Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 21/09/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Sunday 21st September
Heavenly Father, a friend asked me to think and pray about a line in a song by Gerry Rafferty: "Whatever's written in your heart that's all that matters ..." My mind sprang into action thinking that certainly whatever is in our hearts is very important, but then there was some caution as I thought about Your Word to us
Jeremiah warns us: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" So I must be careful not to trust my heart unreservedly but to test it. Jeremiah prophesies speaking Your Word: "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve”
Jesus reflects on this with a similar point: "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of"
King David's recognised his sinful behaviour and asked You: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." We can be sure of Your Word and similarly the Word of Jesus: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”
So, Lord Jesus, we must hold fast to Your teaching. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life; Truth is obviously important as it sets us free. Lord, You also said: "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." You demonstrated this love on the cross, but went the extra mile, as St Paul explains: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
And Paul tells us of three things that last: "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." So how do we show Your love? "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity"
Love is vital, but is more than just words, it is shown in action. The apostle John writes: "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." And Jesus' brother, James says something similar with regard to faith: "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead"
As in all things I must put my trust in You: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." "Whatever's written in your heart that's all that matters..."? I think there is more to it than that
Amen
Songs for today:
His Grace will carry you
Chief Cornerstone
Forgiveness
Clothe yourself with humility
Saturday 20th September
Heavenly Father, I was reminded yesterday of the importance of forgiveness. I was also reminded of the picture I felt you gave me years ago that has stuck with me. When I am hurt or offended in some way arrows are fired into me, right into my heart, and these arrows have strings attached. This means that the one who hurt or offended me can tug on those strings, hurting me again and again
The enemy can also tug on these strings. I can also be controlled by these strings, my reaction to various situations being affected, in all my relationships, not just with the person who hurt me. Unforgiveness is so damaging to me; the other person may not be affected at all, they may not care and may even enjoy having control. Not only this, but unforgiveness affects my relationship with You
Your Word tells me: "If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins"
In the picture I believe You gave me, when I forgive someone then You cut the strings and You gently pull out the arrows that were fired into me so that healing can begin. Forgiveness is for my benefit; the other person may be unaffected or not even know forgiveness has taken place. The other person may even have died! Forgiveness releases me from a stronghold the enemy may have built in my life and I am no longer bound
Lord Jesus, if there is anyone I have not forgiven I forgive them at this moment and ask You to release me. Thank You that 'give' is written in 'forgive' and it is 'for' my own good. In forgiving I am forgiven. But Lord, help me to remember that all this is only possible because of Your sacrifice and the healing power of forgiveness flowing from the cross. I'm forever grateful
Amen
Forgiveness (incl Testimony):
Sacrifice of love
You did not wait for me to draw near to You
I am carried
Friday 19th September
Heavenly Father, thank You for encouraging and inspiring people to pray today and every day. Thank You for encouraging and inspiring people to write songs of praise and worship today and every day. Thank You for encouraging and inspiring people in acts of kindness today and every day. Thank You for encouraging and inspiring people to preach the Gospel and witness to Your goodness and kindness today and every day. Thank You for encouraging and inspiring people to love one another today and every day. Thank You for encouraging and inspiring people to go the extra mile today
There can be no doubt that the world is a better place because of Your encouragement and inspiration. Help me to trust Your Word, as You spoke to Joshua: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”
Thank You for being with me wherever I go. Knowing You are with me gives me all the encouragement and inspiration I need to do Your will. After all, if You are for me, who can be against me. Your Word reminds me that when I seek to do Your will: "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." There will be many challenges today, indeed there already have been! Thank You that whatever comes You will be there to encourage and inspire
Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Thank You that we can trust every encouraging, inspired Word You have spoken
Amen
Songs for today:
You're never alone
I walk by faith
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Thursday 18th September
Heavenly Father, "What do I know?" We sometimes hear this question asked in a rhetorical way, almost like a challenge. The person asking the question obviously knows something. Or at least thinks they do
Lord Jesus, a man born blind, who had been healed by You, was asked by the Pharisees what had happened. They were concerned because it had happened on the Sabbath. The man explained how You had put mud on his eyes and when You washed it off he could see. The Pharisees were furious and questioned the man's parents. "They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents." The parents were afraid of the Pharisees and said: “We know he is our son, and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” They told them he was old enough to speak for himself, so they questioned the man again, accusing You of being a sinner. The man who was born blind answered: "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
Lord, what do I know? I know You are the Son of God. I know You have impacted my life and the lives of millions of others. I know I was filled with Spirit on the Norfolk showground at the Living Water conference. I know what have I learned and what experience has taught me. All I know is You are real in my life. Immanuel, God with us. Thank You that I know what I know. I know You
Amen
Songs for today:
I know a Name
I know a place (At the Cross)
Wednesday 17th September
Heavenly Father, the hectic pace of life can sometimes mean we don't have time to appreciate the things that are around us. We don't always have time to stop and see or hear. There always things to do, places to be and people to see
You know I send this prayer out to quite a few people, and I always read it before I send it. I wonder how many people often don't have time to read it, let alone take in what it says. I do understand how busy life is for many people. I can well remember dashing around getting things ready, making decisions about whether or not I had time to do certain things before I rushed off to work, sometimes missing breakfast or grabbing a slice bread to eat on the way. My life is far less hectic now as I am retired from work but I still have lots to do in caring for my wife
Thank You for the many replies I get, some are "Amen' others are prayers for me and Jane. and some are prayers on all kinds of concerns or topics. My hope is that each day someone is encouraged to pray; it's why I started doing this share-a-prayer. My hope is that someone finds themselves just talking to You, going off at a tangent into their own ideas and thoughts, lost in wonder, love and praise. My hope is that someone may have a fresh revelation about You from a scripture verse or the words of a song
One thing I do know is that You are always at work in our lives, always talking, always listening, always encouraging, always inspiring, and most of all always loving. Thank You that You always have time for us, even if sometimes we don't have time for You
Amen
Songs for today:
River
I shall not want
The Stand
Way Maker
Tuesday 16th September
Heavenly Father, most days bring challenges. Jesus said: "Each day has enough trouble of its own." With each challenge, each problem, each trouble there can be a choice to make: do I turn to You or do I turn away from You; do I pray or do ignore the King of kings and Lord of lords; do I dismiss the One whose: "foolishness is wiser than human wisdom," and who's weakness is "stronger than human strength"
I suppose it isn't easy to stay calm and patient waiting for You to act and, I have to say Lord, You do sometimes take Your time over things. Eventually we tend to 'do an Abraham' and take things into our own hands. That didn't work out too well! And often it doesn't go well for us either. It may be that You want us to act, but in Your time and with Your guidance
Help me, Lord, to be patient and to keep praying. I know that it is not because You don't hear me; I know You hear every prayer. I know it is not because You don't want to help. I know that You do want to help. I know You are with me, You will never leave me nor forsake me. There may be pressure from others who mock
The Psalmist writes: "My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'” Strengthen my resolve to trust in You, let me be unashamed, knowing You are for me and not against me. I know that there is a breakthrough coming because You know what I need before I ask!
Jesus said: "When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." So, Lord, each challenge, each problem, each trouble that today brings I offer to You
Lord Jesus, You have overcome the world and therefore: "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Help me to be patient and remember King David's advice: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Don't stop praying
The God who stays
Unashamed
Breakthroughs coming
Monday 15th September
Heavenly Father, thank You the eyewitness accounts of Jesus' life, given by the disciples Matthew and John. And thank You for the research done by Mark and Luke who obviously spoke to many people about Jesus rather like reporters in our day. This would explain why their Gospels include different views of the same events and also many different things that happened. This indicates there was no collusion between the four of them
The preacher in our church yesterday talked about an accident and the different people who may have been there: onlookers, police, and paramedics. The first with a passing interest; the police asking questions, looking for eye witnesses, establishing the facts; the paramedics there to look after those involved, caring about them but not really interested in what happened unless it helps with the treatment
What is my role? I suppose it is my role to be a gossip! Letting people know who are interested that there has been an accident, in particular those who may be affected; friends and relatives in particular. Normally gossiping us not good, but in this case I am trying to help
In the case of Jesus, it was not an accident, it was murder by crucifixion. I am not an eyewitness, but I am involved in the aftermath! I have heard all about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and I am now a character witness on His behalf. I have met Jesus by His Spirit and can testify to His goodness and saving grace
Lord Jesus, help me to 'gossip the Gospel' today, letting people know what happened then via eyewitness accounts and reports; and what You are doing today as I walk with You. Thank You for getting me involved in all of this. Let Your Light shine and Your Glory be known
Amen
Songs for today:
Gospel Truth
With the Lord
When Jesus calls me home
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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