Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 21/04/2024
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Sunday 21st April
Heavenly Father, I have been reminded a number of times recently about how Jesus suffered in order to redeem us. The brutality of His execution cannot be forgotten. His execution was savage. His back shredded by the lash. His head pierced by the thorns. His face bloodied and bruised by slaps and punches, and covered in spit. His hands and feet nailed to a rough wooden cross. The nails harsh and splintered
His mouth dry. His heart bursting. Deserted, alone. Crying out, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" Which means, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" His words, for us, for me, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing". His last breath, crying out in a loud voice, "Father into Your hands I commit my Spirit"
A spear piercing His side confirming He was dead. Taken down from the cross, buried in a borrowed tomb, a stone rolled across, sealed, sealing Him in forever. Forever? So they thought. Who would challenge the Roman guards placed at the tomb? No-one! But in the morning the stone was rolled away!
Thank You, Father, for reminding me of how Jesus died. It is easy to forget what it cost You to send Your Son to die in my place. It is easy to forget how much He suffered
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for me, taking my place so that I am set free. My suffering is no more than a pinprick compared to Yours. May I never forget what You did for me when You died on the cross. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Above All Powers
The Scarlet Rose
The Cross has Spoken
Death of a Son
Saturday 20th April
Heavenly Father, even at my age, well, at any age, there is so much to learn. I am sure my grandson, now a week old, is learning new things every day, and has already learned a great deal. Every day when I come to meet with You I seem to learn so much. It is not so much a 'school of thought' it is more like a 'School of Prayer' and You are the Head Teacher, as in You teach my head, as well as being the Head of the Body, the Church
I remember as a youth hearing this saying: "The more I study, the more I learn; the more I learn, the more I know; the more I know, the more I forget; the more I forget, the less I know; so why study?" Thankfully, You keep teaching me anyway!
Thankfully, Lord Jesus, we have this promise from You: "The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you". You are the best Teacher ever! You have provided us with a Text Book, the Bible, which has in it all I need to know about living life to full. And You have provided devotionals, Concordances, and Bible Dictionaries, Interlinear Bibles, and different versions side-by-side, to help us understand
And in all of this, You are here, by Your Spirit, to prompt and guide so every day we can learn. There are so many voices calling to us, but Your voice, often gently speaking, even singing, is the only One I want to hear
Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You that I can speak to You, hear from You, learn from You, any time
Amen
Songs for today:
Voice of Truth
As High as the Heavens (The Voice of Hope)
Friday 19th April
Heavenly Father, if I was a betting man, I would bet that it didn't cross Thomas Chippendale's mind that he was creating expensive antiques when he made cabinets and chairs in the 18th century, he was just making cabinets and chairs
I doubt very much that it occurred to Beethoven when he was creating his marvellous symphonies and concertos in the 19th century that we would still be listening to them in the 21st century. And did Claude Monet ever think he was creating 'impressionism' and that his paintings would be worth millions after he died? I very much doubt it
But when You died on the cross You knew exactly what You were doing! You knew You were defeating death and changing the world forever; much more than Chippendale, Beethoven, or Monet. You were creating a new Way of life. Resurrection Life! Eternal Life! Over two thousand years later we would all be able to enjoy the wonders of Eternal Life
Not everyone can afford a Chippendale or a Monet, not everyone can play Beethoven, but everyone can enjoy Life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Life You give is inclusive, available to all! But it is also exclusive, it is the only Way to God. You said, "No one comes to the Father, except through me". We all share this world You created
We all live life here on earth. And we can all look forward to Eternal Life through the love of Jesus we all can share
Amen
Songs for today:
By Our Love
All My Days (Beautiful Saviour)
Thursday 18th April
Heavenly Father, thank You for everything. Yes, Lord, everything. You are the Creator of everything. Your Word tells us that Jesus is central to everything! "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him"
I know, God, that You are invisible to me. You are Spirit and I am flesh, blood, and bone. Lord Jesus, I may not be able to see You at this moment, but there was a time when You walked the earth, and people saw You, "the image of the invisible God"
The apostle John writes, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life". He heard You, he saw You and he touched You; You were not a vision, You were real, You were like John and me, flesh, blood and bone
But You were also there at the beginning of creation! John tells us, guided by Your Spirit, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind"
Thank You for everything visible, including me! But also thank You for the invisible: thoughts, hopes, dreams, angels; and Your Spirit, alive in me; in all who believe
Amen
Songs for today:
Creator
Everything
Wednesday 17th April
Heavenly Father, the first man, Adam, began living after You breathed into his body. The Bible tells, "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being"
We rely on You to give us life. I have no power within me, but Lord Jesus, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word". Not only did You create us from dust and breathe life into us, but You also sustain us by Your Word. Not only do You sustain us but You give us purpose, a reason to live. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"
And not only do You give us a purpose, but You provide all we need to accomplish Your will! You tell us, "I AM the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing"
Are we meant to be farmers, growing apples and pears? Or, perhaps, wheat for bread? You told the first disciples, "Come follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people". Our purpose is to catch people? You tell us, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you"
Help me to do all this, so that at the end of the day, all my days, I might hear You say "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Amen
Songs for today:
Breath of God
Great are You Lord
Well Done
Tuesday 16th April
Heavenly Father, Jesus said we need to have child-like faith. Some may see us as naive or gullible, but we need to come like children. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven". A babe in arms has no other choice than to trust the one who holds them. Help me to have the same sort of faith in the One who holds me
Lord Jesus, when people brought children to You the disciples tried to stop them, perhaps thinking You had more important things to do, 'places to go, people to see' but You said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these"
Help me to bring people to You; may I never be a hindrance, but rather a guide to Your presence. You are the One who we need in our lives
There are many ways that people try to get to God, but You are the only Way. You are the Light that shines in the darkness. Shine Your light upon me and through me so that people will be attracted to You and come, like children to find out why I shine. I can't ignite myself; I can't make myself glow; only You can make this happen
In the Middle East, may Your children glow too, so that both Jews and Arabs come to You. When You are in their lives fighting would cease, and peace would break out! You saw the people like sheep without a shepherd. Good Shepherd of the sheep, call to the sheep so they may come to You, like little children. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Lord I Need You
Jesus Changed My Life
Monday 15th April
Heavenly Father, we grieve over many things, most obviously over the death of a loved one. Even when the one we lose is a 'ripe old age' the sense of loss, and the shock, can be overwhelming. Thank You that the shock of the loss can so often numb our senses so we are not overwhelmed
I am thankful to You for the safe arrival of my fifth grandchild, a boy, Daniel James, but his birth heightens my awareness for anyone who does not have this joy. There are those who do not have children or grandchildren, and I can only begin to imagine their sense of loss
The saying, "What you never had you never miss" most certainly does not apply to this situation. In some ways, many ways, the loss of a relationship can be just as profound. When a son or daughter, a grandson or granddaughter, is living, but a rift has occurred and access is denied, I am sure the effect must be devastating
My heart goes out to those concerned and my prayer is always for reconciliation. Only You can heal a broken heart. Only You can bring peace to a troubled soul. You are a God of reconciliation. Jesus came so that we could be reconciled to You and I am sure it is Your desire to see people reconciled to one another too
Lord Jesus, although Peter denied You three times, You brought about reconciliation with him over breakfast on a beach. May You also mediate in broken relationships so that the night of sadness will see joy in the morning. Jesus, You are the Way Maker. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Mourning into Dancing
Way Maker in Hebrew, Arabic, English
Be Still My Soul
Hide Me Now Under Your Wings
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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