Daily Prayers Friday, 21 January 2022

Good morning, Cornerstone friends.

This is apparently, the end of the most depressing week of the year.  It started with the so called “Blue Monday”.  The theory goes that this is the time of year when it’s still dark a lot of the day and we’re all cold, broke and riddled with guilt that our new year’s resolutions have already fallen by the wayside.  This relatively new concept is, in reality, a marketing ploy, usually aimed at getting us to buy things to cheer ourselves up.

However, many of us can feel anxious at this time of the year as we see the months stretch ahead of us. Those of us still in employment may start to hear news of new projects being planned while we’re desperately trying to finish our existing workload.

Perhaps 1 Peter 5 is where we should look to when we feel anxious:

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because,

‘God opposes the proud
but shows favour to the humble.’

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹ To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Verse 7 is the one which speaks to me most. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Here’s a prayer from Joni Eareckson Tada

Lord, I seek to do that right now. If I’m holding onto fear, help me to release it. If I’m wrestling with anxiety, show me how to let it go. If I’m carrying weights that You never intended me to carry, help me to cast them aside. No matter what, I want to rest in You today, knowing You care for me.
Amen

This weekend sees the 55^th birthday of Milton Keynes.  Most of us have been blessed by this wonderful, green “city”, which was carefully planned all those years ago.  It is also 30 years since the opening of our church building.  Time passes and things change but there’s always one thing that never changes.  Lamentations, not a book normally thought of as uplifting, says in chapter 3:

²² The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
²³ they are new every morning;
great is thy faithfulness.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, teach us the humility to trust you, even in the smallest things of our lives.  When we are troubled may we look to you for support.  Your love is never ending, and you care for each and every one of us.  Help us to remember to thank you for the good times too, something we don’t always think of doing.

Lord, be with us as we head into the weekend.  Be with those leading and supporting worship.  Be close to those who need you extra loving support at this time.  May we also remember that even though we may not all be able to meet together in worship, we are still one through your Holy Spirit.

Amen

Ian Trimnell