Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 28/12/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Friday 26th December
Heavenly Father, it seems I have overestimated the amount of wrapping paper I needed for presents this Christmas; at least, judging by the amount I have left over, unopened. I dare say this has happened to many people over this period of the year, and not only with wrapping paper, but also food and drink. Occasionally we get things just right, or 'spot on', but often we overestimate
One thing we often overestimate is our own ability to do things, like losing weight for example. Following the festive season many people will promise themselves that they will go on a diet or join a gym, but don't. Your Word tells us: "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Too often we try to fool ourselves
Thankfully, You are not like this! You don't try to fool Yourself and You don't try to fool us. Everything You say and everything You do is perfectly measured; You are perfect in all of Your ways. We can see this in your instructions regarding the Temple in Jerusalem, for example: "The entrance was ten cubits wide, and the projecting walls on each side of it were five cubits wide. He also measured the main hall; it was forty cubits long and twenty cubits wide."
The prophecies about Jesus also proved to be exact and true. A few of many examples: the virgin birth, Bethlehem birthplace, being called from Egypt, his entry on a donkey, betrayal for 30 silver pieces, crucifixion, and resurrection. It is impossible for us overestimate the depth of Your love for us, shown through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus
Lord Jesus, You knew exactly why You had come, what would happen, and what would be the final outcome: Salvation for us; for men and women like me who simply trust in You. Thank You, Beautiful Saviour. I can never thank You enough; no exaggeration
Amen
Songs for today:
Good good Father
Salvation (Here I stand with nothing in my hands)
Beautiful Saviour
Whom Jesus loves
Thursday 25th December
Heavenly Father, I was thinking about what it must be like if I was trapped somewhere, in the dark, perhaps in a cave or a tunnel, where there has been a rock fall, there is no way out; the rubble is too vast and too heavy to move. It was terrifying. All that there is to see ahead is a life in the dark and then death
Then one day there is a sound, a voice, crying out in the darkness, preparing the Way. Over a period of time there was rumbling, the rubble was moving, gradually being shifted. Then a shaft of Light appeared, and a hand reached out and held mine, and I knew I was saved. There was still a lot of rubble to move but I was now in the Light and I could see. This is how life was for me; at least that was how it seemed. No amount of money or possessions could get me out of the darkness, I needed to be rescued. This is how life is for so many people
Thank You Father for the rescue mission You started on the first Christmas Day, with the birth of Your Son, Jesus. "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... The true Light that gives Light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognise Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God"
Thank You for reaching out to us, to me, through Jesus. Happy Birthday, Lord. Help me to celebrate joyously, Your birthday, being rescued, and being brought into the Light
Amen
Songs for today (Christmas Day):
You rescued me
Light of the world
Great is the darkness
Wednesday 24th December
Heavenly Father, "What is all the fuss about?" Over a number of years I wrote a new Christmas Carol/song for the 'Annual Festival of Carols' organised by the Great Yarmouth Schools' Music Association. One of them began with the line I used above: "What is all the fuss about?"
Each year, when I sat down to compose, I had a 'blank canvas' and waited for inspiration. And each year, gradually the canvas would fill with lyrics and tunes and harmony until eventually the song was finished. I printed a hundred or so copies and I would then teach the massed schools' choir the song ready for a performance at the Hippodrome Circus or the Minster in Great Yarmouth
Eventually 11 of my songs were published in a collection entitled: "A Star in the East," a line from one of the songs. I recorded six of the songs for a promotional video and listened to it again last night for the first time in ages. Thank You for the songs; I still like them as much now as I did when I composed them
Father, every day we live is a blank canvas. As the day progresses the details begin to emerge. Only You know what the day will bring and our part is to react to the circumstances that we see before us. Much of what happens will be decided by us as we plan the day ahead, but there will always be the unexpected to deal with. Whatever life throws at me, whether planned or unexpected, help me to life my life in such a Way as to glorify Your Name
I pray that each song I composed glorifies Your Name too. My 'fuss' song asked a question, and ends with my response: "Seems to me that there's no doubt, we should sing and we should shout, Jesus is God's greatest gift to all humanity. In all of history. In all eternity. His gift to you and me!" Thank You. "Glory to God in the highest and peace to men on earth"
Amen
Songs for today (Christmas Eve):
A Star in the East - Derek Mill
Tuesday 23rd December
Heavenly Father, only a couple of days until we celebrate the birthday of Your Son. "What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet, what I can I give Him; give my heart"
We sometimes say, "It's a gift that keeps on giving." Well, my heart is a gift I have to keep giving to You every day. Your Word tells me: "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise"
Lord Jesus, You are the gift that keeps on giving. Again, Your Word reminds me: "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Is there any greater comfort than knowing You are with me: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His Name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever"
What a wonderful gift You are. I know You will never leave me nor forsake me. Help me, Lord, to glorify Your Name during this Christmas time, Your birthday, and every day. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
In the bleak midwinter - Holst
Lord You have my heart
Goodness of God
In the bleak midwinter - Darke
Monday 22nd December
Heavenly Father, 'if' and 'when' are words with different implications. Your love for us is unconditional, but Your promises are conditional. We can see this very early in Your Word to Israel: "Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession." And: "If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." If and then
We can also see the same implication in Jesus' words: "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." And with regard to miracles Jesus said: "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move."
'If' is uncertain as it depends on our response, our obedience. 'When' however is certain! Jesus said: "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM He and that I do nothing on My own but speak just what the Father has taught me." "When... then... will..." Jesus spoke prophetically of His death and it happened. Not, 'If you lift up,' but "When you have..."
Regarding eternal life we are told: "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.'" Again, "When... then... will..."
The Bible clearly says Jesus will return, not if, and when He does: "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man... Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of Heaven, with power and great glory"
Lord, help me to always be ready, "because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
In the first light
Here is the risen Son
At the Name of Jesus
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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