Morning Prayer Thursday, 15 July 2021
Greetings
Good morning, Cornerstone friends. God is good!
What a joy to join you this morning as we begin our day with some devotions.
Opening prayers
Loving God, we don’t know who or what will cross our path today.
But we do know that you are our rock and our fortress.
You are our shield and our strong tower.
Help us to anchor ourselves to you today.
Teach us how to stand strong in you and choose only your way today. Help us walk by your truth and not our feelings.
Help us to embrace anything that comes our way
as an opportunity to see you at work and as opportunity to point others to you.
Amen
Scripture
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’
Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written:
“He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”’
Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”’
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him
Matthew 4: 1–11 NIV®
In the wilderness, Jesus endured temptation.
Most people imagine the wilderness temptation as three isolated events scattered over a forty-day period.
No! The devil tempted Jesus for forty days. (See Luke 4: 2!) Every step, whispering in his ear; every turn of the path, sowing doubt; forty days of non-stop temptation! When it was over Satan fled like the coward he is! Angels came and strengthened Jesus, and he left the wilderness to begin his ministry. First, he had to get through the temptation and so do we! The good news is that strengthened by God’s grace and the Spirit promised by Christ, we can!
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46: 1–7 NIV®
[Reflect silently]Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen
Closing Prayer
Lord God, we thank you for calling us into the company of those who trust in Christ and seek to obey his will. We are strangers no longer but pilgrims together on the way to your kingdom. May your Spirit strengthen, guide and send us out in mission, discipleship and service to your world
Amen
Have a brilliantly blessed day, whatever you do!
Revd G
