Tag: Start the Day

Friday 29th May 2026

“So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”” 1 Kings 18:20-24 NKJV

“And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”” 1 Kings 18:36-39 NKJV

Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,

We just have to visit this event on the journey through 1 Kings.. Elijah, reinforcing the truth that You, God, are still God of Israel as well as Judah. You are still their provider and their judge! You do not disappear because they ignore You. Elijah shows the Prophets of Baal up for what they are – shams. He then allows them lots of time to show themselves up and Baal as powerless.

You made Israel and Judah wait for a long time and many judgements till You sent the perfect sacrifice, on the altar of the cross, for their and our sin. Till Your time was right. (Romans 5:6). Just as Elijah gave You all the glory, Jesus shared His glory with You, His Father. He was the image of You in human form (Colossians 1:15). No matter how much water is poured on the message of the gospel, how much it is dampened down, Jesus Spirit still burns true, finding new hearts to heal and set on fire.

Just as the foolish trusted in Baal to send the fire, today many trust in all sorts of things to help them. Yes, we are sometimes still considered foolish by the world to trust in the message of Your cross. But we believe it is foolishness to those who are perishing, and to us who are being saved it is Your power, God, which strengthens us ( 1 Corinthians 1:18).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 29th May 2026
We are not waiting any more – we are living in Jesus now. This is one of the songs of the last decade which has stuck with me and I still like.

You are here moving in our midst
I worship you, I worship you
You are here working in this place
I worship you, I worship you

You are here moving in our midst
I worship you, I worship you
You are here working in this place
I worship you, I worship you

You are, Way maker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God. That is who you are
You are, Way maker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God. That is who you are.

You are here turning lives around
I worship you, I worship you
You are here healing every heart
I worship you, I worship you

Chorus: You are, Way Maker . . .
Twice

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop

Chorus: You are Way Maker

Lyrics: Michael Anthony Oluwole, Okoro Osinachi Kalu

Thursday 28th May 2026

“And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. 8 Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 10 Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. 11 Note that the acts of Asa, first and last, are indeed written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. 13 So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.” 2 Chronicles 16:7-13 NKJV

God of Judah and Israel,

King Asa started off so well and is generally thought of as being a good king as he is praised for his zeal in rooting out idolatry, repairing the altar of God, and restoring true worship in Judah. It is then a shame to read that when Baasha (king of Israel) came against him he ran to a pagan nation king Ben-Hadad for help.

Hanani delivered Your pronouncement, Lord God, to Asa. Even to a good man You need to speak truth. And Asa had lapsed in His faith in You. Suddenly he thought You maye no longer willing or able. Perhaps because he had grown older himself and weaker. And he was angry at his own failure and poor Hanani suffered as a consequence – in prison. The Chronicler makes sure we have all the details of the outcome. Asa gets a disease of the feet. Unable to walk upright? A witness to himself of hs damaged spiritual walk? He still is angry with You, God, it seems and only goes to the physicians. Not to You. So three years of suffering and he dies. Three years to swallow his pride. But no. We had three years of Jesus ministry to swallow our pride and seek Your face.

And healing? I do believe You still heal Lord. I trust I will always seek Your face first – then seek the doctors advice. Miraculous or medical – You are still the source of all healing. Keep us faithful and keep our feet on Your path.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 28th May 2026
From 1994. I am still asking and still receiving what a faithful, generous God.

Say the word, I will be healed;
You are the great Physician,
You meet every need.
Say the word, I will be free;
Where chains have held me captive,
Come sing Your songs to me,
Say the word.

Say the word, I will be filled;
My hands reach out to heaven,
Where striving is stilled.
Say the word, I will be changed;
Where I am dry and thirsty,
Send cool, refreshing rain,
Say the word.

His tears have fallen like rain on my life;
Each drop a fresh revelation.
I will return to the place of the cross,
Where grace and mercy
Pour from heaven’s throne.

Say the word, I will be poor,
That I might know the riches
That You have in store.
Say the word, I will be weak;
Your strength will be the power
That satisfies the meek.
Say the word.

The Lord will see the travail of His soul,
And He and I will be satisfied.
Complete the work You have started in me:
O, come Lord Jesus, shake my life again.

Say the word
Say the word.

Lyrics: Stuart Townend

Wednesday 27th May 2026

“In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. 34 In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun.” 1 Kings 16:29-34 NKJV

Father and Lord God,

We think Ahab and Jezebel cannot sink any lower in sin than their predecessors but You say they do. They lead and all Israel follows. Flouting Your commandments and warnings. In this atmosphere of anything goes Hiel, whether for himself or for Ahab, ignores Your warnings through Joshua and rebuilds Jericho. So two of his sons die, as Joshua foretold (Joshua 6:26). We do not know if this was accidental deaths or sacrificial. Whichever it was, it was the greatest cost he could ever have paid. Who would want to take that risk? What a terrible Father to have.

We learn to call You Father, from Jesus and the writings of Paul (Romans 8:15, Mark 14:36, and Galatians 4:6). In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus calls on You, as HIs Father. A Father who wants the best, has made plans, and will see them through. But for some, Father brings difficult and painful even traumatic memories, far from good. And all our Fathers had their human faults and weaknesses. Help us to be able to put aside wrong emotions and see You our God as our Good Father. The Father who is here for us, provides, is always available. Who draws us into His family and will bring us safe home. It does not mean Your commandments do not still stand or that You will not correct us, but that You do it for our good and with kindness. Help us deepen and cllarify our relationship with You Father..

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 27th May 2026
Both worth a listen. One from 1977 an one from 2026!

Abba Father, let me be
Yours and Yours alone
May my will forever be
Ever more Your own
Never let my heart grow cold
Never let me go
Abba Father, let me be
Yours and Yours alone

Lyrics|: Dave Bilbrough


Lyrics: JOSHUA STANLEY, GOODLUCK STANLEY, ISAAC OKONTE-JONAH, RICHARD PERE-OWEI TAMUNO, ASE MOSES.