Tag: Prayer for Today

Thursday 7th December 2023

“When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the Sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless.2 Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.”” Genesis 17:1,2

“Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live before you!” Genesis 17:17,18

“Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.“ Genesis 18:18

Father,

Its cold, wet, we have had snow and the days are short. But we look to You and worship. Light of our life. Our awesome, mighty God. Beyond our understanding. Great in power and majesty. And we can smile when we consider what You made on earth. New born babies, Hyenas, centipedes, snowflakes, oak trees, rhinoceroses, bluebells, flies! Flu germs may have come with the fall . . . but we will think about how infectious a smile is!

Here in the book of Genesis, Abram’s name meant ‘exalted father’. Embarrassing for a childless 99 year old man! You renamed him ‘Abraham’, which means “father of many”. More embarrassing but to reinforce Your promise of a son through Sarah. Abraham and Sarah laughed on several occasions at the promise, till it came true.

Just one of the miracles in Jesus earthly family line and ancestry. You kept Your word and Isaac was born. (Luke 3:23-37) Fulfilling the promise that one day all nations would be blessed through Abraham. All nations (us) not just Abrahams nation.

We smile and laugh with Sarah at her getting pregnant at her age. We are filled with wonder, awe and joy at the virgin Mary giving birth to Your Son. Through Jesus You smile upon us. Make that smile infectious. Fill us with joy as we approach the celebration of Your coming to earth this Christmas.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father who gives laughter,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. For their many individual needs and hopes. We pray the true meaning of Christmas will make then smile and know they are loved.
For churches as they prepare advent services and carol services that visitors will attend. May the joy of the season inspire them to learn more about You.
For those who turn to Your prayer in times of need – help them to meet with You through it.
For our Government, for the country to come first. The King, Queen and their family and a coming together to celebrate.
For Gaza and the Middle East, for a new miraculous way forward to peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to war, conflict and bloodshed.
For all those who need to know they are loved with Your everlasting, unfailing love today.
For all those who delivering help and aid in difficult times, war zones and places where there is famine, flood or just severe poverty, and the smile that shows someone cares.
For all those who give time to help others, prayers to support others, gifts to bless others.
For ourselves, we pray Your joy will keep us smiling and we will share our smiles with others. Thank You that Your joy is priceless and free.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship 7th December 2023
Hope you have and it makes you smile . . .


I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart to stay

I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart
I’ve got the love of Jesus, love of Jesus
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart to stay

I’ve got the peace that passes understanding
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart
I’ve got the peace that passes understanding
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart to stay

I’ve got the wonderful love of my blessed Redeemer
Way down in the depths of my heart (where?)
Down in the depths of my heart (where?)
Down in the depths of my heart
I’ve got the wonderful love of my blessed Redeemer
Way down in the depths of my heart (where?)
Down in the depths of my heart to stay

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (where?)
Down in my heart to stay

George Willis Cooke
CD: The Bambinis, Religious Songs for Kids,

Tuesday 5th December 2023

“Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 6 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 7 And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ 8 But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.” Luke 11:5-8 NLT

Our Father,

“Then teaching them more about prayer” . . . what an incredible little statement. Not what to pray but how it works. You did not give us lots of prayers to learn. No magic formula. You told the disciples, and us, to be assured that their requests would be answered if sincere. If we can trust that a friend would give us a loaf when it was inconvenient, we can trust You to provide what we need – if we shamelessly bang on Your door in our time of need! What a wonderful picture.

And as You never slumber or sleep, You would never answer with an excuse like You are tucked up for the night. I wonder if Jesus told this illustration with a smile on his face and twinkle in His divine eye?!

Help us to remember our answered prayers and grow in faith. If we are in a place where we are not sure what to ask, help us just to tell You and leave You to answer. Knowing that You are a miracle working Saviour. You do not measure out answers, we cannot use up Your grace. We are all loved to the fullness of Christ. No exceptions. We all deserve to receive grace, in fact grace upon grace because of Jesus (John 1:16)! Luke knew it was important to include this teaching about prayer. Help us to pray persistently while trusting You for answers whatever the situation and whatever time of day it is.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Just suggestions for prayer . . .
Our Father,

We pray,
For all our family, friends and neighbours. For their many individual needs and hopes. We pray with shameless persistence they will know the true meaning of Christmas.
For churches as they prepare advent services and carol services that visitors will attend. That visitors will be blessed and drawn to come again to meet You not just to sing about baby Jesus.
For those who turn to Your prayer in times of need – help them to meet with You through it.
For our Government, King, Queen and their family.
For Gaza and the Middle East, for a ceasefire and a miraculous future of peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. To see a future without war and a way to peace and justice.
For all those who need to know they are loved with Your everlasting, unfailing love today.
For all those who gather together for prayer in two’s , three’s or church groups. And those who pray consistently at home in their quiet moments. For the prayer rooms where there is 24 hour prayer 7 days a week!
For ourselves, we pray that You would accept our worship, bless our homes, our families, our churches, our neighbourhood, our town or city, our nation, our world, our galaxy with Your grace, healing and eternal life.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 5th December 2023

Make my life a prayer to You
I wanna do what you want me to
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers no compromise
I wanna shine the light You gave
Through Your Son You sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair
It comforts me to know You’re really there

Well I wanna thank you now
For being patient with me
Oh it’s so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I’ll have to trust
And just believe what You say
Oh you’re coming again
Coming to take me away

I wanna die and let You give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope You gave me
The love that set me free
I wanna tell the world out there
You’re not some fable or fairy tale
That I’ve made up inside my head
You’re God the Son and You’ve risen from the dead

Oh I wanna thank you now
For being patient with me
Oh it’s so hard to see
When my eyes are on me
I guess I’ll have to trust
And just believe what You say
Oh you’re coming again
Coming to take me away

I wanna die and let You give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope You gave to me
I want to share the love that set me free

Sunday 3rd December 2023

 “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the broken hearted And binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
6 The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.
Psalm 147:1-6 NKJV

Great Lord,

We want to praise You this first Sunday in Advent. Following on from Psalm 146 last Sunday this Psalm is perfect. You, God count the stars it tells us. You who made the stars individually. You called one of Your stars to speak astrologically to the magi and set off to search for a King. Not any old star a new one that those magi (possibly astrologers) found and followed.

We marvel, wonder, are amazed as we consider You, our God, You, who not only created the stars and galaxies but who knows all their orbits and gravitational pull and every detail. So You have no trouble knowing each one of us and even how many hairs we have on our head! (Luke 12:7) Your understanding is infinite (impossible to measure or calculate).

And even though You are all powerful, God of all creation – You choose to gently gather the outcasts, heal the broken hearted and lift up the humble. Because at the heart of Your power is love. Love for Your creation, for all You have made. So much love You sent Your Son to live and die, in this messy fallen world, for our sin.

But the wicked You will cast down? It is our choice. We can choose to know You who counts the stars, or reject Your love and forgiveness. We choose to follow not a star but You, through Jesus. Help us to both live in and follow You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Great God,

We pray,
For all our family, friends and neighbours. For their many individual needs and hopes. We pray they will know the true meaning of Christmas.
For churches as they prepare advent services and carol services that visitors will attend. That visitors will be blessed and drawn to come again to meet You not just to sing about baby Jesus.
For those who read horoscopes and worship created things, that they may see beyond and see You, the creator.
For our Government, King, Queen and their family.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord bring another cease fire into being and guide them to peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. End this war, conflict and bloodshed.
For all those who need to know they are loved with Your everlasting, unfailing love today.
For the loving way You lead us Your children both as a Father and in Your church family.
For ourselves, we thank You for today. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You the author an finisher of our faith as we begin looking to the anniversary of Your birth.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 3rd December 2023
Some of us may not be called to mission work overseas or to ministry but we can carry people to You in our hearts . . . in prayer . . . and touch those we know who live without Your love . . .

I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
I who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord, Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord, If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
‘Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?