Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 04/05/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Wednesday 30th April
Heavenly Father, thank You that no one can stop us preaching. They tried to stop Jesus but couldn't. When an angry crowd took Him to the brow of the hill in order to throw Him off the cliff we are told: "He walked right through the crowd and went on His Way"
When they tried to silence Him by having Him crucified, dead and buried, three days later He was talking to Mary and teaching two men He met on the road to Emmaus. Even the sign on the cross preached as You died: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". Written in three languages, so everyone could read it, Hebrew, Latin and Greek
Later He appeared to the disciples in a locked room saying: "Peace be with you" and showing them His hands and feet. He commissioned them to go and make disciples of all nations, granting them the Holy Spirit and power to forgive sins
They couldn't stop Stephen preaching even as they stoned him to death Stephen prayed: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit". Then he fell to his knees and cried out: "Lord, do not hold this against them"
They tried to silence the disciples but Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead - whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Saviour so that He may bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins"
They locked Peter in a cell but Your angel released him to preach. When Paul was in chains he continued preaching! "And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the Gospel without fear"
Lord Jesus, they can't stop me preaching. I can preach when I walk through the door into church, I can preach as I sing in worship, I can preach over coffee, I can preach as I walk out of the door and walk the streets. Thank You Lord that nothing can stop Your Gospel from being preached
Amen
Songs for today:
The heavens they preach
Love songs from Heaven
Tuesday 29th April
Heavenly Father, thank You for this reminder in Your Word: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work"
There are many ways that we can give; money for the ministry of the church of course is the obvious way we can give. Jesus spoke about a poor widow who came and gave her last two copper coins, saying: "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on"
Money is important, but we can also give generously with our time and talents too. We hear occasionally that time is money, and there is no better Way to invest our time than in the work of the church and the work of charities
Each of us has talents, skills that we have been gifted with, that can be used to help build the kingdom. "As you come to Him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him - you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ". We are involved in a rescue mission
Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost, that we were like sheep without a shepherd, that it is the sick who need a doctor; that He came to call sinners to repentance
Lord Jesus, You invested everything You had in us! Help us to give generously, money, time and talents to help You continue Your work here on earth today so You may reap abundantly
Amen
Songs for today:
Here I am wholly available
Send me out from here Lord
I the Lord of sea and sky
Monday 28th April
Heavenly Father, I was praying yesterday about the wonderful way our bodies are regularly replenished, while being aware that we are also gradually wearing out this earthly body; the replenishment slows down. Eventually our hearts give out and we die
Your Word however tells us a greater Truth: "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"
It is so easy to focus on this world and the physical things that are our bodies. It is so easy, and not unexpected, that we focus on the troubles that each day brings. Often those troubles are "light and momentary" in varying degrees, but all things must pass. Sometimes they only pass as life ends and we 'pass away'
There will be some who go to hospital today and whatever their ailment it will be fixed. There will be others who will only be offered the support they need to sustain their life for as long as possible. But for all who trust in Jesus, there is a hope that transcends all of life's troubles. Inwardly we can feel the power of Your Spirit, the strength of Your Spirit
As a friend of mine occasionally comments: "The joy that enabled Jesus to endure the cross is our strength". So, we can fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. "Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart"
Lord Jesus, one day I will meet You seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Trusting in Your righteousness and not my own, the unseen will be seen. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
The joy of the Lord is my strength
No greater love
Cornerstone
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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