Daily Prayer & Hymn Suggestion
Saturday 5th April
Hymn: How deep the Father’s love for us (SofF 780/CMP 988)
Prayer:
If we need to find evidence of your love for us, Lord God, we could look at the wonder of Creation, and be moved by the beauty of a sunset, the magnificence of the sky at night, at the variety and intricacy of plant and animal life. We could think of those who, through their faith in you, have done amazing things to benefit others and given their all to serving you. We could remember how you have acted in our own lives, upholding us and strengthening us more times than we can count. But most of all, Lord, it’s when we look to Jesus, and at all you have done for us through Him in giving your one and only Son so that we might have new life. And when we think of this, Lord, and the immense cost of your loving, every sacrifice we make pales into insignificance, and we thank you.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 4th April
Hymn: Who is he in yonder stall? (H&P 151/SofF 605/MP 767)
Prayer:
Lord God, as we travel through Lent and follow Jesus on His road to the Cross, we pause to look back over His life on earth, and on significant moments when we glimpse something of His divinity but also of His humanity, for we cannot separate the two. And this raises the question for us, ‘Who is He?’ – something each of us has to answer for ourselves, and which is crucial for our faith journey. For if we are to make Jesus Lord and King in our lives, we have to recognise the whole of who Jesus is and came to be for us on earth, and also continues to be for us in heaven. Help us today, Lord, to wonder and then lead us on to worship, and so find in Jesus the eternal life He offers us, and through this the strength and the hope we need to live each day.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 3rd April
Hymn: Take my life and let it be (StF 566/H&P 705/SofF 519/MP 624)
Prayer:
Lord God, it’s when we really think about and acknowledge all you have done for us that we begin to realise that our only response can be to give the whole of ourselves to you. This means not only seeking to follow the example of Jesus, though this is vitally important. Nor is it simply doing our best to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, though this is essential. Rather it is all of this together with the conscious offering of our minds, our bodies, our wills and our assets – all given over to you, Lord, to be used in a way which gives you glory, for we know that all of it is due to your great goodness and generosity. So today, Lord, when we have the opportunity, let’s just stop and consider how we are living this out, and maybe what we might need to change in order to be truly yours.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 2nd April
Hymn: My Redeemer is faithful and true
Prayer:
Lord God, you never let us down – you are there for us all the time, in every part and circumstance of our lives. You know us so well, Lord, and though we may pretend to those around us that all is well because we don’t want to burden other people, we can’t pretend with you, and neither do we really want to. For you alone can give us the comfort, the strength, the reassurance, the courage that we need; you alone know the depth of our anxiety, our insecurity, our fear, and when we come to you, you remind us of your promise to be with us always. Whatever we face today, Lord, whatever is on our hearts and minds, we bring it to you now, knowing that, in you, we will find the hope and peace we need.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 1st April
Hymn: Let your living water flow (SofF 334)
Prayer:
Lord, there are times for most, if not for all of us, when we become aware that there is something missing in our lives, when that spark of faith has grown a bit less lively, when perhaps our joy in you is not what it was, when we lack vitality, and we feel in need of your refreshment. It’s not necessarily that we have neglected to try to stay close to you, but that those times have become more of a routine and lost some of their sense of anticipation, maybe because there’s such a lot going on in our lives. Lord, we seek your renewal – a fresh anointing of your Holy Spirit, an infilling of your love and joy and peace that sets us on fire once more for you. For then, Lord, made whole by you, we will have a greater assurance when we are called to speak for you.
Amen
Liz Stuart