Tag: Matthew 6:6

Friday 23rd August 2024

“Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love. Then we will shout for joy and be happy all our days.” Psalm 90:14 NET

“But whenever you pray, go into your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6. NET

Father of loyal love,

Some other versions use unfailing love or mercy but I love loyal love it suggest an unchangeable depth. Even the love from friends or our family can be strained at times. But Your love is loyal even to death on our behalf. Some days we just need and want to be comforted in our sorry state not needing to be challenged or lectured.

We just want to wake up and say good morning God, and let You enfold us and not have to care all the cares in our world – but give them all to You. Then if we do have responsibilities, or things we need to do, our day can be ordered by you. It doesn’t have to drive us, drain us or rule over us. We can dace the day with You, upheld and loved.

Give us those moments, like now, to come to a pause and allow Your thoughts into our thoughts. Your loyal love to be our shield, our buffer. Stop us rushing on without You. The cross, the empty tomb, the breakfast that You prepared on the beach after Your resurrection. Remind us we live in You, we go with You. Your loyal love is with us all day and every night.

Direct our thoughts, speak to us and hear our prayers. Enfold us in your loyal love. When we are alone just give us Jesus.

In His name we pray, Amen

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father,

For our close family.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our church fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). World kings, dictators, leaders and rulers.
For Ukraine. Please end war, soon. Reconcile Putin by Your Spirit with thoughts of peace.
For Gaza, all the Middle East. Solutions for a reconciliation and lasting peace.
For those suffering with the outbreak of Mpox across Africa. For vaccines.
For Your loyal love to be shown through food banks, orphanages, clean water, emergency relief.
For weary Christians to be revived, prayer groups see answers and hard hearts melt to see Jesus.
For us enfold us in Your loyal love so we know it, feel it, experience it and can face whatever the day brings.

In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 23rd August 2024

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

And when I am alone
Oh, and when I am alone
And when I am alone, give me Jesus

And when I come to die
Oh, and when I come to die
And when I come to die, give me Jesus

Lyrics: Traditional African-American
CD version: Fernando Ortega, Hymns of Worship, Word.


Thursday 28th Sept 2023

“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 NLT

 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God.” Luke 18:13,14 NLT

“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night.”
Luke 6:12 NLT

Omniscient (all knowing) God,

Prayer. There are as many opinions as there are books about prayer. I have friends who can get up early and can pray for an hour. I have friends who when they wake up in the night spent hours in prayer. I have friends who pray out loud, who quote scripture in their prayers and some who prefer to pray silently. I feel inadequate after speaking to them. Perhaps I am not disciplined enough or am too busy or lack concentration! And Jesus prayed all night when he had decisions to make!

Is it best to have a set time? I usually pray I will get back to sleep if I wake in the night. If I am up very early I am yawning all day. Why does the phone always ring or the diary show I need to be somewhere when I have set aside time to pray. Or I just need a cuppa . . .

Do You mind that sometimes I literally pray on the go, snatching moments before I do something? Or do you think, O last minute again! Should we have a set time behind closed doors to pray? I am always blessed after times with my prayer partner but we both have busy lives.

Help me find a comfortable way to fit my life round praying rather than trying to fit prayer into my busy life. Help me not to worry about how others pray but find my best.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Omniscient God,

Hear and answer the prayers we have for those we love and care for whether family by birth or faith. Or friends who are a blessing. Hear and answer their prayers. Help our church to become a people of prayer. Draw us together or pray, or at the same time wherever we are, to make the prayer meeting the power house that fuels all we do..

We ask You to speak peace and an end to war into the heart of Putin and all his military and financial leaders. We pray for all those working to bring aid and relief to Libya and Morocco where there is so much ongoing need. Bless my friends as they take a small experienced team to take help to one small village who they know and who need winter provisions.

We pray for our Government, those in authority and Royalty, as You said we should (1 Timothy 2:1-2).Guide them to make decisions for the best for all, so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by Godliness and dignity.

Thank You for all we have that blesses us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 28th September 2023
I know spending time in prayer is always worth it. But there always seem to be distractions and my mind is full of other things I need to do . . . this is a beautiful reminder of the value of time spent in prayer. Whether an hour – or 10 minutes!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

Lyrics: William Walford