Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 24/11/2024
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Wednesday 20th November
Heavenly Father, help me to be more gracious. When Jesus was challenged He didn't belittle people, He helped them. He explained things about God and demonstrated His love for them with miraculous powers
He never said to the people, "Who do you think YOU are?" Instead He asked the disciples, "Who do you think I AM?" giving Simon Peter the opportunity to answer: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God". Jesus then said to Simon: "Blessed are you, Simon, Son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in Heaven"
I wonder, Lord Jesus, if this is always the case? It is not I, or any other human being, who reveals that You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! It is by the Holy Spirit of God that people come to know who You are. This is wonderful news as it releases me from the responsibility of anyone coming to know who You are
I am not saying I don't need to go out and speak to people about You; in fact if anything it encourages me to do it even more! The more people I speak to the more opportunities the Holy Spirit has of revealing who You are. If the time is not right, or You know that the ground is hard, You do not reveal the Truth. But if the time is right and the ground is soft then the Spirit opens the eyes of a disbeliever so they can see; just as You opened the eyes of the blind
Thank You for the privilege of sowing seed, and one day perhaps witnessing Your Spirit doing His work
Amen
Songs for today:
Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Reaching for You
To God be the glory
Tuesday 19th November
Heavenly Father, how are You today? It's hard to imagine what it must be like being You! It must be so difficult caring about everyone, all over the world and all at once. Caring about those who love You and yet are suffering, and caring about those who reject You and live in comfort, even in luxury
I heard the other day that it is not my lectures that will make an impression on my children but my behaviour. My actions speak louder than my words. This got me thinking: "Are the Ten Commandments like Your lecture? And is Jesus Your behaviour?"
There is nothing wrong with Your commands; in fact they are perfect. If we could do them life would be perfect. Ten commands: 'No other gods and no idols. No swearing. Take a day off. Love and respect your Mum and Dad. No murder. No adultery. No stealing. No lying. No coveting'
Like a lot of lectures, it goes in one ear and out of the other. A lot of times students don't even turn up for lectures, they'd rather hang out with their friends. And this is where Jesus comes in! Thank You Jesus for being my friend. Someone I can relate to. You took on our way, by taking on flesh, so You could show us Your Way
God said "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts". So You came from Heaven to show us how to think and how to behave; the Way, the Truth and the Life. Thank God for Jesus! Friend forever
Amen
Songs for today:
What a friend I've found
What kind of love is this?
Lord I lift Your name on high
Monday 18th November
Heavenly Father, I was reminded yesterday about family resemblance, and in particular how boys bear a remarkable resemblance to their fathers. I was at a service where my grandson was dedicated to You, and the preacher spoke about the role a father has in shaping the lives of their children, in this case fathers and sons. Posture, demeanour, habits, turn of phrase, beliefs will all be imitated
My devotional today talked about this very same thing! Coincidence? I very much doubt it. The verse in my devotional is: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God". When I was adopted into Your family, I started to imitate You by looking at Your Son, who is Your exact likeness; what we would call Your "spitting image". Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker
Lord Jesus, You said to Your disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid"
But Lord, You also said: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword"
However, Your battle was not with us, but for us! Your Word tells us our "struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms". This is where You battled first and foremost on our behalf, ultimately winning victory on the cross
Lord, help me to be more like You; to learn obedience as You did. Thank You for Your victory. May I use the sword of the Spirit wisely
Amen
Songs for today:
Surrounded (Fight my battles)
The battle belongs to the Lord
His handiwork
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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