Tag: Prayer for Today

Friday 12th January 2024

“The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Psalm 121:5-8 NKJV

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. 6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. 7 The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. 8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalm 121:5-8 NLT

Lord our shade,

Our keeper who watches over us. I need to put the two halves of this Psalm together in my memory because this second half is about Your help when we lift our eyes to You! In the Psalmist day the right hand side was vulnerable in times of battle because the shield was held on the left. (Apologies to left handed people – who are picked out for special mention in Judges 20:16, 1 Chronicles 12:2 for their expertise!) You shade us from harm in our vulnerabilities. We all have more vulnerable areas in our lives. They are often because we have been hurt before where we are more sensitive.

The sun can burn as the Psalmist would know. Alas, we do not have that problem here at present but the climate is something we need help with. And the moon may not smite us, but fears are often worse in the night!

Remind us that You will keep our soul and watch over our life inwardly and outwardly. Yes, You will preserve our going out and coming in. Not to nit pick, critique and make us try harder, but as Spurgeon beautifully explained, “Our soul is kept from the dominion of sin, the infection of error, the crush of despondency, the puffing up of pride; kept from the world, the flesh and the devil; kept for holier and greater things; kept in the love of God; kept unto the eternal kingdom and glory.”

In the NKJV verses 7 and 8, we read three times that You will preserve us. So it sinks in. You will preserve our lives. You were at our birth and will be at our end. We are encouraged by the Psalmist and Adoniram Judson (A great missionary to Burma) who said, “He has not led me so tenderly thus far to forsake me at the very gate of heaven.”

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord our keeper,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Hear and answer their prayers and hopes.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. Keep us loving all who come in through the doors.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family as they seek to serve the nation.
For our government and the decisions they make amidst a world of turmoil.
For Gaza and all areas around and their neighbours. The Read Sea and the trouble there.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Lead them to peace and end to oppression.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. Sudan, the Middle East, Myanmar, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For those who live in remote mountainous places who have suffered earthquakes, poor harvests or live on the edge of poverty. For their children and the charities who seek to educate and help them.
For our local community, neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For those who work in hospices, who care for people at home and who provide respite.
For ourselves, to hear and see the answer to prayers we have for ourself and for family. To be encouraged.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 12th January 2024
Beautiful Celtic music. There is quite a long introduction but it is worth the wait. . .

I lift up my eyes to the hills, the hills
From where will my help come?
My help it comes from the Lord, My God
Who made the heavens and earth.

Chorus:
He will not let your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
He who watches over Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord God is your keeper and
The shade at your right hand.
The sun won’t strike you by the day,
Nor the moon by the night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
And He will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out
And keep your coming in.



Thursday 11th January 2024

 “I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:1-4 NKJV

God who made heaven and earth,

This is one of those Psalms we know the first few verses of well. But like with many hymns I can remember the first verse easily but struggle with the rest! But these verses are my go to scripture when I want to counter those who worship the stars or creation and look no further. Yes, stood on the top of a lake district Crag , the Malvern Hills, Snowdonia or even little Mow Cop I can marvel at the amazing views, the wonder of Your creation. But worship You who created it. The children of Israel felt that high places were somehow more Holy, nearer to You. But I lift my eyes and find I am always with You. You who cannot be contained by this world.

We wonder is that Jesus walked among us and on the mountainsides He created. Actually living among His creation. This is where our help comes from. Your Son who, with You, created it and us. Then lived and died for us. You are not some limited idol but the Saviour of the world and the One who gives us limitless help. Sometimes we need scripture to paint the picture and help us regain our perspective.

We may lift our eyes to the hills, yes they are beautiful majestic and magnificent – but our help comes from You. Who formed them in love. We worship You today even if we have only little hills near us and no mountains, for You are our help day and night.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God who made heaven and earth,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. For their needs for today and joy and love.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. Keep us loving all who come.
For young people who see impossible ideals of beauty and fashion on social media.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family as they seek to serve the nation.
For our government and their families. Amidst the many words and promises raise up good men and women to serve for the nations best.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Lead them to peace and end to oppression.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. For peace and a new way forward. Gaza, Sudan, the Middle East, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For Zion, for Jerusalem today, to find a way for peace with its neighbours.
For those who live in beautiful remote mountainous places with amazing views but have suffered earthquakes, poor harvests or live on the edge of poverty. For their children and those charities who seek to educate them.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For our world, show us how care for it as it provides for us.
For ourselves, remind us of some of the beautiful scenes we have seen. From a flower in the garden and evening sky to mountains if we have been privileged to travel and see them.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 11th January 2024

I have not heard this for many years and reminds me again how powerful it is to sing scripture.

I lift my eyes up, to the mountains
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from You
Maker of heaven, Creator of the earth
Repeat . . .

Oh how I need you Lord
You are my only hope
You’re my only prayer

So I will wait for you
to come and rescue me
Come and give me life

Lyrics: Brian Doerkson
(Inspired by Psalm 121)

Wednesday 10th January 2024

“To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah:61:3

Lord God Almighty,

You tell us that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16). In the Old Testament it is sometimes difficult to see . . . but there are those verses which become familiar, personal, and which give us strength and comfort. I thank You for this one in Isaiah Lord.

Isaiah was talking to those who mourned for Zion, who looked to You in their sinfulness and rebellion for help in the present and the future. For me it is also a wonderful glimpse of when a rebellious world would be offered another way to return to You, personally through Jesus Christ. The name above all names. He now comforts those who mourn at their sin. We can testify to that. He gives us the beauty of His forgiveness in the place of guilt and sin. We do not have to walk about in sackcloth and ashes and hope You forgive us. You do. Your indwelling love is present even when life is heavy. We can praise You because You are our shield, our glory and the lifter of our heads (Psalm 3;3).

We can, and want to be, like righteous trees planted, rooted and grounded in Christ (Ephesians 3:17 KJV). Beautiful in the glory of Christ. And showing Christ’s glory to the world by our witness of His love. Keep us growing whatever our situation. Help us bring forth good fruit and not become unforgiving, ungrateful or forgetting to praise You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God Almighty,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. Thank You for every one of them. Bless them.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations. Keep us loving all who come.
For young people who see impossible ideals of beauty and fashion on social media.
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family as they seek to serve the nation.
For our government and their families. Amidst the many words and promises raise up good men and women to serve.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Lead them to peace and end to oppression.
For all areas where there is war, military oppression and civil war. For peace and a new way forward. Gaza, Sudan, the Middle East, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria . . .
For Zion, for Jerusalem today, to find a way for peace with its neighbours.
For our local community neighbours, doctors, dentists, police and schools.
For trees, large and small, providing fruit, roosts and nest sites for mammals and birds.
For ourselves and our personal needs for today and to know we are planted safely in You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 10th January 2024

Scripture put to music. So I can recall it day or night.

He gave me beauty for ashes
The oil of joy for mourning
The garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness
That we might be trees of righteousness
The planting of the Lord
That He might be glorified