Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 30/03/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Sunday 30th March
Heavenly Father, thank You for this day, this Sunday. Every Sunday I am aware of those in countries where persecution is at its worst, and where there are people who have to meet in secret. In following You they risk their lives. It has been like this throughout the centuries
The first disciples met behind locked doors. Your Word records that Herod "had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each"
Later we are told that Stephen was stoned to death. Also that Paul was under house arrest and later imprisoned. He writes to the people in Philippi: "Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the Gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the Gospel without fear". Even while under arrest Paul continued in his mission to spread the Word!
He continues writing: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body"
Lord, strengthen all those who live in the body and suffer in the body for you. I know I have it easy where I am. Help me still to preach the Gospel, to speak of Jesus, think like Jesus and live like Jesus, until I come to be with You
Amen
Songs for today:
All I once held dear
Son of suffering
He walked where I walked
Lord have mercy
Saturday 29th March
Heavenly Father, thank You for all those who will meet with people on the streets today to talk about Jesus. It may be in big cities like London, or it may be in small villages like mine. It may be through an organized mission or it may be a small group meeting for coffee or a walk together. It may be on a diary or it may be a chance meeting in the street with a friend or even a complete stranger. In any and every one of these situations Your children need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, without You we can accomplish nothing
Lord Jesus, You told the disciples: "Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the Vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I AM the Vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing"
Anyone speaking today in Your name needs to be powered by You, by Your Spirit. This is why Your Word tells us: "Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit." The verb 'filled' is in the present continuous tense, in modern parlance, we need to be always plugged in and switched on
Our spiritual receiver need to be tuned in to the Spirit so he can guide our feet and our words, saying "Yes" to one conversation and "No" to another, because He knows who is open to receive the Gospel and who isn't. As Jesus taught: "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces"
Help us to remember that everyone has a back-story. Some will be in great need of Jesus today, and will know it. May they receive the Pearl of great worth, and the Salvation of their soul. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
You are the Vine
A new commandment (Tune only but with extra verses)
Excuse me
Friday 28th March
Heavenly Father, sometimes it feels as though I am battling with You, or fighting You, or at least running away from You. Like Jonah, trying to run away to Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh and ending up in the belly of a great fish; like Elijah hiding in a cave, hearing You say to him in a whisper: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
Like those game shows when someone has to run a distance with a thick elastic band fastened to them holding them back, or in 'Gladiators' when the contestant is chased by a gladiator and has to jump an obstacle, run through a wall and up steps before getting caught. I suppose sometimes I just want to do what I want to do
Like George Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life' saying in anger to the girl he is about to fall in love with and marry: "Now you listen to me! I don't want any plastics, and I don't want any ground floors, and I don't want to get married - ever - to anyone! You understand that? I want to do what I want to do"
Sometimes I am able to give myself a good talking to, and realise that what I am thinking, or about to do, is not good, not good for me or anyone else. Sometimes, Jane has to give me a good talking to, to help me open my eyes and see that things are not all bad, that I am not a "complete, total, utter and abject failure
And sometimes Lord it is You who gives me a gentle, loving talking to, often through Your Word or even in a whisper. Or as in in my devotional verse for today: "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in the year of drought and never fails to bear fruit"
Thank You Lord, for Your peace, Your patience, and Your love. I am blessed as I trust in You
Amen
Songs for today:
I'm gonna trust in God
Trust in God
Running away
Thursday 27th March
Heavenly Father, we get hungry when we haven't eaten for a while. We get thirsty when we don't drink. As a nation we need Your Word!
Lord Jesus, You told the woman at the well at Sychar: "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." At another time You said: "I AM the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty"
As a nation we are starving, we are dehydrated. There has been so little preaching of Your Word that we have become used to starvation and drought so we now don't even realize we are hungry and thirsty. We are in a perilous situation. We are dying! You offered an invitation: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare"
Lord, send out the wonderful aroma of good food into the atmosphere. Lord, open our eyes and our ears to see and hear Your Word. Open our mouths to receive from You. Let those who have the blessing of Living Water in them flood the nation. Let those who have the Bread of Life feed those around them. Let those who taste that the Lord is good never want to stop eating and drinking, and want to always share what they have found in You
Lord, our nation is almost dead; we need reviving so we can eat and drink. Come Holy Spirit, revive us again
Amen
Songs for today:
Heal our nation
Revival
I heard the voice of Jesus say
Bring Heaven to Earth Lord
Beloved
No greater love
Wednesday 26th March
Heavenly Father, having prayed about sin, repentance, and second chances over the last few days, I decided when I woke up this morning that I wanted to focus on holiness. It was lovely to see the verse for today was this: "Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience"
And also this song, based on a prayer of St Augustine, was on my playlist:
"Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
that my thoughts may be holy.
Act in me O Holy Spirit,
that my work too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
that I always may be holy. Amen"
Thank You Lord for this. I found it a great encouragement. As I dress this morning help me to remember to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Also to put on Your full armour: the belt of Truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit
Lord, make me holy today, set aside for You. I know I can only do good by the power of Your Spirit. I can only be Your ambassador by the power of Your Spirit. I know people will only see You in me by the power of Your Spirit. So, Holy Spirit, please fill me, surround me, sift me, cleanse me, and clothe me so all that I do and say is to Your glory. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
St Augustine's Prayer to the Holy Spirit (Breathe in me Holy Spirit)
Purify my heart
Faith gear - Armour of God
Tuesday 25th March
Heavenly Father, I had a thought cross my mind while Jane and I were praying yesterday. I wondered how many people hold on to their guilty feelings because it makes them feel better about themselves?
This may seem like a strange thing to think, but I wondered if we think we can somehow pay for our sins by feeling guilty? After all, guilt can be a recognition that I am doing something wrong. It shows I am conscious of my conscience; a conscience given us by You to make us aware of right and wrong. But simply being aware doesn't cleanse me of my guilt
I heard many years ago that if I feel condemned it is not You, it is the enemy. If I feel convicted it will be You. What is the end point of the conviction that comes from You? Returning to the Lord! I will know it is conviction when it brings me back to You. I will know it is condemnation when it leads me away from You
I must remember Your Word to us: "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". My thoughts ran on: what would be even worse, no guilty feelings? If I feel no guilt or shame at any point wouldn't that be worse than feeling some sense of having done something wrong, at least caring about it?
Your Word warns us: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron". You convict us because You want better for us than self-destructive sins that stop us flourishing and thriving
There's one reason we should leave our sins: You are better! Because fellowship with Jesus is more wonderful, more glorious, than the pleasures of sin and it leads us back to the One who loves us and transforms us day after day. Thank You Lord, for showing such love
Amen
Songs for today:
Lamb of God
I still believe
Come to Me
Monday 24th March
Heavenly Father, yesterday I gave thanks for You being the God of the second chance. You are well aware of our weaknesses and that the enemy will always be trying to lead us astray; more than that, he wants to destroy us
Your Word tells us that You provide for us in the temptations we feel: "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it"
I mentioned yesterday how You met with Saul and David and provided a way out. You did the same for Joseph, whose arrogance caused his brothers to sell him into slavery; in Egypt he eventually became second only to Pharaoh and thus his family's Saviour. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, You provided a way home. On the seashore You met with Simon Peter and offered him his second chance after he had denied You three times
Pride could have stopped any of these men from turning back to you. Our attitude can easily be: "I've made my bed and I'll lie in it. It's my mess and I'll sort it!" But, You are always with us, and come into the mess to help us, showing us the way out. A writer known as Ecclesiasticus wrote "Run away from sin like you would from a snake: If you go near it, it will bite you. Its teeth are lion’s teeth, destroying a person’s life"
Help me Lord to do as Your Word instructs: "Flee from evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart". May I go through Jesus, the Gate for the sheep, the Way out You have opened up for me
Amen
Songs for today:
Bring me back
Jesus Messiah
Through the storm I stand
Holy, Holy, Holy
Trust in God
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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