Tag: Daily Prayer Devotional

Monday 1st July 2024

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” John 3:1-4

Only wise God,

I love this passage not just because it leads up to John 3:16 but because its OK to ask You what may seem a silly question. And I am reassured that I too can ask You any questions I have. Even if others may think my questions foolish.

Nicodemus was not afraid to ask another question when he didn’t fully understand the first answer! You, in Jesus, patiently took him on a step by step revelation. You did not condescend Him or get cross or raise Your voice. Nicodemus later spoke up for Jesus when the Chief priests and the Pharisees spoke about arresting Jesus in John 7. Nicodemus also helped Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus body for burial and lay Him in a new tomb. The disciples had fled at this point but he was willing to risk his reputation, possibly His life?

It all started because he asked you a question. Help us to keep on asking You questions and wait for the answers. Nothing is too small or too large. Help us to be patient and have the same attitude when others ask questions.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Suggested for prayer . . .
Only wise God,

For our family, friends, neighbours. For their needs, some of which we know nothing about.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Answer their questions.
We pray for kings and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Princess Anne.
For the general election and members of Parliament who will serve their constituencies honestly.
For the NHS, the countries finances, education and employment.
For Paris and athletes preparing for the Olympics. All nations to compete together safely at peace.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Solutions for peace and the best for all.
For Ukraine, an end to war. Help and support for those in war zones and having to fight.
For schools, teachers as they try to fit everything in before the end of term.
For all those who will care for children during the long school holiday.
For our justice system, prisons, Christian Prison Chaplains and Christian release support agencies.
For us strength for today, and the answers we need for today and tomorrow.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 1st July 2024
Wisdom comes from being teachable, asking questions?

Be Thou my vi­sion, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleep­ing, Thy pre­sence my light.

Be Thou my wis­dom, and Thou my true word;
I ev­er with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Fa­ther, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwell­ing, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my bat­tle shield, sword for the fight;
Be Thou my dig­ni­ty, Thou my de­light;
Thou my soul’s shel­ter, Thou my high tow­er:
Raise Thou me heav’n­ward, O pow­er of my pow­er.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s emp­ty praise,
Thou mine in­he­ri­tance, now and al­ways:
Thou and Thou on­ly, first in my heart,
High King of Hea­ven, my trea­sure Thou art.

High King of Hea­ven, my vic­to­ry won,
May I reach Heav’n’s joys, O bright Hea­ven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, what­ev­er be­fall,
Still be my vi­sion, O Rul­er of all.

Lyrics: At­trib­ut­ed to Dal­lán For­gaill. Trans­lat­ed from an­cient Ir­ish to Eng­lish by Mary E Byrne.




Sunday 30th June 2024

“Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.” John 2:23-25 NLT

Miraculous God,

Many believed in Your Son because of His miracles. But He didn’t trust them because He knew what was in their hearts! He knew and still went to the cross . . .

John called Jesus, ‘Your Word’ (John 1:1-5), who was with You from the beginning and through whom all things were created. He is also called Wisdom, Your Wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:24). He knows everything all the time. That takes some considering.

You know all about all people. That is a sweeping statement. It could be seen as general. You know all about how people behave in general. But then John clarifies how You see . . . You see each persons heart. And You know our inmost thoughts and feelings and still love us, fickle as we are!

Today these verses inspires two requests. First that you find my heart faithful and help me keep it clean and pure. Secondly that You help me be able to know, who like You, can be trusted. It is good to know who we can confide in and ask for help.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggested for prayer . . .
Miraculous God,

For our family, friends, neighbours. For their needs, some of which we know nothing about.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Churches in our vicinity.
We pray for kings and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Ours and in other nations.
For the general election and members of Parliament who will serve their constituencies honestly.
For the NHS, the countries finances, education and employment.
For Paris and athletes preparing for the Olympics. All nations to compete together safely at peace.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Solutions for peace and the best for all.
For Ukraine, an end to war.
For those who are a friend in need or a friend who meets a need. For active friendships.
For us a good day to encourage ourselves, be encouraged by You and give thanks.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 30th June 2024
Sunday worship. Our best friend. Does not hold anything against us, understands us and loves unconditionally.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
  All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
  Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
  O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
  Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
  Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
  Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

re we weak and heavy-laden,
  Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
  Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
  Thou wilt find a solace there.

Lyrics: Joseph Scriven.

Saturday 29th June 2024

 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” 17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.” John 2:13-18 NLT

God of all,

Another incident that John records at the beginning of Jesus ministry. The other gospels place it later. He thought it important to show Jesus intentions? Anyway, it definitely happened! John says Jesus drove the animals out of the temple. A Temple dedicated to God, not a livestock market. The sellers did not riot or attempt to attack Jesus. Guilty consciences? Thank You that You speak to our hearts when we have wrong attitudes.

But those allowing it, the Temple leaders, they challenged Him. Not wanting to loose face. Wanting a miraculous sign and proof that He had authority. Rather than admitting they might be wrong. They did not say he was wrong, but that it was not His job! Some people just cannot admit to making mistakes.

Today . . . it seems to be the same. People do what others are doing and what they can get away with. Things become acceptable. But even where sin has become acceptable, we still need to hear Your voice driving us away from wrong and drawing us near to You and what is right.

Help us to be ready to admit if we may have got it wrong. Not to try and justify our reasons but come clean with You and put thing right what we can.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of all,

For our family, friends, neighbours. Touch their lives with the best of Your love and provision,
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Drop blessings before them and refresh them.
We pray for kings and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). Ours and in other nations.
For the general election and members of Parliament who will serve their constituencies honestly.
For our nations finances, future plans and development.
For Paris and athletes preparing for the Olympics. All nations to compete together safely at peace.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. Solutions for peace and the best for all.
For Ukraine, an end to war.
For those who need to forgive and be able to let go. Healing of the hate in memories.
Those who need to forgive themselves as God has forgiven them.
For us to check our hearts and see if we are harbouring any unforgiveness. Even if justified. We may not trust, may avoid for safety, report or challenge if appropriate but not become sour and bitter.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 29th June 2024
New to me but I liked it the first time I read and heard it. The authors life story, below, shows she must have been writing from personal experience!

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide
Oh, how precious are the lessons which I learn at Jesus’ side
Earthly cares forever vex me, while thy trials lay me low;
For when Satan comes to tempt me, to that secret place I go,
To the secret place I go.

When my soul is faint and thirsty, ‘neath the shadow of Your wings
There is cool and pleasant shelter, and a fresh and crystal spring;
And my Savior rests beside me, as we hold communion sweet:
If I tried, I could not utter what He says when thus we meet,
What He says when thus we meet.

Only this I know: I tell Him all my doubts, my griefs and fears;
Oh, how patiently He listens and my sorrowed soul He cheers:
Do you think He ne’er reproves me? What a false Friend He would be,
If He never, never told me of the sin which He must see,
Of the sin which He must see.

Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord?
Go and hide beneath His shadow: this shall then be your reward;
And whene’er you leave the silence of that happy meeting place,
You will surely bear the image of the Master in your face,
Of the Master in your face.

Lyrics: Ellen Lakshmi Goreh

The daughter of the Rev. Nehemiah Goreh, a Christian convert, a Brahmin of the highest class, was born. at Benares, Sept. 11, 1853. Her mother died in December the same year. Ellen was adopted by a Mr. Smailes but he lost all his property in the Mutiny in 1857. Ellen was then taken in by the Rev. W. T. Storrs family and brought to England, where she was educated. At 27 in 1880, she returned to India to take up mission work with her own countrywomen. She published: From India’s Coral Strand: Hymns of Christian Faith [1883]. The best known of these hymns is “In the secret of His Presence.”