Thursday 14th May
Hymn: When peace like a river (MP 757)
Prayer:
When doubt, despair or discouragement cloud our vision and threaten to overwhelm us, remind us, Lord Jesus, that through your cross and resurrection you have overcome all things, even the darkness of death itself. So help us to live as Easter people, with the joy of new life springing up in us, and your peace dwelling deep in our hearts.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 13th May
Hymn: I know whom I have believed (MP 279/SofF 220)
Prayer:
Faithful God, what a wonderful promise that ‘you are able’! – you are able to work through every situation, every circumstance that we face, and use it for our good. You are able to bring peace to our troubled minds, and your strength and courage when we feel out of our depth, or at our lowest ebb. Then, Lord, may we remember that you, and only you, are able, and put our hope and trust in your unfailing love.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 12th May
Hymn: In Christ alone (StF 351/SofF1346)
Prayer:
Lord God, in a world of conflicting messages and confused certainties, you are the One who holds all things together in a Trinity of love, offering us stability and security and direction in our daily lives. Help us to place our trust in you ever more firmly and discover the quiet serenity of Jesus, that is the gift of your grace.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 11th May
Hymn: There is a hope that burns within my heart (SofF 2558)
Prayer:
We all have our hopes, Lord – it’s just that we have this tendency to place them in things that have no real or lasting value, and so often they let us down. Help us to remember that only in you can we find ‘a hope that stands the test of time’ – a hope that is secure because it is based on your unfailing promises, and one which will never disappoint us because it is rooted in your unchanging love. Thank you, Jesus!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 10th May
Hymn: Indescribable (StF 48/SofF 1775)
Prayer:
Almighty and indescribable God, we see your glory, wisdom and power in your creation, and it fills us with awe, and inspires us to praise and worship you. But even more wonderful than this, is the way you have reached out and drawn near to us in Jesus Christ, and demonstrated your deep love for each one of us. Lord God, you are indeed amazing!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 9th May
Hymn: Calm me, Lord, as you calmed the storm (StF 624)
Prayer:
Still us, O Lord. Quieten our thoughts, calm our fears, and let your deep peace fill the very depths of our being. Then may the warmth of your love, your protecting strength, and the embrace of your Holy Spirit assure us of your presence.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 8th May
Hymn: I know who holds tomorrow
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there are so many uncertainties in our lives at this time – fears for the present, for ourselves, our family and our friends, but especially concerns about the future, and what the ‘new normal’ will look like. Yet, in the midst of all the unknowns, we have the assurance that you hold the future in your strong and loving hands, and that with you walking beside us there is nothing that we cannot together overcome. Thank you, Jesus.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 7th May
Hymn: Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King (StF 77/SofF 1241)
Prayer:
Forever! What an amazing thought! What a wonderful promise! Lord God, your love and your faithfulness are beyond our comprehension, more than we can ever hope for or even dream of. Thank you that we can put all of ourselves, all our concerns and the whole of our lives into your hands in total trust – forever!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 6th May
Hymn: Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart (StF 545/H&P 378)
Prayer:
Lord God, you are the One who gives shape and focus to our lives. With you at the centre, everything else finds its true meaning and perspective, giving us hope and encouragement both now and for the future. So help us to put our trust more firmly in you, for your love is unchanging and your promises never fail.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 5th May
Hymn: Blessed be your name (StF 41/SofF 1193)
Prayer:
It’s easy to praise you when things are going well and life’s pathway is smooth – but it’s not always like this, Lord, and we’re in such a moment now. We don’t fully understand what’s going on or how long this isolation will last, and we get conflicting messages that are confusing. So help us, Jesus, in your love, to look for the positive in the small everyday happenings that lift our spirits, and to cherish each one as a blessing from you.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 4th May
Hymn: All I once held dear (StF 489/CMP 799)
Prayer:
The thing is, Lord, that a lot of what we once held dear is no longer possible – time spent with family and friends, our church groups, our social freedoms. But then, Jesus, if we’re honest we have to admit that sometimes in our busyness we have left you out, or, at best, on the side-lines of our lives. So now, Lord, please use this time to do what you are always seeking to do – to draw us deeper into your heart of love, where we can find true joy and real freedom.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 3rd May
Hymn: How great thou art (StF 82/MP 506)
Prayer:
Almighty, ever-living, ever-loving God, in these challenging and unpredictable times it’s good to remember just how great you are. That you hold the world in the palm of your hands; that you hold us safe, cradled in your heart. Give us the faith to hand over to you all the anxieties of today, and to entrust to you all our tomorrows, secure in your promise that no-thing, no-one, and no circumstance can separate us from your loving care, through Christ Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 2nd May
Hymn: Pour over me (SofF1674)
Prayer:
Your grace, your love, your peace are sufficient for our every need. All we have to do to receive from you is to open our hearts, our souls and our lives to your Holy and life-giving Spirit, Lord Jesus, and you fill us to overflowing. How can we thank you enough!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 1st May
Hymn: Will your anchor hold in the storms of life (StF 645/H&P 689)
Prayer:
At the beginning of a new month, Lord, it feels as though time is passing us by – so many plans on hold, so many hopes unfulfilled, so much unknown. But your plans, your purposes for us, for your world, never change and can never be thwarted, and through Jesus we can be sure that, whatever the future may hold, we are held safe and secure in your loving care. Thank you, Lord!
Amen
Liz Stuart
