Daily Prayers Friday, 25 March 2022
Prayers for Friday, 25th March 2022
Christ in the Wilderness – The Hen – Stanley Spencer
In preparation for our prayers today, I thought it might be helpful to contemplate this painting by Stanley Spencer. I hadn’t seen this painting before, but it prompted me to realise, as Spencer had, that the Bible only tells us what happened to Jesus at the end of his time in the wilderness – we know nothing of what he did during the rest of the 40 days. What we do know is that he made time for contemplation – to listen to God, as well as asking God for strength to carry out his ministry.
You may like to spend some time just looking at the image to see what it has to say to you.
Silence
It makes me think about the value of spending time in contemplation, with no other distractions. So let us clear our minds and bring our whole selves to God.
Let us pray:
Loving God, we know that Jesus spent a significant time in the wilderness, which took him away from other distractions and allowed him to listen closely to your word, to wrestle with what you had to say to him and to really hear your voice.
Help us to put aside other distractions, to open our ears, our minds and our hearts to you.
We bring to you all those who suffer in mind, in body or in spirit.
We pray for peace in this troubled world.
We pray for all who carry heavy responsibilities.
We pray for those who devote their lives to caring for others.
Guide our thoughts and our actions. Deepen our relationship with you and our relationships with one another. Bring us to a deeper understanding of your plans for us and what you need us to do to put these plans into action.
We ask all our prayers in the name of Jesus.
Amen
Holy Spirit,
Fill us with your water of life,
So that, even as we walk through the desert
We might know your refreshing
And share it with those around us.
Lead us, as you led Jesus,
To the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
(From engageworship.org)
Rosemary Kearsey
