is one of those which is almost a dichotomy. Two opposing things! Because i made a decision to become a Christian because I found You, God and yet it was really because You, God chose me!

This little verse chases away all the rejection the world offers me. Yes, I was always one of the last chosen at school to be on a sports team. But this verse reminds me that You, God choose me, because You loved me regardless that I could not hit a tennis ball, a rounders ball or catch anything thrown towards me. You have a purpose for our lives and more importantly love us for who we are. None of us are last choice. We are all like Your first born and joint heirs because of Jesus (Romans 8:17).

So we bless You Lord, and forget not all Your benefits. You forgive all our iniquities, heal all our diseases, redeem our life from destruction, crown us with loving kindness and tender mercies. Satisfy our mouths with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:2-5)

We are sad that some do not want to be part of Your family and live in the Kingdom of God. We continue to pray for them. Thank You for choosing us. For seeing us as Your precious sons and daughters and not as the world sometimes makes us feel. We pray that You will keep calling those in our family and friends who have not yet opened their hearts to You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer:
God our Father,

For our family, friends, neighbours, church fellowship. For their health, their well being and their knowledge of Your love.
For Kings, rulers and Governments. To be who they should be, righteous, brave and guided by You.
For HRH King Charles and HRH Duchess of Cambridge, and their families as they recover at home.
For our government, Your wisdom in decisions for the many international decisions to be made.
For nations and their rulers and governments to have a desire to make peace, and make it happen.
For Ukraine and Gaza permanent peace. Along with Myanmar, North Korea, Chine, Sudan, Syria.
For those who work away often unseen making society safer and pleasant. District nurses, dustbin men, electrician’s, reservoir keepers, police, bakers, carers, home helps, farmers . . .
For the livestock of this nation, working dogs and family pets.
For us our health and well being and to look up and forward and see all the good You are doing despite the news. And to have a good day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 5th February 2024

O Jesus, I have promised
To serve you to the end;
Be thou forever near me,
My Master and my friend;
I shall not fear the battle
If Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If Thou wilt be my guide.

Oh, let me feel Thee near me;
The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
And shield my soul from sin.

Oh, let me hear Thee speaking,
In accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self-will;
Oh, speak to reassure me,
To hasten, or control;
Oh, speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised
To all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory
There shall Thy servant be;
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve Thee to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My Master and my Friend.

Lyrics: John Ernest Bode

This hymn was written by John Ernest Bode (13 February 1816 – 6 October 1874) an Anglican priest, educator, poet, and hymnist on the occasion of the confirmation of his own two sons and daughter at Castle Camps village in 1869. It was not put to music until 1881.

Sunday 4th February 2024

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20 NKJV

God of miracles,

Nothing is impossible for you (Luke 1:37). This was also what the angel told Mary, the mother to be of Jesus! Jesus told his disciples the same in the verse quoted from Matthew above. It is another one of those verses that I remember in words and with images. I grew mustard and cress on blotting paper at junior school! I can picture a tiny little mustard seed compared to a mountain. I must admit I picture a lake district snow covered peak not a middle eastern mount! And I need my faith to grow.

This statement was in response to the disciples being unable to heal a boy who suffered seizures. The disciples came to Jesus later, privately, to learn from their failure. I do not believe I can move a mountain! But that was not what Jesus was saying. Its about praying with faith You will do something. Talking to You, eternal, immortal, to powerful to imagine, God. Trusting that You hear and answer our prayers. Its about asking for the impossible and leaving the answers to You. And not loosing faith because You do not answer as I want You to. The power will never come from our might, ability to persuade You or because we have been goodness. It will always be by Your Spirit through Your love (Zachariah 4;6).

Keep us asking for, listening and learning about and growing in faith.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God who can,

For our family, friends, neighbours, church fellowship. Meet their many personal needs today and we ask for the miracles that some of them need, both great and small.
For Kings, rulers and Governments. Good and oppressive. Lead them to generosity and kindness.
For the HRH King Charles and HRH Duchess of Cambridge, full recovery and rest at home.
For our government, for wisdom in decisions at home and regarding other countries.
For nations and their rulers and governments to have a desire to make peace, and make it happen.
For Ukraine and Gaza permanent peace. Along with Myanmar, North Korea, Chine, Sudan, Syria.
For those who work away often unseen making society safer and pleasant. District nurses, dustbin men, electrician’s, reservoir keepers, police, bakers, carers, home helps, farmers . . .
For those who do not have what they need to live through no fault of their own. The organisations that work out of compassion to provide food, medical care and support to become self sufficient.
For refugees and children who live in continual danger and need. Send support and supplies.
For us, to have the contentment of trusting You and simple surprises to brighten our day.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 4th February 2024

https://youtu.be/AW2LEU5v8VA

Everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Well, everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations

Chorus:
Saviour, He can move the mountains
And my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
And fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
And now I surrender,

Shine Your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King, Jesus
Shine Your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Shine Your light . . .

Lyrics: Reuben Morgan and Ben Fielding

“Mighty to Save” is a song that came not from one situation or circumstance in our lives, but as the sum of many. Our God who is all powerful, chooses not to turn his power against us, but towards us, drawing us to himself, writing us into a new story—his salvation story. We have seen it in our own lives. We see it every week in our church. God is all about restoring people to himself.

Reuben and I have been friends since I was 15 years old and that helps a lot when co-writing, to feel comfortable to present ideas and to be honest throughout the process. “Mighty to Save” was the first song we ever finished together.

On the day we began working on “Mighty to Save,” Reuben and I were sitting in his living room working on another song. We had sort of reached a dead end and decided to move on to a new idea. We definitely didn’t realize at the time the significance of that decision, as we began to sing the words “mighty to save.”