Tag: Daily Prayer Devotional

Friday 24th November 2023

“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”” Luke 9:57-62 NIV

Sovereign Lord,

Jesus on His way to Jerusalem for the last time. And he met many other travellers who had heard His teaching. Luke considers it important enough to record almost like eavesdropping, Like we were there. Like today some had excuses and see Jesus transparent honesty. So we too can learn to trust You. You do not make everything look rosy. You do not enlist disciples under false pretences. Jesus had it tough and nowhere to lay his head. It may not be easy, there is a battle against evil and a race to be run.

The important thing Jesus stresses is to start and continue. We may not have to travel overseas, give up home and family but we can faithfully follow here. It is our response to what You have given us freely, full salvation. Your grace, Heaven and Your glory to come. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.”

But not just now, but I’m busy, but I’m already caring for people . . . You call us to follow not as goats with there but, but, buts. Rather as sheep who hear Your voice (John 10:27-28). Keep us focused and following You, our great and generous God and Saviour. No buts . . .

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Sovereign Lord,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For their many individual needs and You would guide their steps today for good.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches. Make them beacons of hope in the darkness of winter and world conflict.
For our Government, that You would be in the midst of it reforming it for the nations good.
For our King and Queen and their family and all the charities they represent.
For those in Iceland and the ongoing concerns and those not able to go home.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle, a strong, long pause leading to a new peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An miraculous end to this war, conflict and bloodshed, starting now.
For those in the midst of conflict, to have hope and a future and hear of Your love.
For all those who are considering Jesus, beginning to hear about Him to take that step from knowing about to knowing You personally.
For all those who need to know they are loved today.
For ourselves, thank You for a new day. Thank You for the day we met You and knew Your love. Refresh our hearts and cause us to praise today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 24th November 2023
Yes it will continue to crop up because this as almost my favourite hymn of all time. It says it like it is, allows me to recommit and the melody is just wonderfully simple.

Wonderful grace that gives what I don’t deserve
Pays me what Christ has earned then lets me go free
Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change
Washes away the stain that once covered me

And all that I am I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour Who loves me

Wonderful love that held in the face of death
Breathed in it’s final breath forgiveness for me
Wonderful love whose power can break every chain
Giving us life again setting us free

And all that I am I lay at the feet
Of the wonderful Saviour Who loves me

John Pantry
CD: The Gifts of God Series, Grace, Mission Worship


Saturday 18th November 2023

“The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. 39 An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” 41 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.” 42 As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father. 43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.” Luke 9:37-43 New Living Translation.

God of the mountaintops and the valleys,

Seems one day we can be full of faith and on the mountaintop rejoicing in You and marvelling at Your amazing grace and then the next -back down to earth with a bump. Heaven one minute and a challenging situation the next. Jesus and the three disciples experienced that. Well the disciples more than Jesus. Maybe a challenge to His patience but He never lost it.

A father in the crowd has lost faith because the disciples could not heal his son. The crowd around him was disappointed because they had come to see the show, a miracle. The remaining disciples were despondent because they had been unable to do what they did when Jesus had sent them out a couple of weeks ago (Luke 9:1-6).

Sometimes what we try to do just does not work, or what we have done in the past does not have the desired outcome. God sometimes chooses to work a different way. Here, there is a happy ending because the father in his helplessness recognises Jesus, their Master and takes His need directly to Him. It reminders us that we need to direct people to Jesus for what they need and not get in the way. Yes, Jesus was frustrated coming down the mountain and finding the disciples in a mess – but He sorted it out, healed the boy and restored him to his family. We can rely on You even when our faith is low.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of the mountaintops and the valleys,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For You to meet their needs and let us know if we can help.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities. Help them to make Jesus known by love.
For our Government, that You would lead, shape, and help the right people be in the right places somehow!
For our King and Queen and their family and all those who work in positions where they can be a force for good..
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of Your peace and reconciliation is needed.
For Putin and Ukraine. An full stop to political power seeking and an end to war and conflict and bloodshed.
For those in the midst of conflict, that they would hear of Your love.
For those on the mountain tops rejoicing and those in doubt, despair and difficulties in the valleys.
For ourselves, our needs for today and this weekend. And the times we feel down to be lifted.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 18th November 2023

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Lyrics: Edgar Page 

Thursday 16th November 2023

“Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.” Luke 9:28-32 NKJV

Yahweh M’Kaddesh, Lord who sanctifies (Ezekiel 34:28),

You set us apart to be holy and make and keep us washed us sinless and pure. Think of that! We thank You that You make us holy from the top of our head to the tips of our toes because we could never make ourselves practically, spiritually or mentally holy, sinless or pure! We could never be that good that long!

This miraculous event in Jesus life from Luke 9 tells us so much about Your relationship with us. Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him, three of His followers from the New Testament with him. Hot headed fishermen (Mark 3:17), wanting to be the greatest in Your Kingdom (Luke 22:24). You send Jesus two might men of the old Testament, Moses and Elijah to also encourage Him. Mighty men? A murderer who didn’t want to do the speaking to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:10) . . . and a Prophet who ran away when things were scary and felt very sorry for himself (1 Kings 19:14).

Being mighty men and women of God is not about being hero’s or superwomen. You choose the foolish and weak to show Your divine power at work in us (2 Corinthians 4:7). We are new creations, the old has passed away the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have our failings just like the disciples and the men of old . . . we just need to do our best one day at a time and pick ourselves up when we fall. And You renew, refresh and restore us minute by minute. That’s a miracle. Thank You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Yahweh M’Kaddesh, Lord who sanctifies,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For those facing difficult decisions, in poor health, needing healing and comfort. For those who need to step away from harmful situations.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities.
For our Government, that You would reveal sin, oust it and guide it, for the good of the nation.
For our King and Queen and their family and the work they do for the nation.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An full stop an end to war and conflict and bloodshed.
For those in the midst of conflict, that they would hear of Your love.
For those facing things that they would rather go round. Surgery, family difficulties, relationship breakdown, difficult truth. Making hard decisions for the best. Overcoming hurt and forgiving even where trust has to be rebuilt.
For ourselves, that we would know that there is nothing we have done that You have not forgiven.


In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 16th November 2023
A long introductions, but hold on they are beautiful words

I fear not, for the Lord is with me
He upholds His righteous hand
From His Word springs life, its drawing home the broken
He redeems the fallen man

Your grace is all I need
You are strong when I am weak
I will boast in the power of Christ in me
You are strong when I am weak

God, our love, transforms the low to mighty
He gives power when we are faint
Though we become dismayed in trials and persecution
Only One renews our strength

Your grace is all I need
You are strong when I am weak
I will boast in the power of Christ in me
You are strong when I am weak

We’ll soar on wings like eagles, we’ll walk and not be faint
We’ll run and not grow weary, our Father is our strength
We’ll soar on wings like eagles, we’ll walk and not be faint
We’ll run and not grow weary, our Father is our Strength

(Repeat 5 times)

Your grace is all I need
You are strong when I am weak
I will boast in the power of Christ in me
You are strong when I am weak

I will boast in the power of Christ in me
You are strong when I am weak

Lyrics: Response Band