Tag: Daily Prayer

Tuesday 17th October 2023

 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” Genesis 1:1-5 NIV

“And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:1-2 NIV

God who speaks to us,

A Bible teacher brought my attention to the fact that in Genesis one You spoke 10 times. And creation happened. Then in Exodus You spoke 10 commandments or ways to live as You intended. Both exact. It would be good just to look and see the order You created out of chaos and then the order of behaviour next to them!

First You started creation with light. You are light in all senses, understanding, revelation, healing, truth, righteousness . . . And the created light was not the planets they came later on day four (Genesis 1:14-19). First it was just You breaking open creation.

No other Gods but me. It is a statement of intent. There are no addendum no exception clauses and no elements of consideration. It is as black and white as the beginning of creation. And You had spent a lot of time speaking to Your people, rescuing them from Egypt and providing for them and revealing Yourself as the only God through the many plagues. Even death passing over their homes before their Egyptian neighbours gave them gold and gifts to leave with.

With light and revelation comes responsibility. I have struggled with the line of a hymn which says, “The reason I live is to worship You”. I may be considering whether my life is worship but one thing I am sure of You are God, more than that You are My God. Nothing, no-one else can take Your place. Thank You for creation light, the light of Your glory and that You are the only God and so, so good.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God who speaks to us,
We pray:

For family, friends, neighbours, our church family. Those living in our neighbourhood.
For our town, our local council and the health of our surrounding area.
For Gaza and the Middle East and a way to safe ground, peace and away from extremism.
For Putin and His driving forces and the end of war in Ukraine.
For help, relief and comfort for those hit by the earthquakes in Afghanistan, and for those in the devastated areas in Libya and Morocco. For the stretched aid and medical agencies.
For our world, for solutions to pollution, rubbish and the things we do that harm it.
For ourselves, for the sure and certain knowledge of Your love and leading, with thanks.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 17th October 2023

When I look into Your holiness
When I gaze into Your loveliness
When all things that surround become shadows
In the light of You
When I’ve found the joy of reaching Your heart
When my will becomes enthroned in Your love
When all things that surround become shadows
In the light of You

I worship You I worship You
The reason I live is to worship You
I worship You, I worship You
The reason I live is to worship You

Lyrcis; Wayne & Cathy Perrin


Monday 16th October 2023

“So the prophet said to him, “Come home with me and eat.” 16 The man of God said, “I cannot turn back and go with you, nor can I eat bread or drink water with you in this place. 17 I have been told by the word of the Lord: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’” 18 The old prophet answered, “I too am a prophet, as you are. And an angel said to me by the word of the Lord: ‘Bring him back with you to your house so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” (But he was lying to him.) 19 So the man of God returned with him and ate and drank in his house.” 1 Kings 13:15-19 NIV

“When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. 24 As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it.” 1 Kings 13:23-24 NIV

Father God,

The man of God had just delivered Your message to King Jeroboam and seen what he spoke about happen – King Jeroboam was struck with leprosy on His hand, then healed by prayer and the altar was split in two! Because they had sinned.

He didn’t eat with the King at his invitation and yet later took up the offer of a humble prophet. I have often wondered why this story is in the Bible? It is quite stark and gruesome. But then Your people had turned away from worshipping You and were flouting Your Laws. Was this prophet disillusioned. Was he now not really a good man or prophet? Or were You testing the man of God?

I may never have to perform such an important and dangerous task as challenging a king, but it has made me think. If in doubt, leave it out is an old saying that comes to mind. If he had just stuck to Your directions and gone home by another route (reminds me of the three wise men visiting baby Jesus!) he would have lived. But the lion standing by the donkey, the body untouched, surely showed the old lying prophet the consequence and cost of his lie!

Consequences. So keep us speaking the truth. Keep us questioning, even if good people give advice, if it is Your will. Thank You, Holy Spirit that You give us that peace when things and decisions are right.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Our Father,

We pray:

For family, friends, neighbours, our church family. Those living in our neighbourhood.
For our town, our local council and the prosperity of the surrounding area.
For Gaza and an end to killing.
For Putin and the end of war in Ukraine.
For help, relief and comfort for those hit by the earthquake in Afghanistan, and for the devastated areas in Libya and Morocco. For all the aid and medical agencies.
That all those who seek to deceive would be uncovered. Scams exposed. Crimes prevented.
For our day and week, smooth paths and smiles.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 16th October 2023
An old hymn and I couldn’t find the music. So today is a silent worship.

Be the matter what it may,
Always speak the truth;
Whether at your work or play,
Always speak the truth.
Never from this rule depart,
Grave it deeply on your heart,
Written ‘tis upon your chart:
Always speak the truth.

There’s a charm in verity,
Always speak the truth;
But there’s meanness in a lie,
Always speak the truth.
He is but a coward slave,
Who, a present pain to waive,
Stoops to falsehood; then, be brave;
Always speak the truth.

Falsehood seldom stands alone,
Always speak the truth;
One begets another one,
Always speak the truth;
Falsehood all the soul degrades,
Stains with sin and ever breeds
Evil thought and darker deeds,
Always speak the truth.

Lyrics: Alfred Arthur Graley



Sunday 15th October 2023

You’re the Lion of Judah, the Lamb that was slain,
You ascended to heaven and ever more will reign;
At the end of the age when the earth You reclaim,
You will gather the nations before You.
And the eyes of all men will be fixed on the Lamb
Who was crucified,
For with wisdom and mercy and justice You’ll reign
At Your Father’s side.

And the angels will cry: ‘Hail the Lamb
Who was slain for the world, Rule in power.’
And the earth will reply: ‘You shall reign
As the King of all kings
And the Lord of all lords.’

There’s a shield in our hand and a sword at our side,
There’s a fire in our spirits that cannot be denied;
As the Father has told us for these You have died,
For the nations that gather before You.
And the ears of all men need to hear of the Lamb
Who was crucified,
Who descended to hell yet was raised up to reign
At the Father’s side.

Lyrics: Robin Mark

“Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals] 2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. 4 So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, 8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb.” Revelation 5:1-7 NIV

God who is on the throne,

How often we hear You and Jesus being called the Lion of Judah. I do not understand all the symbolism and theology of Revelation but I do find it extraordinary reading. The end is definitely good! For one it reminds me that You have ordained the future and it is Yours. And like the garden You first created it is good in every sense.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered. And in the next sentence a lamb appears to have been killed. We can all relate to Jesus being the victorious one defeating death and the enemy. And yet we all need to know Him as the willing sacrifice who allowed Himself to be bound, whipped, mocked and crucified. Vivid pictures. Like the writer we too weep because we need someone to love us that much, to rescue us and to know for certain that our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

And we do. Because of Your Son Jesus. The Lion and the Lamb. Today is a good day to worship, praise and give thanks.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

We pray:

For family, friends, neighbours, our church family. Those living in our neighbourhood.
For our town, our local council and the prosperity of the surrounding area.
For Putin and the end of war in Ukraine.
For the Middle East and an end to killing. Send in Your peacemakers.
For help, relief and comfort for those hit by the earthquake in Afghanistan, and for the devastated areas in Libya and Morocco. For all the aid and medical agencies.
For the church that is growing, for the church that is struggling, for the church that is persecuted. For each and every believer to know for certain today, Your love, Your forgiveness and the assurance of heaven.
For us and what we need to live in faith and hope and joy today and this week.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.