Tag: Daily Prayer Devotional

Friday 19th January 2024

  “The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” Numbers 13:1

” We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:33

Lord God Almighty,

Another truth from Your Word which is etched in my mind, alongside mental pictures of grasshoppers! Good advice – go check it out. God says trust me. And from the children’s chorus I always remember the line – 10 were bad spies and two were good. But here is the crux of the story. They all saw that the promised land was exactly as You promised a land flowing with milk and honey. Beautiful, abundant, fertile. But 10 didn’t trust You for the future after all they had seen and done in the past. Like small children they exaggerated their fear and said they felt like grasshoppers against the giants they saw.

We have seen Your provision in our lives. Help us not to see just the problems ahead but trust Your promises to provide. One day we will enter our promised land, Heaven. There will be no more death, pain or suffering. There will be joy, rejoicing and fellowship of the richest kind.

Meanwhile, we live and trust in Your promises for now as we journey there. Trust You to be our Shepherd (Psalm 23), our Saviour and our sufficiency (Philippians 4:6). Help us to be like the two good spies and forge ahead with trust and faith. Life is a challenge as well as a blessing. You are with us, our faithful unchangeable God – and friend.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God of every day,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Thank You and bless them as they need.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations thank You and bless them..
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family.
For our government and their families. Lead and speak clearly to them, that Your will be done in these days. Lead us this year of elections, to the best Government for our time.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Peace an end to war.
For wherever there is unrest, war, military oppression: Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria, China . . .
For the Red Sea and growing International disruption. Overcome and deliver the world from evil.
For young families growing up in todays society. Show them the value of faith, hope and love.
For our local community, our near neighbours, local doctors, dentists, community police, schools.
For all those who provide help, food banks, district nurses, home helps, friends, family. Samaritans, help lines, Lifeboats, mountain rescue, emergency relief charities.
For ourselves, the knowledge that we have a clean sheet today, all errors, mistakes gone. Help us to step into today with a smile even if there are things we just have to do and don’t really want to!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 19th January 2024
Sometimes we just need to slip into familiar words and harmonies and worship and give thanks.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside

Lyrics: Thomas Chisholm


Thursday 18th January 2024

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV

 “I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” Joshua 1:9 NET

Lord our God,

This promise was written out and given to me on a slip of paper by an elderly lady when I was a new Christian. I have treasured it ever since. Not more than any other promise but because she passed it on from her experience and life of faith. I do not take You for granted and never fail to hear it speak in a new way on a new day in a new situation. You, God do not always work in the same way!

Joshua took over from Moses. A man who new You well God and yet still fell short and made a mistake. Joshua, had to find a way forward at a very difficult time, on his own and did not know what the future held. We follow in their and the footsteps of some amazing Christians who have led the church forward. Those known to the nation and those only known to You and our own church – but just as loved by You, God.

Help us know the truth of this promise in these confusing, unsettling days. We have come through plague and now we hear so many rumours of wars. The promise is as reassuring today as it was then. You kept Your promises. You were with Joshua every step of the way. Even if some days were tough. We read and hear You Lord. today. Take the truth from head to heart and help us know Your Spirit with us always.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord our God,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. May they be well and safe and know Your peace.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations to grow and serve the community.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family. Speak into their lives to guide them.
For our government and their families. Lead and speak clearly to them, that Your will be done in these confusing times.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Peace an end to war.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For the Red Sea and growing International disruption we pray You will overcome and deliver us from evil.
For young families growing up in todays society. Show them the value of faith, hope and love.
For our local community, our near neighbours, local doctors, dentists, community police and schools.
For all those who provide essential help, food banks, district nurses, home helps, friends, neighbours, family. Lifeboats, mountain rescue, emergency relief charities.
For ourselves, You know what we need today – encouragement, a visitor, a phone call, an easy day at work, rest, a laugh . . .

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 18th January 2024
This was a ‘modern’ chorus in the 1980’s!


Be bold, be strong
For the Lord your God is with you.
Be bold, be strong,
For the Lord your God is with you.
I am not afraid,
I am not dismayed,
Because I’m walking in faith and victory,
Come on and walk in faith and victory,
For the Lord your God is with you.

Lyrics: Morris Chapman

Worship from 2017. I you have a few minutes more to chill out with God.

Slow down, take time
Breath in He said
He’d reveal what’s to come

The thoughts in His mind
Always higher than mine
He’ll reveal all to come

Take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He’s in the waiting, He’s in the waiting
Hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He’s never failing, He’s never failing

Sing praise my soul
Find strength in joy
Let His Words lead you on

Do not forget
His great faithfulness
He’ll finish all He’s begun

Chorus: Take courage my heart . . .

And You who hold the stars
Who call them each by name
Will surely keep Your promise to me
That I will rise in Your victory

Chorus: Take courage my heart . . .

Lyrics:  Kristene DiMarco


Tuesday 16th January 2024

“Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. 9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter.10 Who is the King of glory? The Lord of Heaven’s Armies—he is the King of glory. ” Psalm 24:7-10

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:10-12

God our King of Glory,

When I read Psalm 24 and these verses I quite often play the hallelujah chorus in my mind to try and imagine all heavens Armies sing Your praises! Psalm 24 was perhaps written for when David returned the Ark to the Temple in Jerusalem. The symbol of God dwelling in the midst of HIs people. They were trying to picture the magnificence, power and glory of the King of Heaven deigning to visit, let alone dwell, in a Temple among them.

Now with hindsight we also see Christ, magnificent, powerful over sin and death and all glorious, at one with the Father deigning to enter our hearts! Our little, sometimes wayward not able to be sinless hearts. And when we open up to this Lord of Heaven’s Armies and King of glory, we find acceptance, forgiveness and grace. Giving us purpose, direction, strength and so, so much love.

In remembering that there is no Temple on earth big enough to be Your dwelling place we are humbled that You choose to live in us by Your Holy Spirit. Cleaning out our little wayward hearts – because Jesus paid with his blood on the cross. Faith to battle with sin, the enemy and the natural ups and downs of life.

Help us to open those gates of our hearts fully to You. Help us oil them, keep them from rust and let You in every part of our lives. And help us remember yes, Jesus, You are gentle, meek and mild, but also the King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, invincible in battle. A friend but first of all Lord.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God, King of Glory,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. We bring our worry, our anguish, our joy and our hopes for each of them
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. For help to continue and grow.
For all those involved in Christian radio and TV, Song of Praise and leading singing in church.
For those drowning in debt and low incomes. Help and support.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family in their family difficulties.
For our government and their families. That Your will be done in these complicated times.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Peace an end to war.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For those who find themselves in deep water literally or struggling with health or trauma.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For all those who provide essential help in our community, food banks, district nurses, home helps, friends, neighbours, family.
For ourselves, a blessed day filled with contentment, support, and direction where needed.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 16th January 2024
I could not resist a clip of the hallelujah chorus at the end. I just love it.

Open the gates for the King of Kings (Men)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Women)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Men)
Open the gates for the King of Kings (Women)

Prepare the way of the Lord (Men)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Women)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Men)
Prepare the way of the Lord (Women)

Hosanna (Men)
Hosanna (Women)
Hosanna (Men)
Hosanna (Women)
Hosanna (All)

Hallelujah Chorus