Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 04/05/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Sunday 4th May
Heavenly Father, I finished praying yesterday saying that I would tell you the amazing thing that happened next. Lord, I know You already know, because You were there with me, but if I went along the line that You know everything there would be little point in talking to you!
After I had finished praying with my new found friend another young man, quite a bit younger, came into the chapel. He picked up a Bible, so I asked him if he was a Christian. He replied, "Not yet". We got chatting and he was obviously a seeker and had a lot of questions
Thank You for the opportunity I had to share the Gospel with him. He didn't know where to start reading, so I suggested the Gospels, but he didn't know what they were, so I showed him, and explained about the Old Testament and the New, as well as the Epistles. We covered a whole range of topics and verses, good and evil, Jesus' words: "I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life" and John 3:16, that the four Gospels were written close to the time the events happened, two of them by disciples who were with Jesus, eye witnesses, the question of fact or faith, I told him about the Bible app I use and he downloaded it immediately
He was worried about not being forgiven for the things he had done wrong so I was able to reassure him that his sins were forgiven and paid for by Jesus’ sacrifice. He seemed very relieved. He said he had prayed but never heard of felt anything. Again I reassured him: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart"
My son, George, came into the chapel on his way to visit Jane, and was there waiting for us to finish, so witnessed most of what happened. I prayed a few days ago that I wouldn't be stopped from preaching the Gospel, so this one-to-one was a great encouragement to me. Thank You for every opportunity to speak about You
Amen
Songs for today:
The heavens they preach
Near to hear
Saturday 3rd May
Heavenly Father, there I was yesterday afternoon in the chapel at the local hospital, as I have been many times, starting over 40 years ago when we were seeking to keep our first born. It is a wonderfully quiet place with people popping in and out for a few minutes to pray for their loved ones in hospital, as well as themselves and family I guess
As I sat there a member of staff came in and sat near me. As I prayed I felt prompted to speak to him. I asked if he was a Christian and he said he was, so I asked if I could read him the lyrics of the song I found yesterday, "Thank You". He beat his chest at the end, saying it touched his heart. We shared a few words and I told him our situation. He then told me his sister was suffering from a life threatening illness too and we shared a prayer for each other. I didn't ask his name, nor he mine, but it was wonderful to share time with a brother in Christ
There are so many praying for Jane and me, and I would ask that everyone who prays with me prays also for this gentle man and his sister. Lord bless him with faith and devotion and bring his sister back to full health; I ask this that it may be your will
I am getting used to Godly intervention! I was meant to play at a funeral yesterday, but for some reason, despite being Christians, the family changed their plan and decided they didn't want an organist, which left me free to be with Jane and to meet this brother in Christ! May my life and the lives all Your children be filled with Godly interventions to support one another, and perhaps bring others to Christ. Thank You
Amen
(Lord, what happened next was amazing! I'll tell you tomorrow)
Songs for today:
Sovereign over us
10,000 reasons (African medley)
Friday 2nd May
Heavenly Father, sometimes a song 'hits the spot’; it manages to say exactly what it is that a person wants to say. When I went to look to see what songs were on offer this morning there it was, the song that is spot on. I read in the 'more' bit underneath’: a little personal note: this song was written about 20 years ago when I (gk) was quite young
It was a personal prayer of thanksgiving and worship to my Lord and Saviour. My desire is that this song might be an encouragement and a help to you in your walk with the Lord." Well, 'gk', whoever you are, and wherever you are, and even though you may never read my prayer, I can tell you that your song, written 20 years ago, did exactly what you wanted it to do today!
Your song has been a great encouragement to me today and has helped me in my walk with the Lord. I had already decided I wanted to write a prayer of thanksgiving this morning, especially for my friends and my family who have been praying for my wife, Jane, and me, as I sit by her hospital bed
Each day, over the last ten 'leukaemia' years, we have given thanks to Jesus, as each new day is so precious to us. As we have so often said, "No matter what happens we know we are safe" because of "the blood You shed"
Today we want to give thanks to so many people, all over the world, for the prayers they have offered in support of us, as each minute passes
Thank You for the quiet times when we just sit and You hear our thoughts and prayers
Thank You for the times we have read "Your Holy Word"
However, as the song says, "But most of all, thank You, Lord, for the blood You shed." As a friend of mine often says: "Where would I be without You." Thank You
Amen
Song for today:
Thank You
Thursday 1st May
Heavenly Father, I was praying yesterday that nothing can stop us preaching. Lord Jesus, even when the disciples went to You complaining someone not in their group was driving out demons You told them to let him carry on
John said to You: "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us". You replied: "Do not stop him, for no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward"
This may be about casting out demons, not specifically about preaching, but it feels as though the same principle would apply. However there is an instance when You stop a mouth! Zechariah, the Father of John the Baptist was struck dumb for doubting the Angel Gabriel's message about the birth of his son. He was muted and unable to speak until after the child was born and he wrote down, "His name is John" as instructed by the angel. When released he was filled with the Holy Spirit and said: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has come to His people and redeemed them". And looking at the baby he prophesied: "And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the Way for Him, to give His people the knowledge of Salvation through the forgiveness of their sins..."
Paul wrote to Timothy: "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my Gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's Word is not chained"
Lord, release my mouth, and let nothing stop me from sharing the Gospel. "Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life". As the saying goes: "God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called". Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Lord release my mouth
Perfect timing
Bless the Lord O my soul
Website article: Let Nothing Stop You From Sharing The Gospel - Breaking The Chains Biblical Recovery Ministry
Wednesday 30th April
Heavenly Father, thank You that no one can stop us preaching. They tried to stop Jesus but couldn't. When an angry crowd took Him to the brow of the hill in order to throw Him off the cliff we are told: "He walked right through the crowd and went on His Way"
When they tried to silence Him by having Him crucified, dead and buried, three days later He was talking to Mary and teaching two men He met on the road to Emmaus. Even the sign on the cross preached as You died: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". Written in three languages, so everyone could read it, Hebrew, Latin and Greek
Later He appeared to the disciples in a locked room saying: "Peace be with you" and showing them His hands and feet. He commissioned them to go and make disciples of all nations, granting them the Holy Spirit and power to forgive sins
They couldn't stop Stephen preaching even as they stoned him to death Stephen prayed: "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit". Then he fell to his knees and cried out: "Lord, do not hold this against them"
They tried to silence the disciples but Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead - whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Saviour so that He may bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins"
They locked Peter in a cell but Your angel released him to preach. When Paul was in chains he continued preaching! "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"
Lord Jesus, they can't stop me preaching. I can preach when I walk through the door into church, I can preach as I sing in worship, I can preach over coffee, I can preach as I walk out of the door and walk the streets. Thank You Lord that nothing can stop Your Gospel from being preached
Amen
Songs for today:
The heavens they preach
Love songs from Heaven
Tuesday 29th April
Heavenly Father, thank You for this reminder in Your Word: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work"
There are many ways that we can give; money for the ministry of the church of course is the obvious way we can give. Jesus spoke about a poor widow who came and gave her last two copper coins, saying: "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on"
Money is important, but we can also give generously with our time and talents too. We hear occasionally that time is money, and there is no better Way to invest our time than in the work of the church and the work of charities
Each of us has talents, skills that we have been gifted with, that can be used to help build the kingdom. "As you come to Him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him - you also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ". We are involved in a rescue mission
Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost, that we were like sheep without a shepherd, that it is the sick who need a doctor; that He came to call sinners to repentance
Lord Jesus, You invested everything You had in us! Help us to give generously, money, time and talents to help You continue Your work here on earth today so You may reap abundantly
Amen
Songs for today:
Here I am wholly available
Send me out from here Lord
I the Lord of sea and sky
Monday 28th April
Heavenly Father, I was praying yesterday about the wonderful way our bodies are regularly replenished, while being aware that we are also gradually wearing out this earthly body; the replenishment slows down. Eventually our hearts give out and we die
Your Word however tells us a greater Truth: "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"
It is so easy to focus on this world and the physical things that are our bodies. It is so easy, and not unexpected, that we focus on the troubles that each day brings. Often those troubles are "light and momentary" in varying degrees, but all things must pass. Sometimes they only pass as life ends and we 'pass away'
There will be some who go to hospital today and whatever their ailment it will be fixed. There will be others who will only be offered the support they need to sustain their life for as long as possible. But for all who trust in Jesus, there is a hope that transcends all of life's troubles. Inwardly we can feel the power of Your Spirit, the strength of Your Spirit
As a friend of mine occasionally comments: "The joy that enabled Jesus to endure the cross is our strength". So, we can fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. "Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart"
Lord Jesus, one day I will meet You seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Trusting in Your righteousness and not my own, the unseen will be seen. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
The joy of the Lord is my strength
No greater love
Cornerstone
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
|