Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 09/02/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Sunday 9th February
Heavenly Father, I guess that darts players start the game aiming to hit a double top, 40 and then try to score 120 and then 180. In golf the aim is get a little white ball into a small hole hundreds of yards away by hitting it with a club. In snooker the aim is to pot all the balls in the correct order and score 147
These things don't happen very often, and when I play they never happen. Usually after the first throw of the dart, the first swing of the club, or the first strike of the cue the aim of the game has changed. I am more likely to be getting the dart out of the wall, the golf ball out of the bushes and putting points on the board for my opponent because I potted the white ball
However I don't give up; I keep playing, hoping the dart will at least hit the board, I might keep the golf ball on the grass and I might pot a red, or at least not pot the white. One day I might pot a red and another colour if I am lucky
Lord, it seems, sometimes, that life can be like this. I try my best, but things just go wrong from the start! I prayed yesterday about being: "temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance". I try my best to be all of these things but so often I don't get them right
Thank You that in the games there are people cheering me on, along with a few comments about my ability, or lack thereof And in my life, as I try my best to 'run the race,' I am greatly encouraged. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"
Help me Jesus, to never give up! "Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart". Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
You know me yet You still love me
When I hear the praises start
Amazing love (How can it be)
And can it be
Saturday 8th February
Heavenly Father, when people look at us, and by 'us' I mean the Church, what do they see? Do they, and by 'they' I mean people who are not part of the church, do they see people who are: "temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance"
Your Word teaches that this is how we should be. It teaches that when people oppose us they: "may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us". Do they see a people who are loving, joyous, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, and gentle? Or do they see a people who are conceited, provocative and envious, irreverent ,and slanderers? When people hear us are they amazed at our teaching because our words have authority, guided by Your Spirit?
Lord Jesus, help us to be an open book, easy to read. Help us to be like a letter written by You, "written not with ink but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts". Our hearts! May we be in the world, but not of the world. To Your Father You said: "My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one". May we be sanctified by the Truth
Lord, may we grow in Your Spirit and in Your gifts so that more and more, as people see us and hear us, they see and hear You. Today let our hearts ring out with the cry of the Psalmist! "But let me run loose and free, celebrating God's great work, every bone in my body laughing, singing, 'GOD, there's no one like You'"
Amen
Songs for today:
King of kings
Graves into gardens
I will exalt You
Friday 7th February
Heavenly Father, I woke up very early this morning and I think I heard You say "Love is all about sacrifice". I began praying by writing, "Love is so often, if not always, about sacrifice" but decided to go with what I think I heard
I remember a TV series, from when I was very young, called 'Dragnet' where the introduction each week said: "Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent". My 'intro' today echoes 'Dragnet'. "The following scenarios are probably true; I don't know when or where they happened, but I'm pretty sure they did somewhere, sometime, and probably more than once"
'A mother turns up at her daughter's wedding even though she disapproves of the choice of partner and is there to pick up the pieces when it does all go wrong, but never says, "I told you so". A dad takes the children out to the park when he gets in from a hard day at work to give his wife a break because she has had a hard day at home. A girl looks after the girl who mocked her, abused and bullied her when she finds her drunk and covered in vomit in a toilet in a pub. A man risks his life diving into a river to rescue a stranger who has somehow fallen in. A husband carries his disabled wife to the car so she can go out in the sunshine for the day. A man in a red bandana goes into a burning building that is about to collapse because others need guiding out'
Lord Jesus, Your sacrifice was, and is, all about love. About Your life You said: "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again... The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many"
There are millions of stories that tell of love and sacrifice. Yours is a true story that tells us how much God loves us. Thank You for saving me
Amen
Video clip and songs for today:
'Dragnet' intro
How deep the Father's love for us
Thank You for saving me
No longer down - There is hope
The Naked City - outro
Thursday 6th February
Heavenly Father, there are many books, films, and TV series where the theme is eternal life. The quest for some sort of chalice that provides healing or perpetual youth is a common story. On TV, Dr Who is one, Star Trek has episodes about infinite life, "Tuck Everlasting", and "The Age of Adeline" are just two of many films looking at life everlasting
There are also many self-help books and podcasts that talk about how to live a better life; "I'm OK - You're OK" being one among many. Your Word, Your Book, the Bible talks about this in real terms, eternal life and how to live well. Your Way may not be what we expect. The Way to eternal life is through death. The Way to a better, more abundant, fulfilling life is through sacrifice
The Way to both of these is not through what we do ourselves but through what You have done for us through Jesus. Eternal Life is not a fantasy, it is a reality shown to us through Your death on the cross and Your subsequent resurrection. Death could not hold You, the grave could not keep You. Your Word tells us: "God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him"
Thank You, that when we come to You, we find what we need to lead a better life: hope, joy, and peace. You Word tells us: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"
Lord Jesus, You really are "the Way and the Truth and the Life". Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
What a beautiful name
Light of Life
The Way, the Truth and the Life
Wednesday 5th February
Heavenly Father, I was praying yesterday mostly about how we can get things back to front; how I can in particular. And also how You do. I also mentioned upside-down. I quite often hear that Yours is an upside-down Kingdom
Jesus told the parable of the workers in the vineyard where those who were employed late in the day were paid the same as those who had worked all day, ending with the comment: "So the last will be first, and the first will be last"
Lord Jesus, You said to Your disciples: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many"
At the Last Supper You took off Your outer clothing, wrapped a towel round Your waist, poured water into a bowl and began to wash the disciples feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around You. Peter asked: "Lord, are You going to wash my feet?" You replied, "You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand". Peter objected, saying, "No, You shall never wash my feet". But You responded: "Unless I wash you, you have no part of me”
I think Simon Peter later came to understand that he would need to be washed clean of his sin by Your blood, as he wrote: "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without defect"
Your Kingdom may seem upside-down, but I need to learn to live in Your Way to be the right Way up. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
See the Glory of the Lord
Christ the Key
From Heaven You came (The Servant King)
Walk with Him
Tuesday 4th February
Heavenly Father, I wonder how often we get things back to front, or upside down? I know I confidently passed on some information a few days ago which was back to front; I remembered, or rather misremembered, some information about life expectancy
I said the average was higher for men than for women, and when questioned, confirmed what I had said. I don't know why I got it wrong, whether I misread it in the first place or changed it in my head afterwards, but I certainly got it wrong. I apologise now to that person, those people, and to You. It is easy to become convinced that what we think or say is right and to dismiss those who question us. I've just done it again!! Talking about 'us,' all people, rather than me
Let me start that over again: it is easy for me to become convinced that what I think or say is right and to dismiss those who question me. I know I am not infallible. I know I am not perfect. I know I make mistakes. The fact I regularly miss words in the prayers I write to You is evidence of this
Lord Jesus, You seemed to get things back to front and upside down too. You said: "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth'. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also". To confirm that You meant what You said You continued: "And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you"
Later You added: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy'. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that You may be children of your Father in Heaven"
You are infallible and perfect; You didn't get things the wrong way round! This may be hard, but I have to take it on board and do as You say if I want to be like You. After all, You did exactly what You said we should do
Amen
Songs for today:
Christ the Key
From Heaven You came (The Servant King)
Walk with Him
Monday 3rd February
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus. Thank You that He is my Lord and King, but also thank You that I can say that He is my Friend and Brother
I remember a story about a couple of friends who had been out shopping all day, dressed very casually in T-shirts and shorts who went to a posh restaurant for a meal. When asked for a table for two the waiter looked at them and said, "We don't have any tables available". The room was nowhere near full. One of the friends then said, "You don't know who I am, do you?" The waiter, a little nonplussed replied nervously, "Sorry? I beg your pardon". The same friend then said, emphasizing each word, "You really don't know who I am! Do you?" The waiter, realising they had made a grave error, then offered them the best table. As they sat being served, the other friend asked very quietly, in a whisper, "My goodness, who are you!?" The reply came, "I'm a child of God. His Son, the King, is my Brother"
Your Word tells me: "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified". Being Your child changes my status from being a nobody to being a somebody
It can be hard to believe sometimes, but because of Jesus, You have called me, justified me and glorified me! There is no higher calling! "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will - to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves"
Help me to remember who You are, who He is, and who I am. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Oh the mercy of God
Christ the Key
When I hear the praises start
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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