March 2021

Wednesday 31st March 

Hymn: All the room was hushed and still (Love each other)   (StF 266/SofF 2211)

Prayer:

How would we have reacted, Jesus?  Would we have allowed you to wash our feet, feet dirtied by the dust of the world, made unclean by our walking in disobedience, grubbied by our lack of faith, our indifference to the plight of others, by our doubts and fears?  Surely not, Lord, for we know our need for you to wash us clean, not just the outside where compromise so often dogs our actions, but the inside too, where our thoughts and feelings dictate our response to others, and our response to your call on our lives.  So take away our pride, Lord Jesus, and let us come humbly to you, admitting our need of your cleansing and your healing love, and then send us out to serve alongside you in the world. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Tuesday 30th March 

Hymn:  How deep the Father’s love for us  (SofF 780/CMP 988)

Prayer:

It wasn’t only Jesus who suffered on the Cross was it, Lord God, for you also endured the pain and the anguish of seeing your only Son suffer and die, and all of it to bear the weight of our sin. And this fills us not only with amazement and wonder, but also with a deep sense of gratitude, Lord, as we come to terms with the fact that this was the only way for us to enter into a new relationship with you, and to discover new life, life guided and empowered by your Holy Spirit.  As we continue through Holy Week may we not turn our faces away, but gaze on the Cross with an even greater understanding and awareness of the vastness of your love for us, and respond by giving our hearts and lives to you. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Monday 29th March 

Hymn:   I will sing the wondrous story  (StF 323/SofF 278/MP 315)

Prayer:

Of all the stories in the Bible, Lord God, this one is surely the most precious, and even more so because it not only actually happened around two thousand years ago, but is still happening in countless numbers of lives, and in ours too.  We will never  fully understand all it meant for Jesus to come to earth, to live a human live, to go through so much suffering and even death on a cross, but we do know the difference it has made to us, both now and in the future.  For through his amazing sacrifice we have received so much – a new relationship with you, Lord, and life in all its fullness, for now and for ever in your presence.  So as we travel through Holy Week, help us to stay close to Jesus, and so share with him those last days on earth that our understanding may grow and our faith be deepened. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Sunday 28th March 

Hymn: Make way, make way for Christ the King  (StF 264/SofF 384/MP 457)

Prayer:

Lord God, as we begin Holy Week, we remember how Jesus entered Jerusalem on a wave of popularity, and was welcomed by the crowds as their Saviour and King.  What they didn’t expect, and couldn’t come to terms with was what Jesus had actually come to do and be. That his saving and his kingship were not connected to earthly power or triumph or gain, and that the victory he would win was, and is, over the power of sin and death.  We can be like that too, Lord, wanting you to fit into our plans and ideas, rather than how it should be, looking to your Holy Spirit to direct our lives.  So on this Palm Sunday, Lord, help us to get our perspective right, and to welcome Jesus into our hearts, so that he may become first in our lives. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Saturday 27th March 

Hymn: Nobody loves me like you

Prayer:

The trouble with being human, Lord, is that so often we let each other down.  We know we’re not perfect, that however old we are in years we still have a lot of learning and growing to do, and when things go wrong in our lives we all too often blame not only ourselves but other people too – and forgiveness in both areas is never easy!  It’s only when we look at you, Lord Jesus, that we see what we should be aiming for, for you love us with an everlasting and all-embracing love.  Whatever our past, however many times we have failed you, we know we can turn to you, for you accept us as we are.  You pick up the broken pieces of our lives and make us whole, and in your healing we not only find peace but the encouragement to do better.  So take us and shape us, Lord, so that we may become more like you, to your praise and glory. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Friday 26th March 

Hymn: All the way my Saviour leads me   (SofF 1162/MP 22)

Prayer:

It’s hard to realise that we have been in the grip of pandemic for over a year now, and that although the end appears to be in sight, we are still living with uncertainty and insecurity, unable to really make plans for the long term, never mind the immediate future.  But, Lord Jesus, we are so grateful that through all the ups and downs you have been with us, standing alongside us in the fear, the isolation, the grief, the loss of freedom that has impinged on us all to a greater or lesser degree.  Through your Holy Spirit you have comforted and sustained us, helping us to hang onto our faith and hope, for in our weakness you have indeed been our strength and in our anxiety you have given us your peace – and so we put our trust in you for whatever lies ahead. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Thursday 25th March 

Hymn: God on the mountain

Prayer:

You know as well as we do, Lord God, that there are times when our faith is stronger than others.  There are those ‘mountain-top’ days when our faith is strong and we feel we can cope with anything that comes our way, confident that you will see us through, and then something gives us a bit of a knock – it sometimes it doesn’t take much, Lord – and there we are, down in the ‘valley’, full of doubts and fears!  And yet if our faith was only based on the good times, when everything is going well in our lives, it actually wouldn’t be worth much, would it, Lord?  What makes the difference, and what’s so amazing, is that you are there for us in the dark times too, for it’s then that we really discover how much we can lean on you and find your love supporting us.  So thank you for the mountain tops, Lord, but thank you also for the valleys, for these are often the places where our faith grows most. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Wednesday 24th March 

Hymn: Amazing grace (My chains are gone)   SofF 1702

Prayer:

‘Set free’, Lord Jesus, what wonderful words these are!  When we look back over our lives and see how you have liberated us from the power of sin and guilt and assured us of your forgiveness; how you have taken away our fear and replaced it with the assurance of your love, and how in your victory over death given us the promise of Eternal Life, not only in the future but for us to experience now, we begin to realise just how amazing your grace is.  And all of it, Lord, not because of anything we have done or could do to deserve all this, but solely through your self-giving, and your willingness to suffer and die on the Cross.  As we reflect on this, Jesus, and the cost of it all, help us not take our liberation lightly, but use it to reach out to those who need to find the real freedom of life in you. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Tuesday 23rd March 

Hymn: When peace like a river   (MP 757)

Prayer:

You never promised us an easy life, Lord God, and all of us experience a mixture of calm and tranquillity with a fair bit of anxiety and struggles of one sort or another thrown in.  But what you have promised us is that, whatever happens and however we are feeling, you are with us, and that nothing can destroy that inner peace your presence brings. If we were in any doubt of this, Lord, we only need to look at Jesus, and the way he endured so much as he set out on his journey to  the Cross, and the very real suffering he faced, not only physically but in knowing that even those closest to him would let him down.  So we ask for that same strength, Lord, that when we face the trials life brings, we may stand firm in our faith, confident that nothing can separate us from your love. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Monday 22nd March

Hymn: In Christ alone  (StF 351/SofF 1346)

Prayer:

Many people in the world, in our own country and in our own neighbourhoods are searching for hope, Lord.  It’s been a hard time for all sections of society, big institutions and organisations and small businesses and concerns, young and old, families and those on their own – all have been touched and challenged by this pandemic.  There has been such a sense of fear and insecurity, of anxiety and isolation, but in the midst of all this, Lord Jesus, you have been there, giving us the security and the resilience we have needed to keep going.  Yes, there have been dark times, times when we have struggled, holding on by our finger-tips, but you have honoured this, Lord, and stayed alongside us, for you are our ‘living hope’ and when we put our trust in you we have the assurance that, in your great love, you will bring us through.  Thank you, Lord! 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Sunday 21st March 

Hymn: Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice  (StF 274/SofF 865/MP 995)

Prayer:

On Passion Sunday, and as we begin another week in Lent, we draw nearer to your suffering and death, Lord Jesus, and are filled with wonder at the lengths you were prepared to go to in order to bring us back into a right relationship with God.  We know the story well, Lord, but sometimes it means that unintentionally, we find ourselves skimming over the anguish of your suffering and death, and focus our attention on Easter Day.  Help us, particularly as we look back over the last twelve months and all the human suffering the pandemic has caused, to spend time reflecting on all you went through, and offer you both our worship and our heartfelt thanksgiving. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Saturday 20th March 

Hymn: He will hold me fast 

Prayer:

When all other systems fail us or let us down, when doubts creep in, and our faith takes a bit of a wobble, we thank you, Lord Jesus, for holding onto us.  This is not because we deserve it, or can in any way merit it, but solely because you love us so much, and in spite of the way we often let you down, you remain faithful to us. In our heart of hearts we know this, for you lived a human life, and not an easy life, Lord, but one that was marked by sorrow, by disappointment, by suffering and betrayal.  So help us, when we feel overwhelmed by the challenges we have to face, to turn to you in trust and confidence, knowing that you are always ready to hear our prayers and to give us the strength and reassurance we need. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Friday 19th March

Hymn: Loved with everlasting love  (MP 452)

Prayer:

Lord God, you have given us a wonderful world to live in and to enjoy, a world in which all of Creation displays your goodness and glory and shouts your praise!  And even more so because we know that all you have made, and all you have given us, is an expression of your great love, which we see so amazingly in Jesus, in all he said and did, and especially through his death and Resurrection.  And when we look at it this way, Lord, the beauty that surrounds us not only lifts our spirits, but reminds us of the love you shower upon us each and every day, made real to us through your Holy Spirit.  So keep our eyes and hearts open, Lord, so that we never lose sight of you!  

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Thursday 18th March 

Hymn: Is he worthy? 

Prayer:

It’s been a year when we’ve had many more questions than answers, Lord, and when those to whom we would normally look to provide those answers, and point a clear way forward, have often struggled to find the right solutions to the problems this pandemic has caused.  It is only when we turn to you, Lord, to your word in Scripture, to your love revealed in Jesus, and to your guidance through your Holy Spirit, that we see a deeper truth at work, and realise that, while there is much that is beyond our understanding, there is nothing that is outside your knowledge and wisdom.  And this gives us the assurance that you will continue to weave your purpose of salvation, of healing and renewal through the chaos of these current times, and by putting our trust in you we find hope. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Wednesday 17th March 

Hymn: Faithful One, so unchanging    (StF 628/SofF 89/CMP 85)

Prayer:

Amid all the changes we have lived through in the past year, Lord God, it’s so good to know that we can have complete confidence and security in you.  For while you are always working in our world, always creating new opportunities  and working in new and surprising ways, we can rely totally on your unchanging nature, on your love, on your faithfulness, and on your promises.  And because of this, whatever the future brings, we can be absolutely certain not only that you will be with us, holding us steady, but that you will have gone ahead of us, preparing the way, for you know the plans you have for us, and your grace is sufficient to meet our every need. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Tuesday 16th March 

Hymn: Bigger than any mountain

Prayer:

Sometimes, Lord God, we forget just how great you are!  We become overwhelmed by the amount we try to carry each day, often not big things in themselves, but they so easily mount up, causing us to become  anxious and over-tired – and then so much else gets out of proportion.  You tell us to ‘cast our burdens on you’, but they seem too much, or maybe too trivial, to bother you with, but in not doing this we actually make you out to be too small.  Remind us constantly, Lord, just how much you love us, and how nothing is beyond your power, your care and your concern – indeed that in all things, and that means ‘all’, you are always working for our good.  Thank you! 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Monday 15th March

Hymn: My Lighthouse  

Prayer:

Lord God, we don’t know what this new week will bring, the challenges we may have to face, for ourselves or those close to us, and the demands on us this will make.  What we can be certain of, though, is that you will be with us in and through it all, that your love will sustain us, and that you will give us the strength, the courage and the patience we need.  Thank you that we can always look to you to guide us and to show us the way forward, for your light shines brightest in the dark places, and often it is in our struggles that we more deeply feel your peace. So we put our trust in you, our faithful God, for you never let us down, or let us go. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Sunday 14th March 

Hymn: God the uncreated one  

Prayer:

As we approach you today, Lord God, we come in awe and wonder as we realise afresh just how great you are.  We cannot fathom the mystery of your Being, our minds and our imaginations can’t stretch back to before the dawn of time and space, but we know by faith that you have always been there, bringing light and order, life and hope. We see this made flesh in Jesus, in his life and death and Resurrection, but even more than this, Lord, we know from our own experience that, in your Holy Spirit, throughout our lives your love has never ceased to guide and shape us, even when we weren’t aware of your presence.  As we offer you our worship, may this not only be from our lips but shown in lives lived to your praise and glory. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Saturday 13th March 

Hymn: Take this moment, sign and space  (StF 513)

Prayer:

As another week draws to its close, Lord Jesus, there is a sense of weariness, perhaps because it has been a busy time, but maybe also because we are tired of the restrictions we are living under, the way each day can seem very like the one before, and the weeks have drifted into months with very little change or much to show for them.  And so we look to you to make the moments meaningful, to make time count, and to give a focus and a purpose to our lives.  As we travel through Lent, we ask you to help us engage with that journey you took, Jesus, knowing that although it was a journey through suffering and death, it also led to Resurrection and Life.  And all this gives us hope, Lord, because through your love, we know that you are not only with us now but will bring us through to new life and light and joy. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Friday 12th March 

Hymn: My hope is built on nothing less

Prayer:

It can be so tempting, Lord, to build our lives on the values of the society we life in.  We see other people achieving the goals we have dreamed of, perhaps a high-ranking job, a status and a lifestyle that means they don’t have to think twice about satisfying their material needs or aspirations.  And yet, at the end of the day, we know that true wealth and peace of mind can only be found in you, Jesus, for only faith in you can offer us life in all its fullness, that stability and security that makes life meaningful and gives purpose and hope, not only for now but for the future.  So help us, Lord, to build our lives on your eternal promises, in the certainty that they will never let us down. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Thursday 11th March

Hymn: You are my strength (You are my all in all)   CMP 1019

Prayer:

For some of us over the past year, Lord, our faith has taken a bit of a pounding.  There have been so many unanswered questions, so much which has tested us, and perhaps made us wonder where you are in the midst of all the suffering and fear.  And yet in those times when, in our anxiety and distress, we have turned to you we have discovered you there, not always in obvious ways, Lord, but maybe through the kindness of a stranger, a word or a smile, a glimpse of beauty, a sense of peace, and we have known it was you reaching out to us, giving us the strength and the reassurance we needed, and reminding us of your love and care.  So thank you, Jesus, even for those times of weakness, for they have so often become vehicles of your grace. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Wednesday 10th March 

Hymn: Help somebody cry

Prayer:

Sometimes we feel so helpless, Lord.  We see people in trouble, in pain, in distress, and sometimes even though it’s our own family and friends, we often don’t know what to do, what to say, and easy platitudes are never enough.  We don’t have the answers to the many problems we have to face, Lord Jesus, but we do know that because you suffered you understand how it feels when life hurts, and you stand alongside all who are going through difficult times.  So build up our faith, Lord, that we may hold and strengthen others, and experience the peace and the hope that you promise to all who put their trust in you. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Tuesday 9th March

Hymn: Sing to the Lord  (SofF 2025)

Prayer:

Lord God, there are so many reasons to praise and thank you.  We see your wisdom and your goodness in the beauty of all you have made, and we want to join in that song that all creation sings of your glory.  But we have even more reason to lift our voices, Lord, for you have demonstrated your faithfulness and your kindness in ways that move and amaze us, in the great love you have shown us through Jesus Christ.  As we travel through this third week of Lent and follow his journey to the Cross, we are humbled by your mercy and generosity – that you should care so much for us and want us to be one with you, we who have so often let you down.  Thank you, Lord, that in spite of our failings and the poverty of our faith you never give up on us! 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Monday 8th March 

Hymn: How great thou art   (StF 82/SofF 425/MP 506)

Prayer:

Awesome God, we see your glory so clearly displayed in the world around us in ways that amaze us, capture our imaginations, and often leave us breathless in wonder.  And for many of us, Lord, it has been your faithfulness in the turning of the seasons, and your goodness seen in the beauty of nature that has been a lifeline in the last year, lifting our spirits, and pointing us to a greater power at work, your power, Lord, the power of life and love.  As we travel through Lent and approach the Cross and then celebrate the victory of the Resurrection, it is this promise of the love and the new life and that we see so clearly in Jesus that beckons us forward, and gives us the strength and the focus we need to carry on, sure that you are with us now, and will be there for us whatever the future may hold. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Sunday 7th March 

Hymn: Beyond these walls of worship  (StF 547)

Prayer:

Lord God, we so look forward to being together on this, your day, and though we are worshipping you in our separate ‘bubbles’ at the moment, we know that eventually we will be in our churches once more, able to join our voices in songs of praise.  But this is not what it’s really all about, is it Lord, because you are not confined by the walls of a building, or by the perimeter of our computer screens!  You are out there in the world, going ahead of us into our communities and neighbourhoods, and calling us to join you in the work you are already doing in places and among people, and in ways that are often beyond what we would think possible.  So fire us up and build us up, Lord, and lead us by your Holy Spirit, so that when we are freed from current restrictions, we will be ready to obey your call. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Saturday 6th March 

Hymn: Just Be Held 

Prayer:

Maybe for some of us this has been a tough week.  We can see a brighter future when restrictions will be eased, when we will be able to see and, hopefully, even hug family and friends, when we will be able to do all those things that we have so missed.  But actually, Lord, it’s not like that right now, and there is still fear about, isolation, and, for many, anxiety about what shape the future is going to take, for our worship, our world, our jobs, for our children, and so on.  So this day, Lord Jesus, this moment, we just ask you to hold us, to reassure us, to remind us how much you love us;  that you want to carry the burdens that weigh us down, and are waiting for us to surrender them and ourselves to your care.  So we come gladly to you, Lord, and open our hearts and our lives to your presence and peace. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Friday 5th March 

Hymn: The perfect wisdom of our God  (SofF 2554)

Prayer:

We listen to the politicians, we listen to the scientists, we listen to the experts, but, at the end of the day, we realise that there is only One who has real wisdom and understanding, and that is you, Lord God.  For you are the one who brought the world into being, who created life and light and who created us and loves us, and therefore it is only when we put our trust in you, in your word and in your way – that way so clearly revealed in Jesus Christ – that the present and the future contains reality and certainty.  In the midst of all that is going on in the world, Lord, help us to hold steadfastly to this one, sure truth, and in this find the hope and security we need. 

Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Thursday 4th March 

Hymn:  Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Prayer:

We’ve been through a lot, Lord, over the past year.  Many have lost loved ones, without the chance to say ‘goodbye’; so many others have endured Covid-related illness, and the long lasting effects that linger on.  Some have lost jobs; young people have lost not only a normal education, but the social life that goes with it.  And all of us have had to give up so many of the freedoms that we have taken for granted, and the sense of ‘isolation’ that comes from keeping others at a distance.  Yet you have been there, Jesus; you are not defeated by a pandemic – indeed, you are the source of life, Life that is full and free.  And with you living in us, Lord, we can experience that life too, which doesn’t reduce the difficulties, or remove the sadness, but enables us to find the wherewithal to keep going, knowing that in our weakness and vulnerability you will supply all the resources we need.  Thank you, Lord! 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Wednesday 3rd March 

Hymn: Safe in the shadow of the Lord (StF 509/SofF 991/MP 583)

Prayer:

Loving God, we do not expect you to protect us from hardship or suffering, or pain, or grief, because these are part and parcel of everyday life.  Nor do we expect you to keep these things hidden from us, so that we are unaware of the difficulties and traumas that others have to bear, for that would make us less than human.  No, Lord, the safety you offer us does not come from being kept separate from the world but rather from living in it, knowing that you are with us, sharing in all we go through, and giving us the strength we need for each day, together with hope for the future.  We can be certain of this because Jesus suffered as we do and endured to the end, and so we put our trust in you, Lord, confident that you will never let us down. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Tuesday 2nd March

Hymn: You’re beautiful (SofF 2372)

Prayer:

Lord God, when we look around us at the beauty of your Creation, the wonder of the world coming alive again out of the dark, cold grip of winter, the new growth springing up all around us and the vibrancy of the flowers, and so much more, how can we doubt your goodness and your faithfulness!  But even more amazing is your promise of new life in Jesus through his rising from the darkness of suffering and the cold grip of death, into the sunshine of Resurrection light.  Loving God, as we revel in and praise you for all you have given us, and all you promise us through the gift of eternal life, we can only echo and affirm in our own hearts that you are indeed beautiful! 

Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Monday 1st March

Hymn: The light of the world  (SofF 2546)

Prayer:

With all our ways of banishing darkness in our homes, in our streets, in our skies even, we can easily take for granted the wonder of light, and yet, Lord God, it is fundamental to our very existence.  The light that you spoke into being in Creation, the light that fractured into the many colours of your rainbow promise, and particularly at this time of Lent, the light which is Jesus, the One who you sent into the world as the Light of Life and Love, a light that even the darkness of evil, sin and death could not extinguish.  So we ask, Lord, that you will shine this light into our hearts and lives, so that, through your Holy Spirit, all those hidden corners may be illuminated and transformed, and we will shine for you in a dark and troubled world. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Sunday 28th February

Hymn:  The heart of worship  (StF 437/SofF 1113/CMP 1016)

Prayer:

In these frustrating and uncertain times, we know, and you know, Lord, how easy it is to become focussed totally on ourselves – and this can even affect our worship of you.  How our praise and our prayers can be full of our own needs, looking more at what we can receive from you, rather than giving you the gratitude and the glory for all you are doing in the world and in our lives.  So as we come today, Lord, help us to make it all about you, all about how you have reached out to us, Jesus, all about how your Holy Spirit is still moving among us, guiding us, drawing us close, and enabling us to become more like you.  Then, Lord, our worship and our praise will not only lift up your Name, but lift us to the very throne of grace. 

Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Saturday 27th February 

Hymn: God of every story 

Prayer:

As we come to the end of another week, another month, and almost a year of pandemic, we look back, Lord God, over all that has happened.  For each of us has a different story to tell, some of anxiety and difficulty, others of time spent in reflection and opportunity, and many struggling with isolation and loneliness.  But whichever it has been, Lord, you have been there supporting, strengthening, and wanting us to put our trust in you and look forward with hope.  For you are a faithful God, and in Jesus you have lived our life and know what it can be like from the inside.  As we travel through Lent, minister to us as you ministered to Jesus, that we may all receive the resources we need for our journey. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Friday 26th February 

Hymn: Lord, I come to you  (StF 471/MP 880/SofF 895)

Prayer:

We look around us, Lord God, at the beauty of your creation, and it fills us with excitement and with awe.  We watch the new life burgeoning all around us, and wonder at the way nature renews itself year by year, new shoots breaking through hard stony ground,  buds forming and breaking into flower, and the first signs of trees coming into leaf.  And yet, Lord, all this pales before the new life you offer each one of us in Jesus Christ, renewing us when we go through those hard, stony times, watering those ‘dry’ places with your love, until we begin to show those signs of new growth.  So we come to you again, Lord, asking you to revitalise and strengthen our faith, so that our lives may show forth your beauty, and all of it to your praise and glory. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Thursday 25th February 

Hymn: I give you my heart   (SofF 1561)

Prayer:

Lord God, we live in a consumer-driven society, where so much importance is placed on what we have acquired, whether that is in position, or power or possessions – and sometimes, Lord, we can become so influenced by all of this that it can affect the way we respond to you.  But this is not what you want or expect, Lord, for we cannot ‘earn’ our way into your Kingdom, and nor can we do anything to merit your love, for that is freely given regardless of who or what we are.  Rather, there is only one thing you desire of us and that is our heart, that place where our love responds to your love, and where our will gladly accepts your will for our lives.  For it is when you are on the throne of our hearts, Lord, that we become fully alive, and able to give you the worship that is rightly yours.  

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Wednesday 24th February 

Hymn: Softly and tenderly   

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you never force yourself upon us, but you know what’s best for us, and that life can never be complete or satisfying without you.  For you alone can give us the peace, the joy, the sense of well-being and rightness that gives our lives meaning and purpose; you alone, through your Holy Spirit, can help us to conquer those traits in our nature that lead us into sin.  And you alone can free us from our past and set us back on the path that leads to Life in all its fullness.  Only your presence with us can give us the security we need for now, and the hope we need to face the future.  So today, Lord Jesus, help us to listen to your voice softly and tenderly calling us home to you, and give us the grace to respond. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Tuesday 23rd February 

Hymn: O God, you search me and you know me  (StF 728)

Prayer:

Lord God, it’s easy to pretend with others, even those who know us well, but nothing is hidden from you.  You know our thoughts, our motivations, the things that lie deep within us and sometimes rise to the surface and cause us to act in ways that hurt others and spoil relationships.  Yet, Lord, while your knowledge of us may make us ashamed or even fearful, it is also comforting, because you are always working for our good, wanting to heal those broken places, and to continue shaping us into the people you created us to be.  So, Lord, help us to accept who and whose we are, to fully open up ourselves and our lives to you, and allow you to pour your love into our hearts, that we may be changed and renewed by your Holy and Life-giving Spirit. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Monday 22nd February 

Hymn: O boundless foundation 

Prayer:

We don’t often talk about sin, Lord Jesus; it’s not that we think we’re perfect, but it’s hard to admit that there are parts of our nature which don’t live up to the example you have given us.  Sometimes our tongues run away with us and we say things that are hurtful or divisive; other times it’s our thoughts which are far from what they should be, and all of it can lead to us being unloving in our actions and our reactions to other people.  We can’t deal with the shame and the guilt we feel, Lord, but you can, and when we turn to you and ask for forgiveness you are always there, ready not only to forgive us but to assure us of your love.  And it’s because of this that we are able to find peace and hope, and the freedom to start again.  Thank you, Lord. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Sunday 21st February 

Hymn: When we are tested and wrestle alone (StF 240)

Prayer:

We might have to learn this the hard way, Lord, but sooner or later we discover that the world cannot give us what we need for true, meaningful life.  But you have told us this all along, Jesus, because when you were in the desert, reflecting on the shape your ministry should take, you faced the temptations we face – to take the easy way out, to make the wrong choices, to compromise the truth.  And because you resisted those temptations, because you stood firm, we know that we can be strong too, and even more so, for we not only have your example, Lord, but the victory of your Resurrection to assure us, and presence of your Holy Spirit to guide us in the decisions we make.  Thank you that in whichever way we are tested, and whatever we wrestle with, we can be absolutely certain that we are, and never will be, alone. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Saturday 20th February  

Hymn: Near to the heart of God   (MP 942)

Prayer:

As we come to the end of another week, Lord God, we find ourselves needing that rest and refreshment that only you can give.  For some of us it has been a stressful time, trying to fit too much into too few hours; for others it has been difficult in different ways, coping with grief or loneliness or anxiety, and the days have stretched out in one long monotony, with the longing to be out of lockdown and the possibility of seeing friends and family for real still a distant hope.  But whichever it is, Lord, your heart of love is always turned towards us, inviting to share in that companionship with you which will soothe us and bring us to a place of peace.  And so we turn to you, Lord, and in your presence find all the resources we need. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Friday 19th February 

Hymn:  Extraordinary  

Prayer:

There are no words to describe your love, Lord God, because it is totally beyond anything we could ever understand or imagine.  All we know is that it is unchangeable and has no limits, and that it is totally undeserved, reaching out to us wherever and however we are, embracing us, lifting us up, and assuring us that your grace is sufficient for our every need.  So often, Lord, our love and our trust in you is weak; we allow doubt to creep in and undermine our faith, and when this happens life becomes a struggle, and we lose our sense of joy and peace.  At times like this please remind us of the security of your promises, and that in your faithfulness you will never let us go. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Thursday 18th February

Hymn: By faith   (SofF 2240)

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord God, that we stand in a long line, stretching back over centuries, of those who have put their trust in you to guide them, who walked ‘by faith and not by sight’, and have never been disappointed.  As we read their stories we realise that it is also our story, for you have always been faithful to us, not removing the difficulties from our lives, but helping us to grow through them, developing our trust in you, and leading us into a deeper awareness of your love.  We do not know what the future will hold, Lord, any more than they did, but we are certain that it is in your hands, and because of this we step forward bravely, trusting in your goodness and your grace. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Wednesday 17th February

Hymn: God of our yesterdays   (SofF 2646)

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, no-one has been in a darker place than you, as you faced suffering, betrayal, rejection and death on the Cross.  And because of this, Lord, whatever struggles we face, however dark and fearful the present and the future appear, you not only understand what we are going through, but we can be sure that you are with us, and will give us all the strength and courage we need.  As we enter into Lent, and follow that long, last journey with you, and all of it for love of us, may we each have a deeper sense of your presence and your peace. 

Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Tuesday 16th February 

Hymn: Counting on your name   (SofF 2452)

Prayer:

In these unsettling times, belonging to you, our mighty God, is the one thing that gives us a firm foundation for our lives.  For your faithfulness is like an anchor, not inhibiting us in a controlling way, not taking away our power to choose, but rather giving us the freedom to live life to the full, all the while knowing that we are held secure, and that we cannot drift beyond your loving care.  Thank you, Lord, that whatever comes our way, we can always count on you to be there for us! 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Monday 15th February 

Hymn: 10,000 Reasons

Prayer:

We could never count the many blessings you shower on us, Lord, for they are without number, and they are freely given.  Frequently, though, we focus upon all the problems and difficulties we have, on the things we lack, on hurts and wrongs done to us, both real and imagined, and this both sours our outlook on life and prevents us from seeing and appreciating all we have received from you.  So this week, Lord, help us to deliberately look out for signs of your goodness and faithfulness, for they are all around us to see, from the changing of the seasons and the early spring flowers to the smile of a passer-by.   For then we will find a new hope and joy – and we will make the world a better place! 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Sunday 14th February 

Hymn: This is our God

Prayer:

Wherever we are, at church or in our homes, connecting with others or on our own, we want to worship you, Lord, for you are our God, made known to us in Jesus, and present among us in your Holy Spirit.  And particularly on this day, the first day of the week, when we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, we give thanks and praise for all you have done for us through him, in freeing us from the power of sin and death and offering us new and eternal life, life with the promise of never-ending fellowship with you.  Though we have done nothing to merit or deserve this, Lord, nevertheless in your grace and goodness you continue to reach out to us with love.  And in all of this lies our hope, both now and for the future. 

Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Saturday 13th February 

Hymn: I heard the voice of Jesus say

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that we never have to pretend with you.  We can come to you just as we are, telling you exactly how we feel, and you always listen to us, accept us, and wait for us to empty ourselves in your presence.  And as we become silent before you, strangely we find your peace filling us and giving us a sense of wholeness, as your love reaches out to meet our need, and to remind us we are not alone.  Whatever this week has brought us, we turn to you now, Lord, and lay it before you – the heartaches and the joys, the opportunities taken and those missed, the exhaustion and those things that have lifted us up.  And with you we find rest and hope and the strength to carry on. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Friday 12th February 

Hymn: Fill my cup, Lord

Prayer:

Sometimes, Lord, there is a sense of emptiness in our lives, as if we have missed out on something important, and yet we can’t somehow put a finger on it.  And then we realise that we have been relying on our own resources to see us through each day, rather than on you, and all you would be in our lives.  It’s so easy, Lord, to get our priorities wrong, to focus on our work, our lifestyle, our interests, our ambitions, and to fill our days up with all sorts of activities that seem to satisfy in the short term, but in the big scheme of things leave us feeling unfulfilled.  For only you, Lord Jesus, can give that real meaning that we crave, only you hold the key to life that is full and free.  So help us to not just make room for you, but to put you first in our lives, for then we will discover what truly living is all about. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Thursday 11th February 

Hymn: Jesus, lover of my soul  (SofF 873/CMP 997)

Prayer:

It’s only when we began to understand who you are and all you have done for us, Lord Jesus, that it really makes an impact on us, for you not only changed the course of history, when we put our trust in you, it changes the whole course of our lives.  No longer do we put ourselves at the centre of our universe, no longer do we struggle to assert our self-worth, no longer do we put great store by our achievements, for we discover that in and with and through you we have a totally new outlook on ourselves and on life.  For you show us that we have a value that has nothing to do with what we can do or achieve, but based solely on all you have done for us through your Cross and Resurrection, and continue to do in us through your Holy Spirit.  So thank you, Jesus, for loving us, for forgiving us, and for the assurance of your presence with us always. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Wednesday 10th February 

Hymn: Until you do  

Prayer:

Faith is a choice, Lord – it’s a way of looking at the world, at ourselves, and seeing it through your eyes, and then accepting that you are the only One who makes sense of it all, for your plan and purpose are woven through the whole of your creation.  And because we are part of that creation, it is only when we put our trust in you that our lives have real meaning, only then that in the difficult and painful times we are able to hold on with hope, knowing that you can and will bring new life and healing and wholeness out of all that seems bleak and broken.  And all this because you love us so much, and want above all else for us to live life to the full.  So help us to lay claim to your promises today, Lord, and discover the freedom and the joy this brings. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Tuesday 9th February 

Hymn: Outrageous grace  (SofF 2060)

Prayer:

When we listen to the news, Lord, it’s so easy to get things out of perspective.  To focus on all the negative things that are happening in the world, in our communities, and forget all the good that is being done by so many.  But this should not really surprise us, Lord, for you are still present in your world, bringing your light and love and hope into dark places, your compassion where there is suffering and your peace where there is fear and insecurity.  So, Lord, help us to celebrate all those who are your hands, your feet and your heart, who encourage us by their generosity and sacrifice, for, whether they know it or not, they bear witness to your grace and goodness at work in the world – and help us, Lord, in our small way, to play our part in building your kingdom here on earth. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Monday 8th February 

Hymn: From the breaking of the dawn   (StF 156/SofF1774)

Prayer:

Lord God, through Jesus all your promises are a resounding ‘yes!’, and as we travel through this pandemic, we need this security and encouragement in order to keep ourselves looking forward.  For this is solid ground upon which we can place our feet with certainty, knowing that you are always there for us, supporting us, lifting us up with words of comfort, working often through other people with acts of kindness, and the many instances of grace that give us hope.  And so help us, Lord, to share the love we have received, and in our own small way, be a means of help and strengthening to others. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Sunday 7th February

Hymn:  Jesus, stand among us   (StF30/SofF 303)

Prayer:

It’s so good to worship together, Lord, on this first day of the week, and while it isn’t as we so want it to be, in person, lifting our voices in praise together, yet wherever we are, whether on our own or joining with a group through other means, we know that a fellowship exists and that nothing, not even Coronavirus, can break the unity between us.  For you, Lord Jesus, are with us, joining us together through your Holy Spirit, speaking into our hearts and lives, and assuring us of your love.  And this will carry us through, Lord, not only the coming week but for however long it takes before we can be together truly face to face, and in this we find tremendous encouragement and hope.  Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Saturday 6th February 

Hymn: Lay your hands gently upon us

Prayer:

Dear Lord, at the end of another week we come to you for your blessing of peace and tranquillity.  Whatever has been going on in our lives, however we are feeling, we ask for your healing hands upon us, calming our anxieties, stilling our racing thoughts and any raw emotions, and allowing us to rest in the security of your love.  For you know our needs, Lord, and you hold us gently in the palms of your hands.  Shelter us from harmful thoughts and all that would distract and disturb us, and grant us, we pray, a very real sense of your presence, so that we may experience a new wholeness in you. 

Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Friday 5th February

Hymn:   It may be winter now 

Prayer:

While there is light on the horizon with the rolling out of vaccine, and statistics showing the pandemic is causing less fatalities, there is still so much suffering, Lord, so much heart-break, so many families whose lives have been turned upside down, so many businesses that have collapsed, and dreams that have been shattered.  So many, Lord, that it’s hard to get our heads around it, and we wonder what the future is going to look like, and how people will rebuild their lives.  But you are a God who loves us, who suffers with us, and who can take the threads of our brokenness and weave them into a new pattern with the promise of new life and hope.  So as we pray for those going through hard times, Lord, we offer ourselves to be a means of support and encouragement.

Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Thursday 4th February 

Hymn: Forever  (SofF 1241)

Prayer:

In all the uncertainties surrounding us today, in all the questions about what the future will look like, we search for something, anything, Lord God, which will give us the security and the hope we long for.  So we thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness and your love, and, most of all that it is ‘forever’ – not transient, not able to be thwarted by any pandemic, not even depending upon our faithfulness to you, but for all time, in every situation, in every place.  A love beyond our understanding, but made so very real to us through Jesus, and by your Holy Spirit pouring your love into our hearts and lives.  Although we can be certain of this, Lord, may we never take it for granted, but show our thankfulness by sharing your love with those around us. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Wednesday 3rd February 

Hymn: Father, hear the prayer we offer  (StF 518/H&P 436)

Prayer:

Prayer isn’t always easy or straightforward, Lord.  Sometimes there’s so much on our hearts that we don’t know how or where to begin.  Or it may be we don’t want to hear what you have to say because it might not be the answer we are hoping for.  But perhaps more often it’s the fear that our prayers might go unanswered, and we wonder if you have heard us.  Yet none of this is true, Lord, for you long to hear from us, to reach out to strengthen and to comfort us, as well as to challenge us to trust you more. For when we do bring everything to you, Lord, our praise as well as our petitions, we not only receive all we need for daily living, but the assurance that, because you love us, however it may seem, in all things you are always working for our good. 

Amen

Liz Stuart

 

Tuesday 2nd February 

Hymn: Go peaceful   (SofF 2306)

Prayer:

Dear Lord, we all have the choice as to how we react in these anxious and troubled times.  We can voice our anger, our disappointments, our fears and frustrations, or we can respond as Jesus did in all he went through – with patience and love, showing compassion and a strong gentleness borne out of our faith and our trust in you.  For we know, Lord, that that you are with us, and that in your great love you will never put us through more than you will give us the resources to bear.  And maybe, Lord, just maybe, through our living and loving, others may come to know you too. 

Amen

Liz Stuart 

 

Monday 1st February 

Hymn: Through it all 

Prayer:

At the beginning of a new month, Lord, there is always a feeling of expectation, of things getting better, easier, more hopeful, especially with the rolling out of vaccine and the prospect of fewer lives being lost.  And yet the reality is that it will be a good while before we are ‘out of the woods’ and life resume any kind of ‘normality’, if we can even remember now what that was like!  Yet you have been with us, and will continue to be with us through it all, Lord, and when we have felt low and dispirited you have surrounded and filled us with your peace like a comforting duvet, reminding us that we do not need to fret or fear.  In times when we have felt overwhelmed by sorrow or anxiety you have been true to your word, and proved that nothing can separate us from your love.  And because of this, Lord, we know we can trust you with whatever tomorrow brings, and for this we give you our thanks and praise. 

Amen

Liz Stuart