Tag: It is well with my soul

Thursday 17th October 2024

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 NIV

“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:38,39 NIV

God of Peace,

Peace can mean so many things. Silence, lack of chores, someone taking over our responsibilities, sleep or maybe escape from having to think! Peace with You appears to be something deeper all encompassing and not reliant on circumstances. It is only available through Jesus. We cannot earn it or work at or for it. It brings freedom. No fear of judgement, Jesus paid the price. No fear of death Jesus leads us finally to heaven. No fear of being abandoned because Your Spirit lives in us. But sometimes it feels like the world, the enemy and life is determined to take it away.

You showed us that peace is not being in a calm place with mood music and eyes closed! Peace is not shutting the door and eating chocolate cake! Not going to bed to retreat! It is allowing You to be our peace amidst it all. Show us how to know and hold on to Your peace in our day.

In Mark You bring peace in the storm on the lake. Help us find courage and give us faith to know, if storms come, we can trust You. Help us to make good decisions not easy ones. To make peace not keep the peace at any cost. Jesus did not avoid Jerusalem He faced what God had put before Him. Dispel all our fears with Your presence and Your peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of peace,

For our close family. .
For our extended family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for..
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations. Mid week prayer meetings.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government. Lords and commons. Civil Servants.
For Ukraine and Russia.
For Israel, Lebanon, all around the Middle East.
For Sudan and Myanmar.
For peace, goodness, kindness to be victorious around our world.
For America and their political future.
For those facing financial and employment struggles. Health issues and family concerns. Peace and practical miracles.
For Your peace for our land and trees, so they rest ready to grow strong next year.
For those working in our local community shops, dentist, doctors to know Your peace.
For ourselves to listen to others today and their worries and give our own to You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 17th October 2024

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea-billows roll,
whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Verse not sung in video
(Though Satan may buffet, though trials may come,
let blessed assurance control:
that Christ hath regarded my helplessness estate
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.)

My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to his cross and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend:
Even so it is well with my soul.

Horatio G Spafford (1828-88)
CD1: Spring Harvest Hymns 3,ICC
CD2: Brian Doerkson, You Shine, Hosanna! Music.

Friday 3rd May 2024

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians 3:15

God,

I used to think of this verse as a kind of chill out and relax scripture. When we can take time out and be at peace and still. So the peace of God can come and calm and sooth and all is well again with the world. But as I grow in faith I realise life is just not like that Lord, not often anyway. This is a verse for when calm and quiet is being stressed out of us, worried out of us or pressurised out!

Dentist necessity. Fear of what might happen and fear of what I know probably will. I can do all things through Christ the Bible tells me – well sometimes I know the verse but not the courage! Then this verse became a battle cry within myself. I will let the peace of God rule me amidst the ruckus (disturbance). There are thousands of believers who have proved this in worse circumstances than I find myself in.

But unless I allow the Your peace, Lord God, to rule my heart I will not be able to know it! The battle is Yours. Mine is to submit to You. Sometimes the war is with principalities and powers and sometimes my own flesh! (Ephesians 6:12).

Help me to allow Your peace to rule in my heart. Help me when I am overwhelmed by irrational fear of the known and the unknown. And when we need human support, send a friend!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of eternity,

For our family and friends. Their hopes and needs for today and keep speaking to their hearts. Calm their fears.
For our church, Ministers, lay leaders, members. Carry them as they care for others.
For the royal family. Take away fear and carry them through this time, to full health.
For our Parliament, Local elections. May the outcomes be the best for the nation.
For the new Police Commissioners to have Your wisdom as they take over.
For Ukraine, we plead for peace. An end to war. May it be Your will.
For Gaza, a good future and talking towards a peaceful way forward.
For Sudan, Myanmar, all places of conflict and Military oppression. Hope for a future.
For countries where Christians are persecuted. Convert the persecutors as You did Saul to Paul.
For aid agencies and medical help in the midst of many countries turmoil. and danger.
For today, a peace that can rule over our earthly understanding of worry and fear and rule.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 3rd May 2024
A simple chorus I love . . .

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All his wonderful passion and purity,
O thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

Something more familiar . . .

Lyrics: Horatio Gates Spafford.

Wednesday 21st February 2024

 “I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. 13 I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12,13 NET

The One God,

I have experienced all sorts of times Lord, and I have learned, not always contentment, but about trust and about myself! I have learned the situations that I do not handle well and the situations I would rather avoid. Difficult people, conflict, dentists! Situations where I need to say something that not everyone will like or doing something new. . . I suppose for all of us it is something different. I would like to have Your contentment as my foundation so I do not drown in fear or feel deflated.

Paul witnessed and promised that we can find, in You, all the strength we need to do and to get through these things and times. He does not say we will not have human emotions or that we can avoid them! But even if the outcome is not good – sickness, false accusations, financial difficulties – You can see us through. We need not to be utterly defeated.

Teach us, as we go, God. Help us to own our emotions but rely on Your steadfastness to get through. Help us to hold up Your shield of faith to protect our hearts and minds. Give us confidence to know we are still in Your care in tough times and even failure. Show us the best way to handle situations when we feel out of our depth. Thank You that You are with us and for us, always.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God,

For family, friends, neighbours, be with them in their ups and downs and meet their needs.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, give them Your inner strength and faith..
For all the Royal family. Charles ongoing treatment. Kates full recovery. Healing of rifts.
For our local councillors and those who will be up for election.
For our government and MPs and their families. Raise up and bring down the right people.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Change Russia to end their attack.
For Gaza an end to killing. Bombard them with Your peace and open a way to negotiate a ceasefire.
For changes in Yemen, Myanmar, North Korea, Chine, Sudan, Syria and other countries where there is war, aggression, oppression, dictatorship, slavery.
For those who are in need of a vision of heaven and the life to come.
For those going through bereavement, big or little difficulties and life’s annoyances.
For us a good day, fresh faith, fresh hope and to see beyond todays irritations and frustrations.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 21st February 2024

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

It is well, (it is well), with my soul (with my soul).
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control:
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul.