Wednesday 18 December 2019

Christmas 2019 - The God who came to live with us


Our Father,
You have come to live with us.
We magnify you and we rejoice in your salvation.
You have looked on us and you have loved us.
You have broken into human history,
The mighty one has embraced frailty;
The holy one has swallowed sin;
The strong one has hugged weakness
The majestic one has stooped in service.
The infinite one has hunched in death;
You have brought down thrones;
You have exalted the humble;
You have filled the empty and emptied the full.
You have visited and redeemed your people.
You have raised up the strength of our salvation.
You have remembered your covenant and your oath.
You have become - God with us.
We are blessed indeed!

Our Father you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you,
Without you nothing is ever enough,
But with you we have everything we need.
Thank you for what you did that first Christmas.
Our Immanuel - God with us.

Monday 16 December 2019

Staying Awake - Luke 21:29-38


Father thank you that your Son’s word will not pass away.
Your word is eternal and true,
We can bank our lives on it.
May we not be weighed down by our desires and the cares of this world.
May we not be entrapped by that day.
Instead may we stand (ready) at the coming of the Son of Man.

Tuesday 10 December 2019

Do Not Be Afraid - Luke 21:8-28

Father
We are in danger of being seduced and led astray by false Christs.
We are afraid at the potential pain that awaits us in the future;
Afraid at the persecution and the terrors of our world.
May we bear witness.
Secure in the knowledge of your deliverance.
Waiting for the moment when we see you.
May we lift up our heads,
Knowing that our redemption is drawing near.

Monday 2 December 2019

A Shocking Truth - Luke 21:5-7


Our Father,
Our future is certain in your hands.
It is not a pleasant future,
But it is not a fearful future.
Keep us from being led astray.
May we not pursue false christs.
May we prove faithful under persecution.
May we bear witness.
Give us the words to speak,
Sure in the confidence that we will not perish.

Monday 4 November 2019

Poverty and the Poor

Father may we be a people whose hearts value release.
May we abolish debts,
May we not
shut our hands
close our ears
blind our eyes
shut our hearts
To the cries of the poor.
Keep us from unworthy thoughts and from ignoring their cries.
May we remember that we were poor but that you have made us rich;
And may we rejoice at other’s wealth gained at our expense.

Tuesday 29 October 2019

The God of my Heart

Father
We long to hear the word of commendation that you have for the widow,
But our hearts are like the rich young man we love our wealth.
Our eyes see into eternity only dimly.
But we are enthralled by the lure of this world.
Forgive us.
And change us.
Without your Spirit doing a sovereign work in our hearts we are doomed.
Grow in us a heart of grace, turned outwards, loving you more than loving our comforts;
And seeing others as people made in your image.

Wednesday 16 October 2019

Human Sexuality


Father in a world charged by sexual confusion and the trauma that this leaves behind;
Clarify our thinking.
Purify our motives.
Control our lusts.
Remind us of our freedoms.
Give us the joy of lasting permanent relationships 
That reflect your glory and your commitment to us.

Thursday 10 October 2019

Seeing vs Sight: John 9:1-41


Father, your Son is the light of the world
Shine your light into the darkest recesses of our hearts that we may see the Son,
That we may believe in the Son of Man.
Make us who are blind to our blindness, see
Even as you make those who appear to see, blind.

Tuesday 8 October 2019

Which rules must I keep?


Leviticus 19:19-37; Romans 7:1-6

Father your Son died to the law and in his death we have died too.
We no longer belong to sin.
Now we belong to you so that we might bear fruit for you.
Thank you that we are released from the bondage of law.
To serve in the new way of the Spirit.
Oh make us fruitful!!

Tuesday 1 October 2019

Light in a Dark Place - John 8:12


Father
Thank you that Jesus is the light in a world of night.
Though we walk in the darkness of death
You offer us the light of life.
May we flee to the light.
  Seek the light
  Love the light
  Live by the light
And let light shine from us
Amen




O God, I want light. My life is darkness.
Forgive me for living a life as if you are not there
Forgive my rebellion and wickedness
Give me light.
Give me life.
Give me Jesus.
Give me your Holy Spirit.
Give me eternity with you.
Amen

Tuesday 17 September 2019

Day by day God is working his plan - Genesis 24


Father as we see your hand at work moving history towards your purposes.
We confess that
we are working for our own glory
we seek our own desires
we want our own way;
Little realising that the joy we seek is not found there.
As you show us your hand at work
Give us confidence in your plan
Help us to trust your love towards us
May we align our lives in accordance with truth
And in so doing experience your joy and peace.
May our strivings cease, and our confidence and trust in you grow ever stronger.
May our agendas pale and wane as we are increasingly give ourselves to your kingdom and your glory.
We pray for Jesus sake
Amen

Tuesday 10 September 2019

Not Home Yet - Genesis 23:1-20

Father, your people are aliens and strangers in this world.
We do not fully receive what you have promised,
But our hearts are drawn to settle here,
Our eyes are fixed on the temporary,
Our minds are lured to the transient,
Our souls are lured by the present and the visible.
Give us ears that listen to your promises.
Minds that remember them,
Hearts that believe them,
Souls that are quick to abandon the pleasures of this world.
And give us a longing for eternity with you.
Thank you that your Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.
Come Lord Jesus come.

Saturday 7 September 2019

September 2019


The Bible says, husbands love your wives as Christ has loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Our Father we have not loved our wives in a sacrificial way. We have instead loved ourselves. We have not given ourselves up for them but have instead expected them to give themselves up for us. We have been selfish. We have not been willing to die for them. We have not truly loved.

“Father we confess our sin and ask for your forgiveness. Have mercy on us.”

Father we have sinned sexually. Our hearts have desired other women. We have secretly looked at images of other women; we have let our eyes roam and our hearts be discontent with our wives. We have allowed people around us to speak of women in ways that are degrading, depraved and rude. We have joked and laughed at gender stereotypes. We have treated women as sex objects as if they were made for our pleasure. We have not appreciated our wives, our sisters and our mothers.

“Father we confess our sin and ask for your forgiveness. Have mercy on us.”

Our Father we have tolerated thoughts of ‘the other’ in our minds. “Look at what they are doing. Look at those people,” we have thought. Instead of loving the outcast, the refugee, the widow and the orphan we have loved ourselves. We have tolerated hatred of people of other races in our own hearts and families. Forgive us. Change us. Transform us. Save us.

“Father we confess our sin and ask for your forgiveness. Have mercy on us.”


The Bible says
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus, Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross.

Our Father we confess before you those very many moments when we have wanted a better husband, when we have been discontent, ungrateful, moody, rude and even mean. We confess that we have not had the mind of Christ but have instead sought to get our own way, to dominate the conversation and elevate ourselves. We have sought power not humility. Rule and not submission. Greatness rather than the cross

“Father we confess our sin and ask for your forgiveness. Have mercy on us.”

We pray for hearts of love. Hearts that seek the good of our families. Hearts that are outward rather than inward. We pray for your mercy on our families and your grace in the place of our mistakes.

“Father we confess our sin and ask for your forgiveness. Have mercy on us.”

Father we confess those moments when we have gossiped and slandered our husbands – perhaps in our hearts; perhaps in our speech. Forgive us. We confess those moments when we have allowed others in our presence to degrade their husbands and mock their failings. We confess those moments when we have put ourselves first and demanded our rights because we are worth it – forgetting that you who is of infinite worth – instead submitted yourself to us. We confess that our hearts are far from you and pray that you would draw us towards you. Change us. Mould us. Make us to love more for your glory alone

“Father we confess our sin and ask for your forgiveness. Have mercy on us.”

Monday 2 September 2019

The God who Provides - Genesis 22

O Father, I don’t even know what I need.
I think I do.
I certainly know what I want.
But what I want is too small.
And what I need I can’t see.
So give me eyes to see what you know that I need.
Give me a mind to comprehend the magnitude of yourself,
The magnitude of my separation from you,
And the infinity of eternity.
As you provide the lamb for me, give me a heart of worship and gratitude.
As I am enfolded in your arms of love,
A recipient of your immense generosity and provision,
May I know you deeply and love you with all my being.   

Thursday 22 August 2019

John 17

Our Father, Jesus has
  given us eternal life
  enabled us to know you
  given us your very words
  he has prayed for us
  and God is glorified in us

Keep us in your name
Guard us, that the scriptures might be fulfilled
Give us the joy of your son
Keep giving us your word

Though the world hate us
Do not take us out of the world 
Instead make us to shine in the world
  Keep us from the evil one
  Sanctify us
  Send us
  Unite us
  And fill us with your love

So that your Son and You may be glorified in us.

Wednesday 14 August 2019

Will there ever be justice? Genesis 18:1-19:29


Father, 
you are the judge of all the earth.
You will do right.
You will sweep away the wicked,
And rescue those you have made righteous.
You will not let our wickedness thwart your plans.
You will not let age or time thwart your plans.
You will not even let death thwart your plans.
Bring justice, bring mercy.

Tuesday 30 July 2019

The God Who Sees Me Genesis 16; Psalm 139:1-16


Father you are everywhere present.
Unlimited in space and time.
You are Beer-Lahai-Roi - the God who sees me.
You are Ishmael – the God who hears me.
Even in the midst of our dysfunction and sin you are present.
You see all that happens and you will not be thwarted.
Though injustice prevails you will not allow it to conquer.
May that be an encouragement to me in the midst of pain and a warning to me in the midst of sin.
May we listen as you do to the Hagar’s of the world.
May we see as you do the weeping, abused and abandoned.
May we be a people that live godly in the midst of injustice
Amen

Tuesday 23 July 2019

God has made Promises



Genesis 15:1-20, Exodus 12:33-39, Joshua 21:43-45; Revelation 7:9-17                     

Father…your condescension:
·       That you should stoop and speak to a wicked world.
·       That you should treat us with mercy and grace and kindness when what we deserve is           destruction.
       That you should shine a light on the future that we may live with certainty.
·       That you should covenant to bless your people.

May we respond with faith!
May we live believing though we do not see!
May we act in accordance with faith, not live inconsistently but obediently.
·       As love
·       As light
·       Speaking truth
·       Radiating grace.

Choosing Suffering


Matthew 5:38-48; Mark 8:27-38                 

Father,
The cross stands as a word of your devotion to your world.
  It speaks of your justice.
  It sings of your mercy.
  It trumpets your grace.
  And it calls us to come and die.

But we don’t want to.
  We are ashamed of it.
  We do not want to carry it.
  We want to be left alone in our ease and our comfort.

Remind us today that we can gain the whole world and yet forfeit our souls;
  That we can desire to save our lives yet lose them;
  And desire to lose our lives yet save them.

Build in us cross-shaped obedience.
  Enemy loving grace.
  Extravagant generosity.
  Miraculous forgiveness.
  And sacrificial service.

Amen

Tuesday 16 July 2019

Suffering and Growth - John 15:1-11; Hebrews 12:4-11


Father you have joined us to Jesus,
Grafted us into the vine.
From eternity past,
You have granted us the privilege of your son abiding in us and with us.
We need nothing else,
You have given us your joy,
And your love,
We ask that we might desire to abide in you.
Of ourselves we seek independence and freedom,
We seek to live apart from the vine,
Keep us abiding,
Give us the strength to abide.
And may your joy be fully manifest in us
For your glory alone,
Amen


Wednesday 3 July 2019

Blessed not Rejected


Genesis 12:1-20; Hebrews 11:8-12                   

Father, you speak!
And blessing follows.
You have blessed a world of mayhem;
When what we deserved is destruction.
You are blessing a people for all eternity.
You have chosen us, anointed us, sanctified us, adopted us,
And poured your mercy upon us.
And soon you will glorify those you have blessed.
That we might proclaim your glory for all eternity.

Tuesday 2 July 2019

Suffering Hurts


Father bring hope and life.
May your grandeur be evident.
Your sovereignty our confidence.
Your justice our hope.
Your mercy our courage.
May we never be flippant about suffering,
Recognising the evil of evil.
Owning our part in the cause of suffering.
Repenting of our wickedness.
Striving towards holiness,
And ever camped at the cross for our forgiveness.

Sunday 20 January 2019

Day by day God is working his plan - Genesis 24


Father as we see your hand at work moving history towards your purposes we confess that
we are working for our own glory
we seek our own desires
we want our own way;
Little realising that the joy we seek is not found there.
As you show us your hand at work
Give us confidence in your plan
Help us to trust your love towards us
May we align our lives in accordance with truth
And in so doing experience your joy and peace.
May our strivings cease, and our confidence and trust in you grow ever stronger.
May our agendas pale and wane as we are increasingly give ourselves to your kingdom and your glory.
We pray for Jesus sake
Amen

Wednesday 16 January 2019

Father
Change my anger into grace
my selfishness into service
my fear into loving.
Change the desires of my heart

Give me eyes to see your salvation
ears to delight in your voice
affections that are warm towards you
and a life filled with holy and enduring actions

May your Son shine ever brighter
your grace be ever more precious
the cross be my beacon and my pillar
and you ever be the direction of my heart

Amen