Thursday 14 December 2017

John 1:14

Our Father,
Your Son, the eternal Word became human:
He became as us;
He became with us;
He became for us.
He settled among us;
     He enabled us to see him;
     He revealed you to us.
He is now as us;
But we did not recognise him,
And instead rejected him!
What humility!
What grace!
What condescension!
What mercy!
May it not be so this Christmas.
Instead may we know you! Love you! Worship you!
Amen

Thursday 7 December 2017

John 1 - Christmas 2017

Father,
It is a staggering thought that Jesus
The pre-existent one;
The co-existent one;
The Trinitarian son;
The intellect of creation; 
The spring of life;
And the brilliant light;
Embraced our smallness to become a man; rejected and killed on our behalf.

This truth is both exhilarating and devastating.
That he should live amongst us gives us hope, power, honour, meaning, joy and peace.

We pray this Christmas
Give us eyes with sight that we may see his glory.
Minds of comprehension that we may know his greatness.
Hearts of trust that submit our destinies into his loving hands.
Souls of worship submissive to his beauty.
Lives of adoration that are filled with generosity.
And love that explodes into wonder at what you have done.
For your glory alone.

Amen

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Ephesians 6:5-9

Our Father
Up ahead is a day when we will see.
We will see you.
And then we will know that reality is larger than what we see now.
Help us to see who we labour for.
Help us to see what really matters.
Help us to see ourselves truly.
And live in your presence as we work.
That you may be glorified.

Amen 

Wednesday 22 November 2017

Ephesians 6:1-4

Our Father,
You nurture us;
You train us;
You instruct us;
May we honour and obey you;
And submit to your Lordship of our lives.
May we be blessed by you;
And may this blessing overflow into our families;
May they be places of honour, nurture and instruction.
For your glory alone

Amen

Thursday 16 November 2017

Ephesians 5:21-33

Father, replace
Dominance with submission;
Narcissism with sacrifice;
Taking with giving;
Impurity with radiance;
Disdain with respect;
Depravity with holiness;
Ugliness with beauty;
Self-love with radical care;
Selfishness with love;
And conflict with peace.
For your glory alone

Amen

Wednesday 8 November 2017

The Surprising God

Our Father
You are a God whose son dies that we might live;
A God who gives that we might get;
Who serves that we might be saved;
Who speaks that we might know you;
Who empties himself that we might be filled;
Who suffers that we might escape pain;
Who pays that we might be ransomed;
Who substitutes that we might be forgiven;
Who declares us righteous though we are not!

 If we chose to live we die.
If we seek ourselves, we lose our souls.
If we serve our desires, we lose our hearts.
As we hold, we lose,
As we take, we weep,
As we lash out, we hurt ourselves,
As we worry, we fear,
As we strive, we miss,
As we serve ourselves, we become lonely,
As we become rich, we become poor,
And as we find ease, we find emptiness.

But when we die, then we live,
As we give, then we get,
As we suffer, we find joy,
As we serve, we find purpose,
As we forgive, we find peace,
As we submit, we find freedom,
As we live outwardly, we find inner healing,
As we pray, we are protected.

Father as we live remembering what you have done,
Help us to sow love where there is hatred.
Peace where there is war.
Grace where there is hurt.
Faith where there is doubt.
Hope where there is despair.
Light where there is darkness
Joy where there is sadness,
And life where there is death.


Amen

Wednesday 1 November 2017

Romans 4:1-25

Father,
You raised Jesus from the dead.
He was delivered up for our trespasses.
He was raised for our justification.
We believe it is true.
Though we do not see it,
We trust that you have credited us with righteousness.
Against all hope, like Abraham, we believe,
Keep us from wavering;
Keep us fully persuaded that you have the power to do what you have promised.
So that soon when we stand before you,
It will be a day of rejoicing and not of judgement.
In Christ’s name alone we pray.
Amen

Friday 20 October 2017

Romans 3:21-31

Father you have taken unrighteous us
And made us righteous.
We who have sinned and fallen short;
    Are justified;
    Recipients of grace;
    Redeemed;
    Atoned for;
At the cost of Jesus blood sacrifice.

You have punished our sin and changed our status.
    May we know this glory;
    Trust your grace;
    Turn towards your mercy;
    Enjoy your favour;
    Revel in our adoption;
    Celebrate our forgiveness!
We are grateful indeed.
Amen

Thursday 12 October 2017

Romans 3:9-20

Father,
Our need is immense,
Our hearts are black,
Our love is inward,
Our desires are self-conditioned.
Our actions are hideous,
Our speech deceptive,
Our mouths bitter.
Our feet are ruinous,
Our legacy vile,
Our paths strewn with conflict,
And there is no fear of you in us.

Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.

Lord have mercy on us.

Tuesday 3 October 2017

Romans 3:1-8

Father,
May we know you, trust you and love you as you are.
May we see you in your word,
Hear you in our hearts,
Trust your constant faithfulness,
Rejoice in your justice,
Tremble at your righteousness,
And live truly with your presence.
May you be to us
God the speaking one,
God the faithful one,
God the just one,
And God the righteous one.

Amen

Wednesday 20 September 2017

Romans 2:17-29

Father,
We are confident that we are right;
Sure that we are guides;
Self-assured in our knowledge;
Forgive us that we do what we teach against;
We blaspheme your name amongst the nations.
Circumcise our hearts.
Give us a desire for your law.
Inwardly transform us by your Spirit.
For Jesus Christ sake.

Amen

Tuesday 5 September 2017

Romans 2:1-16

Father, 
I am quick to judge everyone else,
And slow to judge myself.
I am quick to presume on your kindness and patience,
And slow to repent.
I am quick to forget that the day of wrath is coming,
And slow to live a life that is worthy.
I am deserving of your wrath and fury,
I do not do good and there is so little repentance in me.
My heart is hard and wayward.
I have heard the law but I have not done it,
And my conscience condemns me.
You know my secrets,
And they are vile.
Have mercy on me.
Do not treat me as I deserve,
And may your kindness bring me to repentance.
For your glory alone
Amen

Thursday 31 August 2017

Mark 5:21-43

Father, Jesus went with Jairus.
He turned around in the crowd,
He told her to go in peace.
He told him not to be afraid,
He told him to believe.
He told them to stop crying,
And he told her to get up.

Father may we reach out for Jesus
And not be afraid.
May we trust him when the questions rise
And not be afraid.

Amen

Wednesday 23 August 2017

Romans 1:21-32

Father,
We knew you but
we did not glorify you;
we did not thank you;
we did not worship you.
You have handed us over to the lusts of our hearts and the passions of our bodies.
You have given us over to debased thinking
And we are full of wickedness
We call evil good and good evil
And we approve of those who act foolishly
Forgive us.
Do not abandon us.
Have mercy on us.

Amen

Wednesday 16 August 2017

The God of Eternal Power

Father of Eternal Power,
You are the king of divine nature,
You show your greatness in your creation.
We are without excuse.
We have not honoured you as you deserve.
We have not given thanks to you for what you have made.
Our thinking has become futile and our hearts darkened.
We have become fools though we think we are wise.
We exchange your glory for the stuff of this world;
And your wrath is rightly upon us.
Be merciful to us we pray.
Do not hand us over to depravity and destruction
Forgive us we pray and save us because of Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

Wednesday 9 August 2017

The Righteous God

O God our Father,
You are Righteous,
And you have given your righteousness to us.
Give us faith to look to you alone.
Enable us to live by faith.
As you enable us by faith to live.
May your gospel be to us the power of God for our salvation,
And the salvation of the world,
As we come to know you,
Our righteous Father.

Amen

Romans 1:14-17

Friday 28 July 2017

The Glorious Gospel

       
Father God,
You promised,
Through the prophets,
In the scriptures,
Your Son.
Descended from David,
Raised from the dead,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
He is,
For all people,
By faith.
And we belong to him.

Thank you. 
Amen

Romans 1:1-7

Wednesday 5 July 2017

Forgiveness

Father of grace,
Our debt to you is unrepayable,
Yet you have willed to forgive us.
You have paid the price,
You have carried the cost,
You have chosen grace,
And you have taken us back.
May forgiveness seize our hearts,
And inhabit our world.
Start with us,
In our thoughts,
In our marriages,
At work,
In the traffic,
In our church,
And from our mouths.
For your glory alone.

Amen

Friday 23 June 2017

Faithful

Father of time,
The return of your son is certain,
But we live as if he is never coming.
We waste our lives on the trivial.
We expend our energy on the meaningless,
Because our hearts are devoted to ourselves.
Give us hearts fixed on you.
Give us such a vision of the future that its reality shapes our waking hours.
Give us such clarity of faith that we may live faithful and ready for Jesus return.

Amen  

Thursday 15 June 2017

The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost

Father of Compassion.
Your Son came to seek and save the lost.
Give us an understanding of the immensity of your grace,
And a comprehension of our lostness.
Give us hearts of repentance,
And hearts seeking restoration with you.
Give us a willingness to make restitution for our offences.
Also give us eyes that see the lost.
Ears that hear the lost.
Mouths that gospel the lost.
And souls that love the lost.

Amen

Tuesday 13 June 2017

Martin Luther Prayer

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled.
My Lord, fill it.
I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.
I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.
I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.
O Lord, help me.
Strengthen my faith and trust in you.
In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.
I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.
I am a sinner; you are upright.
With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness.
Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. Amen

Martin Luther

Thursday 8 June 2017

Love

Father of love,
We ask that you would give us hearts of love. 
Remove our innate selfishness.
Open our eyes to your love.
And so make us keen eyed of others.
Energetic of their needs,
And earnest to sacrificially love them,
We pray.

Amen               

Friday 26 May 2017

Psalm 3

Our Father,
You did not deliver Jesus so that you might deliver us
You are our shield and our protector.
You hear our prayers.
We rest because you sustain us.
We are unafraid because you surround us.
We ask for you to arise and destroy your enemies.
May your blessing be upon your people

Amen

Blind Bartimaeus

Father of power and mercy,
Your Son is the Messiah King,
The promised Son of David,
And the God of life.
Have mercy on us,
Let us recover our sight,         
And truly see Jesus.
As we truly see you.

Amen

Friday 19 May 2017

Psalm 1


Our Righteous Father,
The man who never walked with the wicked,
Who never stood in the way of sinners,
Or sat with the mockers.
The man who delighted in your law,
And meditated on it day and night,
Perished like the wicked,
Was blown like chaff,
Was subjected to your judgement;
So that we who deserve to perish,
Might be blessed,
Might flourish,
Might prosper,
And might be watched over by you.
We praise you for your mercy to us.

Amen

Friday 12 May 2017

Eyes for you Alone

Father
You have blessed me with money.
You have burdened me with money.            
My wicked heart is drawn to comfort and pleasure rather than to you.
Take from me the love of wealth,
And give me a heart radically turned towards you,
Deeply in love with you,
With eyes for you alone.

Amen

From Luke 18:18-30

Friday 5 May 2017

A Childlike Faith

Father of the weak,
God of the small,
Lover of the vulnerable and insignificant,
We pray for you to give us childlike and humble hearts;
May we know our need,
May we approach you in it;
May we love you as our all and only;
May we have eyes only for you.
May children be precious in our sight,
And precious in our hearts.
For your glory alone.

Amen            

Wednesday 12 April 2017

Easter Sunday

Father,
What a blessed relief to not have to carry that which is my due;
To be given freedom in place of punishment;
To be granted amnesty in the place of justice;
To be granted sonship in the place of alienation.
And to have these for all eternity is sweet bliss…
Thank you for the suffering servant, raised from the dead today.
Amen              

Friday 7 April 2017

Good Friday Confession

Good Friday Confession


Father, we come to you in our weakness, with our fears and our unbelief. We are guilty of prayerlessness and guilty of often being asleep to the realities of this life. We live in our own strength and we live for this world forgetting that it will all soon pass.
Lord, in your mercy hear us and forgive us.

Father we have often betrayed you and your son. We have doubted your love for us. We have doubted Jesus right to rule our world. We have not loved you alone. We have not desired to see the day when your son returns on the clouds of heaven.
Lord, in your mercy hear us and forgive us.

Our Father, we been slow to listen to you, we have been lazy in our Bible reading, and slow to give our hearts to your word.
Lord, in your mercy hear us and forgive us.

Our Father, we have been slow to pray and unwilling to throw ourselves on your mercy. We have failed to pray for our nation and our leaders. We have failed to pray for our brothers and sisters across the world.
Lord, in your mercy hear us and forgive us.

Father, we have been lacking in love for the poor. We have desired what others have and we have loved money more than people. We have not cared for those oppressed by political authorities. We have not cared for those who do not know you and are heading to an eternity separated from you.
Lord, in your mercy hear us and forgive us.

We have not been committed to personal transformation and holiness. We have let respectable sin reign in us. We have been content to be like everyone else. We have unquestioningly absorbed the values of our society and taken them as our own. 
Lord, in your mercy hear us and forgive us.

Lord’s prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today you 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 for ever

Amen
Good Friday


Father you exercised considerable restraint as your innocent son died in our place.
   Give us restraint not anger.
   Grace not revenge.             
   Peace not hatred.
   Meekness not arrogance.
   Mercy not vengeance.

As we worship you alone…

Thursday 6 April 2017

Isaiah 53/Palm Sunday/Easter


Father, to be great is to serve;
to be first is to be slave of all.
Your son came as the despised servant
To give his life as a ransom for many:
  May we know that;
  Rejoice in it;
  Revel in its liberation;
  Embrace its challenge;
  Repent of our self-absorption;
  Follow your example;
  And glory in your character.
For Jesus Christ sake.

Amen

Friday 17 March 2017

Isaiah 40

Father
We desire to see you
To know your might and to be your reward.
You have measured the heavens and weighed the earth,
No-one comes close to your greatness.

You have measured us and directed our paths;
You watch us;
You watch rulers and nations;
You blow on them and they cease to be;
No-one comes close to your greatness.

But for those who wait on you,
You grant strength and power.
You renew them when they stumble and fall.
Those who hope in you have their strength renewed;
They will soar on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not be faint.