Tag: Start the Day

Wednesday 7th October 2026

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Everyone who sacrifices shall come and take them and cook in them. In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 14:16-21 NKJV

Lord of Hosts,

I find the end of Zechariah and the apocalyptic and symbolic writing difficult to follow and understand. And I am not the only one. He sees a future where there has been war and You have stood at Jerusalem (14:4) and the land has split open and water poured forth (14:8). Ezekiel speaks of water pouring forth from Jerusalem (Ezekiel 47). But he says it comes from the Temple.

Zechariah seems to be saying it comes from You it is no longer dependant on a Temple. Your Holiness will be there along with all nations and people who choose to worship You. We know that we are not dependant on a place or a building and we can come and find living water from You. So there will be a day when the children of Israel will be released from ritual worship to join with Your children in Christ. Together with Your holiness as our guide and all we do will be for You.

That day has not come yet but we know Jesus stood in the Temple and likening Himself to the water of life flowing from His heart (John 7:37-39). And we know that His Spirit pours into us refreshing us and bringing life. Zechariah also saw trouble and plague and war, and we look around and see the same trouble in the world today. So I leave what I don’t fully understand and like Zechariah look to the future when all will be drawn to You and Your holiness and we will worship together in peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 7th October 2026

Holy Spirit, living breath of God
Breathe new life into my willing soul
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole
Cause Your Word to come alive in me
Give me faith for what I cannot see
Give me passion for Your purity
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me

Holy Spirit, come abide within
May Your joy be seen in all I do
Love enough to cover every sin
In each thought and deed and attitude
Kindness to the greatest and the least
Gentleness that sows the path of peace
Turn my strivings into works of grace
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do

Holy Spirit, from creation’s birth
Giving life to all that God has made
Show Your power once again on earth
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see

Ephesians 3:20-21

Lyrics: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

Tuesday 6th October 2026

“For Tyre built herself a tower, heaped up silver like the dust, and gold like the mire of the streets. 4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out; He will destroy her power in the sea, and she will be devoured by fire. 5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear; Gaza also shall be very sorrowful; and Ekron, for He dried up her expectation. the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.” Zechariah 9:3-5 NKJV

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:9-10 NKJV

Sovereign God,

Not long now before we reach the end of the Old Testament and the silence of prophecy. But there are things You need to say to Your people that they may not fully understand, but really need to know. They have known how You were enabled them to take the promised land and the battles they won in Your name. They have come to understand that You fight for them. And indeed they saw how You judged the nations like Tire and Sidon bringing an end to them and those who defeated them.

Then You say how in the future victory will come in a new way. For all nations. A king, riding on a donkey. The sign of a king coming in peace. He looks meek and mild and gentle. But he is the One who will cut off the enemy. Dealing with the result of the fall in Eden – death itself. Then marring the way to the kingdom of heaven to those who oppose Him and do not wish His reign of peace and righteousness. You God will come to all nations with Your peace, to all men and women boys and girls, and rule in righteousness.

You are a mighty all powerful Lord and yet You still choose to come in peace to those who seek You. And we can know You and Your peace. Even me.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 6th October 2026

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
to me He hath made known,
nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
redeemed me for His own.

Refrain:
But “I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that He is able
to keep that which I’ve committed
unto Him against that day.”

I know not how this saving faith
to me He did impart,
nor how believing in His Word
wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
convicting men of sin,
revealing Jesus through the Word,
creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

Verse not included on video . . .
5 I know not when my Lord may come,
at night or noonday fair,
nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,
or “meet Him in the air.”

Lyrics: D W Whittle

Monday 5h October 2026

“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; and all we are the work of Your hand. 9 Do not be furious, O Lord, nor remember iniquity forever; indeed, please look—we all are Your people! 10 Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, is burned up with fire; and all our pleasant things are laid waste. 12 Will You restrain Yourself because of these things, O Lord? Will You hold Your peace, and afflict us very severely?” Isaiah 64:8-12 NKJV

“But you are those who forsake the Lord, who forget My holy mountain, who prepare a table for Gad, And who furnish a drink offering for Meni. 12 Therefore I will number you for the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not hear, but did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight.” Isaiah 65:11-12

God of righteousness and mercy,

It does us good Lord to read the Old Testament and Your great mercy in forgiving Your people over and over again and restoring them. Then in reading the New Testament we are overwhelmed by Your giving and giving and giving again. Our gift of salvation, acceptance and Love which cost You everything and us nothing.

But Isaiah reminds us it is not licence to take and do as we please. You know those who forsake Your ways. You read our hearts. You warned us that things would come that cause us to sin (Luke 17:1) Jesus knew we would always need Him. But woe he says to the one who causes another to sin. You know the difference between a slip, a trip and a disobedience. Keep us like the soft clay, Isaiah speaks of, in Your hands. Always being willing to be shaped back through the love of our Saviour. May we never offer praise or trust in anyone or anything else above You. Isaiah 64:8-12 is a beautiful timeless prayer and Isaiah 65:12 a warning to keep our ears and hearts open for Your answer and call.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Monday 5th October 2026

Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.

Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.

You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.

Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.

Jesus, Oh Jesus come and fill Your lambs,
Jesus, Oh Jesus come and fill Your lambs.

Lyrics: Eddie Espinosa