Daily Prayers Wednesday, 16 February 2022

Good morning and welcome to our Prayers for the Day.

This is the Day that the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it.
Amen

Our service on Racial Justice last Sunday has made me reflect a lot on what it means to be one body of Christ in our diverse cultures, colours genders and how we all have a part to play to bring justice and unity. I came across this poem based on Psalm 133:1 and I thought of sharing.

“How very good and pleasant it is when people live together in unity.
When forgiveness oils the wheels of relationships,
when kindness is the currency.
When understanding is the language that is learned,
when issues can be aired and faced honestly,
when friendship is nurtured above differences.
How very good and pleasant it is when people live together in unity.
When food is shared, and bread and wine brings us together,
when we find in Jesus there is no rich or poor,
privileged or marginalised,
when hope and peace wash away grudges and the desire to get even.
How very good and pleasant it is when people live together in unity.
(By: Dave Hopwood)

Thanksgiving

Almighty God, we give you sincere thanks for the gift of a new day, with its opportunities to serve you. Grant that we may so pass its hours in the perfect freedom of your service. Help us to embrace anything that comes our way as an opportunity to see You at work and an opportunity to point others to You. Make us Your true light bearers to shine upon others for Your name to be glorified.

Loving God, we give you thanks for your amazing power and work in our lives, we thank You for Your goodness and for Your blessings over us.  Thank you for sacrificing Your only Son Jesus Christ our Saviour who died on the Cross so that we may receive grace of freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don’t thank You enough, for who You are, for all that You do, for all that you’ve given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on You afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with Your peace and joy.  We give You praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus’ Mighty Name.
Amen.

Luke 10:26-28 says:
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

Oh God, we confess our failure to love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We confess our failure to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. We confess our stubborn, judgmental, critical spirits, our prejudice, our pride, and our sinful ways. Forgive us, we pray. Loving God, we ask You to give us Your heart for others and fill us with a willingness for unity. Fill us with love for those most like us and for those who are least like us.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Matthew 24 states:
“⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows”.

Almighty God, our world is covered by endless natural and man-made disasters; earthquakes, floods, fires, storms, pandemics, wars, poverty and the list continues. Nations are in uproar with conflict and violence resulting in suffering and death of your innocent people. Today we especially bring the intense tensions between Ukraine and Russia. We thank You that there is some dialogue in process.  Direct the hearts of leaders at every level who are involved in decision making for peace to be restored. Move their hearts to make godly decisions even if they may not be godly people. Our eyes are on You for answers, without You peace and unity with words or legislation against protests, violence cannot be achieved.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Merciful God, we thank you that You have brought hope in curbing Covid-19 and nations are moving towards lower restrictions.  We thank You for the successful vaccination programmes.  We continue to face unto you Lord, for Your help as we are now faced with yet another year of uncertainties; of spiking cost of living bringing increased poverty, homelessness and suffering to many. We pray that You give wisdom to leaders at every level, in government, local authorities, church and communities who are involved in decision making to see the plight of your people. We thank you for your promise that when we come to You in prayer You will hear us.
Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to Your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come.  Loving God, we place our worries in Your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that You restore them back to good health. Comfort those in mourning and grant them peace and acceptance in knowing Your presence.

Merciful Father. Accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen.

Have a wonderful blessed day!!

Grace Hunting