Daily Prayer & Hymn Suggestion
Sunday 27th April
Hymn: Jesus lives! Thy terrors now (H&P 198/SofF 296/MP 373)
Prayer:
Jesus lives! What a wonderful acclamation that is, Lord Jesus, and not only to be shouted out on Easter Day, not even just every Sunday as a celebration of your Resurrection, but every day of our lives. For the impact of you being alive and living among us changes everything. It changes our view of life, it changes our view of death, taking away our fears, our insecurities, our anxieties for today and tomorrow in the promise of the new life we can experience right now, life in all its fullness, life with purpose and meaning, life with you now and for ever. So, Lord, please help us by your Holy Spirit to conquer those doubts which can so often arise, and when life is hard help us to hold onto our faith in you, knowing that, because you live, you will give us all the strength, the resilience and the hope and peace we need.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 26th April
Hymn: Because
Prayer:
Because of the way you lived, because of the way you died and rose again, because of who you are, Lord Jesus, and the example you have given us, because of all this we have hope. Not the kind of hope that is simply wishful thinking, not the sort of hope the world offers us which rarely materialises; not even the hope that comes from our life experiences or from reliance on family or friends. No, Lord, our hope, our confidence is placed firmly in you, a hope that enables us to rise above those things that threaten to drag us down, to face the challenges of life with a strength that is not our own, and even in the face of tragedy and loss to see a future which is bright with promise. We praise you, Lord, and put our trust in you for whatever today will bring.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 25th April
Hymn: Thank you, Jesus (SofF 523/MP 633)
Prayer:
You did it all for us, Lord Jesus, not because it was forced upon you, not for your own benefit, but solely and completely out of love for us. Yes, it was your Father’s will but it was actually your choice to come to earth in human form, to serve others and to be obedient to the point of death. We can never thank you enough, Lord, because without the sacrifice, without the suffering, without your Cross and glorious Resurrection we would still be deep in our sins, without hope and without the promise of eternal life, life lived now in the power of your Holy Spirit, life to be enjoyed in the future living forever in your presence. So thank you, Jesus, and help us, we pray, to live to your glory today.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 24th April
Hymn: Here is the risen Son (SofF 763)
Prayer:
When you rose from death, Lord Jesus, it wasn’t just for that small group of disciples who had travelled with you during your ministry. It wasn’t merely as proof to those religious leaders that they had got it wrong. It wasn’t even to convince that larger group who had followed at a distance. No, Lord, your plans, God’s plans, were and are so much greater, for as your Cross drew all eyes to you, so your Resurrection has drawn so many millions of hearts and lives to you in the founding of a world-wide church, made up of those who have found new life and hope in you. And we are part of this, Lord Jesus, and if and when we feel isolated or insignificant, our numbers small, help us to remember that we are part of something that is not only so much greater than ourselves, but that your church will never fail. And we praise and thank you, Lord!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 23rd April
Hymn: Christ is risen, he is risen indeed
Prayer:
In one sense our journey has ended, Lord Jesus, as we have celebrated your Resurrection and been filled with the wonder those first disciples experienced, as they realised that you were, you are alive! But actually our journey, like theirs, has just begun, as you send us out to share the good news with those around us who have still to discover the new life and hope that can only be found in you. Lord, in the glow of your risen glory we can be full of enthusiasm to do this, but then we, as it were, come down from the ‘mountain-top’ into the reality of everyday life and our courage seems to desert us. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, dear Lord, and keep topping us up, so that we never lose our Easter joy, and allow it to bubble out of us into the lives of those we meet.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 22nd April
Hymn: The head that once was crowned with thorns (StF 312/H&P 209/StF 531 /MP 647)
Prayer:
What a turn-around, Lord Jesus, from the mockery and taunting of Good Friday to the glory of Easter Day! From the grief and heartbreak of those who stood at the foot of your Cross, to the joy and excitement of discovering that you had risen from the dead! From despair to hope, from death to life, from feeling that everything had come to an end to a future full of new beginnings! There are times, Lord, when we find ourselves in that ‘Good Friday’ place, when we experience disappointment, loss, disillusionment – when life seems to mock us in promises that have come to nothing, and the future looks bleak. In times like these, Lord, remind us that you are with us, holding us in your love, and to know and to trust that you can and will work to turn around every situation for good.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 21st April
Hymn: On our journey to Emmaus (StF 308)
Lord Jesus, we’ve travelled with you this far, but, like those travellers to Emmaus, there’s a lot we don’t really understand, loose ends we need to tie up, things that we’re struggling to grasp – and probably some of it will always be a bit of a mystery. How you could love us so much as to die for us – to take our sin upon yourself in order to remove all that separates us from God? Were we, are we worth it, Lord? Was there no other way? And yet when we reflect deeply on this, Lord, our questions somehow turn to wonder, for you tell us, and you lead us to discover, that there are no limits, no boundaries to your love, no price too big to pay, that no sacrifice was too great. Set our hearts on fire, Lord Jesus, so that we may burn with the desire both to share your love and to express it by giving our all in serving you. And we thank you, Lord!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 20th April
Hymn: Christ the Lord is risen today (StF 298/H&P 193/SofF 61/ MP 76)
Prayer:
We got there early, wondering how we were going to move the stone away from the tomb, but it seems we weren’t early enough, for it had already been rolled away! There was nothing to bar the way, nothing to prevent us getting to your Body – except it wasn’t there! You had risen – you were alive! We couldn’t believe the news – and many today, Lord Jesus, can’t believe it either. On this Easter Day, as we celebrate your Resurrection, fill us, Lord, with the joy and the excitement of those first witnesses, and help us to discover afresh the wonder of knowing you are alive today. And then send us out to share this good news, and to show it in lives made new by the presence and power of your Holy Spirit, that others may learn of your love and put their trust in you.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 19th April
Hymn: Beneath the Cross of Jesus (StF 442/SofF1725)
Prayer:
We have stood beneath the Cross, Lord Jesus, and now we are waiting. Waiting with the women for the Sabbath to pass, waiting and grieving. Grieving over what has happened, still in shock wondering how, why it had to come to this, why you had to die, not understanding, and now just waiting. Waiting to attend to your Body, to perform those last rites of love. And many today are waiting, Lord. Waiting for war to end, to return to their country, their homes, if those homes still exist. Waiting for the rains to come and revive their crops and give them a harvest. Waiting for an appointment, treatment for illness, for a diagnosis, for a friend to call, for help to come. Lord, be with us in the waiting time and help us to know your peace and that vital sense of hope.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 18th April
Hymn: Come and see (StF 270/SofF 67/MP 85)
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, if we could really ‘come and see’, would we be able to bear it? Would we have had the courage of the women who stood at the foot of your Cross, or would we have been like the disciples, and fled. Yet we know, Lord, that it was love that kept them there, wanting to share your suffering, wanting to be with you to the end, just as it was love that held you to the Cross. Deepen our love, Lord, and help us to see you present in the suffering of our world, in our communities, our neighbours. May we not shut our eyes or turn away but have the courage to make a stand, to use our voices, and do our best to support all those working to alleviate injustice, inequality and suffering in all its many forms.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 17th April
Hymn: The power of the cross (SofF1988)
Prayer:
‘On the road’, Lord Jesus, with betrayal, denial, suffering and death before you, and what did you do but serve your friends, your disciples, by sharing a final meal with them, by washing their feet, and bidding them follow your example of serving one another. Lord, sometimes we can be too proud to perform those simple, humble acts, and to take on the role of a servant. We can be blind to the needs of others even when they are staring us in the face, or maybe we don’t always want to see, pretending it is someone else’s concern, someone else’s job even!. Lord, we ask you to forgive us and to open our eyes and ears and hearts to the needs of those around us, knowing that in serving others we are serving you.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 16th April
Hymn: Canyons
Prayer:
Lord God, there is no end to your love for each one of us, and if we needed any proof of this we need only to look at all you have done for us through Jesus, in His suffering and death on the Cross. But what makes this all the more wonderful is that all of this was, and still is, for us, so that we no longer have to bear the burden of our sin and guilt. That in taking all this upon Himself we are set free – free from all that would separate us from you, free to experience life in all its fullness, free from the power of death in the promise of eternal life in your presence. Lord, help us to live in the joy of this freedom today, and to share the hope this gives us with those we meet.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 15th April
Hymn: Ride on, ride on in majesty (StF 265/H&P 159/SofF 485/MP580)
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, as we follow your journey through Holy Week, from the triumph of your entry into Jerusalem through to your suffering and death on the Cross, we see you experiencing at first hand many of the challenges we meet in our daily lives, and yet rising above them. We cannot fully imagine the extent of all you endured, or the very human fear as you realised where it was all leading, but we know that not only was all of this for love of us, but that we are promised the same strength and fortitude when we face pain and suffering in all its forms. And we thank you, Jesus, that because of this, we can be certain that nothing can separate us from your love. Help us to hold on to this promise today.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 14th April
Hymn: Guide me, O thou great Jehovah (StF 465/H&P 437SofF 148/MP 201)
Prayer:
Often, Lord God, it is often recognising our own weakness that is the beginning of our faith in you. Our failures and your forgiveness; our fickleness and your faithfulness; our lack of love and your boundless grace; our self-concern and your sacrificial love, and so we could go on. And yet, Lord, you never give up on us or let us go our own way unheeded; always you are reaching out to us through your Holy Spirit, seeking to nudge us into the right direction, the right choices – and when we don’t listen or don’t notice, picking us up and inviting us to start again. Thank you, Lord, for never growing tired of our excuses, and never ceasing to love us. Help us today to be more aware of your guidance and your goodness, and turn our listening into loving action.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 13th April
Hymn: You are the King of glory (SofF 627/MP 790)
Prayer:
I wonder where we would have been in that crowd when you entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Lord. Would we have been at the front, leading the way, clearing the path, straightening out the clothes so that the donkey didn’t trip up? Might we have been in the middle trying to protect you, remembering what you had said about suffering and death, making sure you was safe from attack. Or maybe we were bringing up the rear, not really understanding what s going on, minding our own backs in case we needed to escape in a hurry if there was trouble. But if we had really listened to the crowd, if we had not been distracted, we might have realised that you had everything under control, Jesus, and that for the very first, and last, time people were welcoming you as their Messiah, their promised Deliverer. Lord Jesus, this Palm Sunday help us to listen, to take it all in and to add our voices in praise and worship!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 12th April
Hymn: Lord, you sometimes speak in wonders (StF 158)
Prayer:
Lord God you speak to us in so many different ways, sometimes through the wonder of your Creation, in moments that cause us to catch our breath in awe and make us aware of your presence. Other times we have to listen hard to hear your message to us – and sometimes it is simply in silence that we catch a glimpse of your holiness, a sense of your otherness that grabs our attention, and we are led to worship. Lord, in our busy, noisy, hectic lives we sometimes struggle to hear you speaking, and so we thank you that we can always find you in your written word, words that tell us of Jesus and reveal to us your truth, your mercy and your love. Whichever way it is, Lord, may we be aware of you calling us today and be ready to do your will.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 11th April
Hymn: A safe stronghold our God is still (StF 623/H&P 661/SofF 25/MP 2)
Prayer:
There is something about ancient words, whether from a Psalm or a hymn that makes us sit up and take notice, and reassures us of the solid ground on which our faith is based. That confirms that your promises to us are safe and secure, tried and tested and found trustworthy and reliable over centuries, standing firm in the thick of cultural changes, theological interpretations, and the fluctuations of Christian belief, passed down to us by scholars, by artists and by musicians and poets, but most of all by ordinary folk like us. So today let us seek to demonstrate your love and faithfulness through our ordinary words and actions, in ways which speak to the heart, so that others may discover the joy and the security of putting their trust in you.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 10th April
Hymn: The Spirit lives to set us free (StF 397/SofF 1555/MP 664)
Prayer:
There many things that can imprison us in our daily lives, Lord God. Our concern with keeping up with modern trends, to the detriment of our bank balance. The persuasiveness of the adverts making us dis-satisfied with our current standard of living. The habits we acquire and which are often difficult to shake off, and sometimes guilt over past failures or wrongs, or the scars left by past hurts. So many areas in our lives that can prevent us enjoying the freedom and fullness of life you want us to receive, and can get in the way of achieving our potential as the people you created us to be. Today, Lord, let’s take you at your word and invite your Holy Spirit not just into the fringes but into every part of our lives, the good and the less lovely, and receive the light and joy and hope you long for us to know.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 9th April
Hymn: You have called us by our name
Prayer:
In our increasingly isolated lives, belonging is so important, Lord God, whether it is to a club or an organisation, to a group of friends, or simply within our family, but it is not something we can always take for granted. Clubs sometimes close, friends move away, families can fall out, and loneliness can set in. But nothing can get in the way of our belonging to you, Lord, and nothing can separate us from your love. Although we may often stray away, and act in ways that would cause a rift in human relationships, you remain constant in your companionship, and because you are always willing to forgive our failures we know we can rely on you to be there for us. Thank you for the trust you place in us, and please help us to place ours in you ever more firmly.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 8th April
Hymn: Awake, awake to love and work (H&P 631)
Prayer:
Lord God, we see the beauty of your Creation all around us in the greening of the trees, in all their different shades, in the brightness of Spring flowers and in the new growth of shoots poking through the ground, everything coming to life after the darkness and bleakness of winter, and the upsurge of joy which awakens in us a song of praise. Lord, we sometimes go through dark times in our lives, when sorrow or illness or bereavement or other trials seem unending, sap our energy and the future seems bleak. Help us in these times to know that you are holding us in your love, and to trust your promise that, just as winter gives way to Springtime, so you are always working to bring good out of every situation. Whatever today brings, may we know you with us.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 7th April
Hymn: Just be held
Prayer:
Sometimes, Lord, it can feel as though our lives are falling apart. Everything seems to have become too much to cope with, with so many demands on our time, on our energy, too many things to fit into the day, too little time to rest, and we’re just about holding it all together by the skin of our teeth! Lord God, when we get to the end of our resources may we remember that you are only too ready to hold us, to care for us, and, in your great love, to lift these burdens from us and give us the space and the peace and the renewing we so need. So, Lord, whatever is troubling us today, whatever difficulty or anxiety is weighing us down, may we turn to you and trust in your promise that you are here for us now and will never leave us or forsake us in the future.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 6th April
Hymn: When the music fades (StF 437/SofF 1113/CMP 1016)
Prayer:
Sunday Worship is such a special and important part of our lives, Lord Jesus, but do we always think about what we are doing and who it is for? So often we seem to view it as an experience simply for ourselves. About whether we have known the hymns, particularly if someone plays the ‘wrong’ tune! About whether we have been moved by the sermon, whether the music group was too loud, and a hundred and one other factors, so that instead of bringing us together, the way we worship can easily become a cause of division. Lord, help us to get our focus right and remember that actually it is ‘all about You, Jesus’, because then we will approach Worship with reverence and humility, and make it an offering of ourselves that brings you glory.
Amen
Liz Stuart
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