Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 05/10/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Thursday 2nd October
Heavenly Father, when Simon Peter saw a miraculous catch of fish, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” This act of kindness and generosity was unexpected and undeserved, and caused Peter to recognise his sinful nature in front this Holy Man
Contrast this to the reaction of the Pharisees, supposedly holy men, when they saw Jesus heal a man with a withered hand: "Jesus said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus." All Jesus ever wanted to do was good!
The Gospel tells us: "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." Another passage tells us: "So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons." And the Bible states quite simply: "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work"
How strange it is that religious leaders would want to put end to all the good that Jesus was doing. How strange it is that despite the evidence before their own eyes they could not see the goodness of God at work, in fact they would even try to twist this goodness into evil! Mathew tells us: "Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see." Then Matthew notes that when the Pharisees heard about this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” What were they so afraid of? Jesus could do things they couldn't? Why were they so afraid? Because they were sinful men?
Lord, I know I am a sinful man, thank You that I can fall at Your knees and like Simon Peter hear You say: "Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” I don't rely on my goodness but Yours. Help me Lord as I seek to preach the Gospel and do Your will, to Your praise and glory
Amen
Songs for today:
Rivers of grace
Only Your presence
Victory in Jesus
Wednesday 1st October
Heavenly Father, thank You that I can come into Your presence this morning. Just being here, trusting in Your provision for today releases Your power into earthly and Heavenly realms. Sometimes I can be a bit like a dog with a bone! I come to You in prayer with a problem I have, offer it to You, but then don't let go of it. You want to take it from me and it's as though we tussle over it until one of us let's go
Because You are gentle, and because You do not override my free will, You do not use Your power to rip the bone, or prayer, from me. While we both hold on You cannot do anything to help me. If You let go my problem remains in my mouth and my prayer is unanswered. If, or when, I let go then You are able to begin working on the answer
I know this is a bit of a crazy picture, but it sort of explains why sometimes there is a delay in Your provision. When I trust in You, the invisible beings, see this and rejoice. This act of repentance is more significant than I realise. Holding on to something that should be Yours is a sin. You tell me: "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." When I do this Your power to care for me is released
"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." When I refuse to give You my worries I am being disobedient and the evil one rubs his hands in glee. "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them"
However, Your Word tells us this too, as You give us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” And Your instruction is clear, that I 'let go of the bone': "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded". I can't give You my prayer offering and hang on to it at the same time
Lord, release my mouth, so I let go of 'the bone' and then, I can sing Your praises and worship You and see You act. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Holy (Closer)
Deliver us
Lord release my mouth
Be still my soul
Tuesday 30th September
Heavenly Father, the preacher in church on Sunday talked about how the objective in many people's lives is to be comfortable; to get money in the bank, a nice house, a car and a big TV. He asked how does this fit in with Jesus' words to His disciples: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it"
I doubt if Jesus meant this in a literal sense, that a demonstration of commitment meant picking up a wooden cross and walking behind Him along the road. Nor do I think He meant we had to die in order to show our allegiance to Him, although that did prove to be the case for some, like Stephen, who was stoned to death while Saul (later Paul) watched
Lord Jesus, thank You for speaking to us in parables. Thank You that I don't have to carry a heavy cross of wood with me everywhere I go. I realise that there is something I need to carry, but again it is not physical, but explained in Your parable: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. I don't think You meant we could have nap, nor that we would have a physical yoke on our shoulders. This picture reminds us that there is a cost to following You, and that there are benefits
As King David reminded his people: "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases..." So, what is the cross to bear? Every day I have given up my own selfish desires and live my life the Way You want. Every day I need to allow Your Spitit access to my thoughts, my words and my actions so they glorify You. Every day I need to pick up where I left off the previous day with a new energy and enthusiasm for telling people about You, guided by the Yoke of Your Spirit
I may need to give up certain things that don't glorify Your Name. Living life Your Way will give me peace of mind and will eventually lead to eternal rest with You. This is my greatest comfort. So, Lord, to You, I surrender all. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
I surrender all
All that I am I lay before You
To be pleasing You
Monday 29th September
Heavenly Father, thank You for the prayer Jesus taught His disciples when they asked Him: “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” He taught them how to pray: "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours now and forever. Amen"
This is a perfect prayer, as one would expect from the One who is Your very essence, the same as You, One and the same. It includes everything we need to have a right relationship with You, and to live in righteousness. Firstly, it establishes who You are and where You are; it also tells us that we are Your children
It also reminds us that Your Name is holy, to be honoured in every situation. It recognises that we need You in our lives, Your Kingdom in us and that we should be looking to You for guidance, so that we do what You require, just as the angels do in the heavenly realm. We ask You to feed us. This is an open ended statement as we are aware we need physical food to live but also "every Word that comes from the mouth of God"
We ask for forgiveness, as we forgive others, even today to the same degree. If we want unconditional forgiveness we must first forgive unconditionally. Why would You wish to lead us into temptation? You wouldn't, but I wonder if this is entirely linked to the next phrase, "but deliver us from evil." A double whammy, don't let us be tempted and keep us safe from the "evil one"
Why are we reminded of, and why do we ask, all of this? Because we live in Your world and You are King; because You are Almighty God who is all powerful, the Creator of all that is seen and unseen, who sustains everything by the power of His Word, Jesus. And we pray like this so that You are glorified in our lives, not only today, but forever
Lord, help me to pray like this every day so I get, and keep, a grip on reality. The world and the evil one may try to tempt me, but praying like this brings me back to You, again and again. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
The Lord's Prayer - Andrea & Matteo Bocelli
The Lord's Prayer - children's version
Our Father who art in Heaven - Caribbean version
The Lord's Prayer - Jackie Evancho
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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