Thursday 30th September
Hymn: Praise the Lord, he never changes
Prayer:
It’s hard to believe, Lord God, that we’ve come to the end of another month, and we wonder where the days and weeks have gone! And sometimes, Lord, this can make us feel very unsettled, as if we have lost control of our lives, particularly with all the changes that have happened over the last months, and we need to find something to hold onto, something that is solid and reliable, which will give us the security we need. That ‘something’ is actually ‘someone’, and that is you, Lord, for you are our faithful God, the rock in our lives, unchanging in your love for us, in your care for us, and in the guidance and strength you give us through your Holy Spirit. So thank you, Lord, for always being there for us, and for the reassurance this brings.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 29th September
Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky (StF 663/SofF830/CMP 857)
Prayer:
Wherever we turn, Lord God, we cannot help but be aware of the suffering of so many, both across the world and in our own country, indeed in our own neighbourhoods. Places where Coronavirus is still rife, where hospitals and care providers are overstretched and, if there is vaccine available, it is in short supply. Refugee camps full to overflowing, and thousands waiting at borders, trying to gain entry to countries where they hope to find a better future for themselves and their families, and those willing to risk their lives in order to do so. Lord God, how it must grieve you to see the world, which you created in love for all to live in peace and plenty, in so much pain and turmoil, and show us, we pray, ways we can respond to those in need.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 28th September
Hymn: Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name (SofF 483/MP 579)
Prayer:
Lord God, at a time when there is so much fear, so much unrest and anxiety in the world, more than ever people need to turn to you and find security and hope – and yet so many rely on the things of this world to bring them the fulfilment, the satisfaction and the security they seek. Lord, we pray for a revival of faith, both in the church and in ourselves, that we may speak and act boldly in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, and all you mean in our lives. Give us the courage we often lack, Lord, and the guidance and inspiration of your Holy Spirit, so that we may go out in your strength, and your name be glorified through all we say and do.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 27th September
Hymn: Every giant will fall
Prayer:
Nothing is impossible for you, Lord Jesus! You proved it in your Cross and Resurrection, breaking the power of sin and death, and you want to prove this in our lives, too. The trouble is, we so often hang onto those things in our past that have hurt us, that have sapped our confidence, and allowed them to dominate our thinking and drag us down, and we have not always recognised them for the lies that they really are. You want us to live victoriously, to take hold of the power of your Holy Spirit and become the people you created us to be, and you love us too much to leave us as we are. So, help us, in your strength and through your grace, to break those chains that bind us, and to experience the freedom of the new life that is your promise for each and every one of us when we put our trust in you. Thank you, Lord!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 26th September
Hymn: Lord, I come before your throne of grace (StF 58/SofF 894)
Prayer:
When things around us feel unstable and insecure, when life deals us a blow that rocks us off our feet, how we need you to hold us in your loving arms, Lord God, and know that you are always faithful, always reliable and are always there for us. And so, Lord, lest we take this for granted, we come to worship you today, to praise you for the ways you have sustained and strengthened us; for glimpses of your glory that have reassured us, and for every evidence of your love that has touched and shaped our lives and drawn us closer to you. For all this means, Lord, that we can enter into a new week with hope in our hearts, knowing for certain that we are safe in your hands, and that in every situation you will be working for our good.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 25th September
Hymn: Perfect peace
Prayer:
We look over the past week with a range of emotions, Lord God. There have been days when we have been uplifted, maybe received good news, spent precious time with a friend, and life has felt good. Maybe others when we have been troubled by events in the news or anxiety in our own lives – or simply wearied by the amount of stuff we have to do. Basically, Lord, it’s been the usual mixture, and perhaps now, as we stop and think about it all, we remember your promise of perfect peace. That when we turn to you, you will fill our whole being with a peace, a sense of wholeness, that nothing and no-one can take away, and we realise that sometimes we have forgotten this. So now, Lord, we come and rest in you, and gratefully soak ourselves in your presence.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 24th September
Hymn: Beautiful Saviour (StF 343/SofF 1158)
Prayer:
It’s when we put our trust in you, Jesus, as we grow in our faith, that we discover more and more how much you mean to us, and the wonder of all you have done for us, for without you in our lives we would struggle to make sense of all the challenges we meet, and to cope with the stresses of daily life. But with you by our side, Lord, with your Holy Spirit guiding and strengthening us, and the assurance that nothing can separate us from your love, we know that nothing can ultimately defeat us, for you have won the victory over the power of evil and death, once and for all time. And so for today, and for always, we put our future in your hands, our beautiful Saviour!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 23rd September
Hymn: Less like me
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we don’t always get it right. Even though we have put our trust in you, even though we try to follow your example in the way we live our lives, often we are so bound up in our own concerns that we just don’t see the needs of those right under our noses, and miss opportunities to help and to care for others. Lord, please open our eyes and our ears to see the world as you see it, and give us, we pray, a greater awareness of ways we can reach out to those around us. Help us to turn our words of faith into actions that speak of your love and compassion, and in the giving of ourselves to become more like you.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 22nd September
Hymn: Your love is amazing (StF 98/SofF 1676)
Prayer:
Lord God, your love for us is truly amazing – and what makes it all the more wonderful is that it isn’t because of anything we have done or ever could do to earn or deserve it! But we know how much we need it, Lord, because it is your love that keeps us going in difficult and troubling times, that provides the security we need when things around us are falling apart, and that steadies us when we are tempted to react unwisely or make hasty decisions that are not for our good. And so we praise and thank you, Lord, for your constant care, for the guidance of your Holy Spirit, and, most of all, for never giving up on us. Your love does indeed make us sing!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 21st September
Hymn: Blessings
Prayer:
We bring our prayers to you in faith, Lord God, but that doesn’t stop us being disappointed, feeling let down, when things don’t work out the way we hoped. When healing doesn’t happen, when our hearts are broken, when our dreams come to nothing, when we begin to doubt your power, then, Lord, remind us that your promises never fail, and that sometimes, because of your love for us, you work in different ways. That your plans are always for our good, always to bring blessing, and that it is often through the inevitable hard times in our lives that we know you closest to us, and learn to rely on you more. So keep us trusting, Lord, and especially keep us looking for you in unexpected ways and places.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 20th September
Hymn: The God of angel armies
Prayer:
Lord God, whatever this coming week may hold, whatever challenges or disappointments we may find we have to face, knowing that you are not only standing beside us, but actually working with us and in us by your Holy Spirit, gives us the encouragement and the courage we need. Because with you, Lord, we know we really have nothing to fear, for you are always faithful, and you have promised that nothing can separate us from your love. With all this on our side we will go forward with confidence, putting our trust in you to lead the way. Thank you, Lord!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 19th September
Hymn: I sing the almighty power of God (StF 107/H&P 334/MP 293)
Prayer:
Wow, Lord! You really made all this! It’s simply amazing, awe-inspiring – the majestic mountains, the quiet valleys, the night sky sprinkled with stars, the vast oceans claiming the horizon, the glory of a sunset, the colours, the shapes, the variety of animal and plant life – it takes our breath away! And all of it your work, Lord, conceived by your imagination, fashioned by your wisdom, created by your power, created by your love. And yet so often we have taken it for granted, and, because we have forgotten, we have neglected to take care of it. Forgive us, Lord, and help us to repair the damage we have inflicted on your creation. And cause us to wonder and to worship.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 18th September
Hymn: Creator God (StF 109)
Prayer:
As we reach the end of another week, we come in quietness to reflect on all we have gone through, the experiences we have had, the things we have learned, the highs and the lows, knowing that you, our loving Creator God, have been there in every one of them. Oh, we haven’t always been aware of this, Lord – there have been occasions when we have congratulated ourselves on the way we have handled a situation, others when we have felt very alone and have needed to pull ourselves out of a dark place. But now we realise that we weren’t on our own – you were there guiding us in that decision we made, you sent that friend with an uplifting word, yours was the arm around our shoulders. And we thank you Lord!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 17th September
Hymn: Jesus, you are changing me (SofF 311/MP 389)
Prayer:
It takes a bit of courage, well, quite a lot actually, Lord Jesus, to really let go and allow you to have complete control in our lives. It means consciously admitting you into the messy parts, not that you don’t know about them already of course, however much we have kept them hidden from other people. It means allowing you to remake us, to get rid of those parts of our personality that we have grown used to, and that can be painful – and then accepting that the plans we had so carefully constructed for our future aren’t the same as yours! But, Lord, in our heart of hearts we know that it’s for the best, because only you can transform us into the people we were created to be. So, yes, Lord, in your love mould us and shape us so that we become more like you, to your praise and glory.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 16th September
Hymn: Jesus
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, when you are at the centre of our lives we have all we need. For just saying your name brings comfort when we are in distress, brings peace when we are anxious or troubled, and gives us hope and security when the foundations of our life are shaking. For you are our compassionate, forgiving and loving Lord, accepting us as we are and, through your Holy Spirit, working in us to transform us into the people we were created to be. Thank you for all you have done for us through your Cross and Resurrection, and please help us so to grow in our faith that we may become bearers of your light and love into the lives of those around us.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 15th September
Hymn: Through all the changing scenes of life (StF 638/H&P 78/SofF 1566/MP 702)
Prayer:
It takes a while for us to learn this, Lord – that even when we go through difficult and challenging times in our lives, if we lift our hearts in praise to you, somehow we are able to see things in a new perspective. For it’s as we bring you into every situation and lay it all before you, our worries, our hopes, our insecurities, we realise that, whatever we have to face, we are not doing this on our own; that you are our faithful God, the One on whom we can rely, who loves us completely and unconditionally, and whose promises never fail. And so, yes, Lord, we will continue to praise you, for with you alongside us at all times we have nothing to fear!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 14th September
Hymn: Waiting here for you (SofF 2343)
Prayer:
It never ceases to amaze us, Lord God, that, great and glorious as you are, you care for each one of us individually and personally. To you we are not just part of your creation – each one of us is a unique human being, known by name, created for a purpose, our lives held lovingly in your hands, treasured and valued just as we are. It’s hard to get our heads around this, Lord, for it’s beyond our understanding, but just knowing that there is nothing random about our existence – that you have a plan for our lives – is hugely reassuring, and gives us the confidence to face the uncertainties of life with hope in our hearts. So we put our trust in you, Lord, and wait for you to reveal the next part of the great adventure of living within your will!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 13th September
Hymn: There is a Redeemer (StF 338/SofF 544/MP 673)
Prayer:
How can we thank you enough, Lord God, for sending your Son, Jesus, to be our Redeemer, to restore us to that living, loving relationship with you that was your intention from the moment of creation. For you made us in your image, you planned for us to be your children, and when in our pride we asserted our independence, as we so often continue to do, you made a way back for us, a way that was costly, that was sacrificial, and which was only made possible through Jesus, through his death on a cross. It is because of this, Lord, that we realise how much you love us, through his Resurrection that we can approach you as our heavenly Father, and through your Holy Spirit experience your presence in our lives. May we express our thanksgiving not only in words but by seeking to serve you as your people in your world, to your praise and glory.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 12th September
Hymn: O worship the king (StF 113/H&P 28/SofF 456/MP 528)
Prayer:
Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in the details of our daily lives, Lord God, that it becomes our whole world, and we lose sight of your greatness and your glory – and when this happens we find ourselves depending on our own resources to solve our problems, deal with our fears and quell our anxieties over the future. So as we worship you today, Lord, we ask you to give us a big vision of all you are, of your power, your authority, your love, your wisdom and your holiness. For it’s through this we realise that not only you are able, but, indeed, are yearning to be part of our everyday lives, watching over us, loving us and concerned for our wholeness and well-being. So today, Lord, may we put you on the throne of our hearts, for only when you reign as king in our lives will we find true peace and joy and hope.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 11th September
Hymn: For the healing of the nations (StF 696/H&P 402/ SofF 1235)
Prayer:
Lord God, as we remember tragedies of the past, wars, genocide and particularly today, the anniversary of terrorist activity in America, we bow our heads in shame at the way we have spoiled your good and beautiful and loving intention for your world, in the destruction not only of lives but of your creation. For in small and larger ways we are all a part of this, Lord, in our petty conflicts, in our need to control, in the decisions we make and the lifestyle we choose. As we pray for the healing of the nations, for world peace, for justice and equality, and for all people to live in freedom and dignity, we ask for your forgiveness, for we realise that if all this is to come about, it has to begin with us. Give us, we pray, a new vision of all you would have us be and do, and the help of your Holy Spirit in living in ways that reflect your love and the likeness of Jesus.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 10th September
Hymn: Keep me in your will
Prayer:
Lord, you know the plans you have for us, and they are always for our well-being, always so that we can reach our full potential and become the people you created us to be. But we have this tendency, Lord, to think we know best. We step outside your will for us, sometimes simply because we don’t listen to you, sometimes because to follow your way would move us outside our comfort zone, and we lack the courage to take that step of faith. But just because we get in the way of your plan doesn’t mean that you give up on us, Lord, for in your love and mercy you weave a different pattern in our lives, one that, if we are willing, always brings us back to you. So thank you for your faithfulness, Lord God, and help us to trust you more!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 9th September
Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky (StF 663/SofF 830/CMP 857)
Prayer:
As we hear of events around the world, and indeed in our own country and neighbourhoods that cause us pain, how much more, Lord God, must it grieve your heart. For all these suffering ones are your children, people for whom Jesus came and died and rose again, in order to bring them into an eternal, living and loving relationship with you. But we are now the hands and feet of Jesus on earth, we are the ones called to carry on his work, so we pray, Lord, that you will open our eyes, our ears and our hearts, so that we will see and hear and respond to those who you want us to reach out to and support. And please guide us and strengthen us by your Holy Spirit, so that in all we say and do and are we may be channels of your love.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 8th September
Hymn: Draw me close to you (SofF 1217/CMP 980)
Prayer:
Sometimes, Lord God, we find it difficult to sense your presence. Oh, we know in our heads that you are there, because you have promised never to leave us; we even know deep down that you love us and that you are always watching over us. But there are times when we feel very alone, perhaps struggling with a personal problem, with grief or illness, or just not knowing which way to turn, when we really need to feel your loving touch on our lives. When this happens, Lord, help us to find that way back to you, for you are the one who knows us so well, who fills that God-shaped hole in us that no-one else can fill, for it’s only in your nearness that we find the hope, contentment and peace we long for – so please draw us close to you, and never let us go.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Tuesday 7th September
Hymn: When God has another plan
Prayer:
We never know what you have in store for us, Lord God, but we know that in your wisdom you are always seeking the best for us. The trouble is we like to do things our own way, to make our plans, and then how many times we end up disappointed because things don’t work out quite the way we thought they would! And yet, Lord, on those occasions when we have asked you first and allowed your Holy Spirit to guide us, while it may not have been an easy path or a comfortable choice, we have discovered a deep and lasting joy, and that sense of fulfilment that comes from being in harmony with your will. So help us, Lord, to keep listening and to keep learning, for you know the plans you have for us, and they are always for our good.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Monday 6th September
Hymn: Trust
Prayer:
We never know what’s round the next corner, Lord God, but when we put our trust in you, we can be confident that we are building our lives on something, or rather Someone, who is strong and reliable – who will hold us secure in everything we have to face. For yours is a love that surrounds and sustains us through those times when we don’t know where to turn; when the pattern of our life changes, when we have to deal with grief and loss, and when, perhaps through illness or growing infirmity, we feel afraid of what the future may hold. In all of this we discover your great faithfulness, in your presence and in your Word finding hope, and, through Jesus, the promise of a peace that nothing can disturb or take away. Thank you, Lord!
Amen
Liz Stuart
Sunday 5th September
Hymn: Immortal, invisible, God only wise StF 55/H&P 9/ SofF 234/MP 327
Prayer:
Sometimes we think we are so wise, Lord God. We plan out our lives, setting our targets, celebrating our achievements, finding ourselves a comfortable niche in our little world, and somehow in the mix of it all we forget your wisdom and your greatness, and that you might see us and our lives quite differently. The thing is, Lord, you know us better than we know ourselves, and that those short-term benefits we receive from what we have devised will often end up in long-term disappointment and frustration. So today, as we worship, we ask you to give us new insight – to open our ears, our minds and our hearts to all you want to teach us and to show us. To remind us of your love and faithfulness, and, Lord, that your plans for us are always the best, and fashioned for our wholeness and our good.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Saturday 4th September
Hymn: No outsiders
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we owe you everything! When we were far away from God, and when we have not known even how to approach God, you have made a way for us and brought us home. You have told us that there are no outsiders to your love, that everyone is included, and in your ministry on earth you never turned anyone away, you welcomed all. But more than this, Lord, through your Cross and Resurrection you have taken away every barrier that would keep us apart. You have dealt once and for all with the power of sin and death, and through your Holy Spirit living in our hearts made us one with you, giving us the assurance that nothing can ever separate us from your love. We thank you, Jesus, and ask that you help us to be as inclusive in our loving too.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Friday 3rd September
Hymn: When I needed a neighbour (StF 256/SofF 1604)
Prayer:
Lord God, our hearts go out to the many people in the world who are living in appalling conditions, and, as well as this, having to deal with drought, fires, floods, Covid, and the aftermath of natural disaster. Our hearts go out to them, Lord, and especially at this time to the people of Afghanistan, those wondering what the new regime will impose on them, and those in hiding, fearful for their lives. And we pray for the refugees, arriving in new countries, having brought so little with them, trying to communicate in a foreign language, and needing to feel accepted and welcomed. We have so much, Lord, so help us to be generous in our hospitality, reaching out to support in whatever way we can; may our actions and our open arms and heart help to comfort and heal their pain, and to speak of your love for all people, everywhere.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Thursday 2nd September
Hymn: Be still for the presence of the Lord (StF 20/SofF 40/MP 50)
Prayer:
Lord God, it doesn’t have to be a particular time or day, or even a special place for us to sense your presence with us, for you are all around us, in the wonder of your creation, in the songs of nature, but also, Lord, in the ordinariness of daily life, making everything that much brighter, more joyful, more beautiful, more full of your glory, making it ‘holy ground’. And when we discover this, Lord, life takes on a whole new meaning and purpose, for we realise that you are interested in every aspect of our lives, from the mundane to those life-changing events that shake us and threaten to overturn our little worlds. And it is in knowing this, Lord, and that you are surrounding us with your love, that we find we can be still, as we are filled with a new sense of peace.
Amen
Liz Stuart
Wednesday 1st September
Hymn: All I once held dear (StF 489/SofF 646/CMP 799)
Prayer:
The beginning of another new month, Lord Jesus, and a time to look back and see where we have come from, to savour the small triumphs, and to consider what we have learned from the mistakes we have made. One thing is certain though, Lord, in all that has happened, in all we have experienced, you have been our constant companion, always there when we turn to you, and in your love offering us your forgiveness, your assurance, and the guidance of your Holy Spirit to keep us travelling in the right direction. So help us to keep on discovering more of you, Jesus; keep us growing in our faith, so that our love for you deepens and we learn to put our trust in you more fully, both now and for the future.
Amen
Liz Stuart
