Persistence pays

One of the most surprising and unexpected Christmas gifts I received this year was a voucher for two sessions at a physiotherapy clinic. At a recent church get-together I had mentioned the trouble I was having with my shoulder, and how I had been on the waiting list for treatment for months. Realising that I was unlikely to do anything more about it myself, the person listening, (who happened to be a medical practitioner), decided to take the initiative out of my hands.

Well, in the course of my two excellent sessions I have learned three useful things about physiotherapy exercises

  1. They are hard work
  2. They have to be done regularly
  3. They do make a difference

While my shoulder itself is still not completely better, I am much less aware of the discomfort I used to feel, and have a sense that things are now heading in the right direction.

I think there are definite parallels between my experience of physio, and my faith. Here at Liberton we are in the middle of our season of focussing on the ‘upward’ dimension of our spiritual lives, and often, in all the busy-ness of 21st century living, this is the one that suffers most. As a result our faith begins to get a bit creaky, and our relationship with God becomes more and more forced when it could be flowing.

The solution? Nothing too drastic – just a willingness and a commitment on our part to get back to the basics. Spending time with God can at first seem very like hard work, especially if it’s something we are not used to doing regularly, but it soon makes a real difference.

Let me leave you with the words of one of my favourite Alan McKinlay songs, which are all about being persistent in prayer, and which are a paraphrase of the words of the Master himself, (to be found in Luke 11.9-13).

We’re asking and we keep on asking

We’re seeking and we keep on seeking

We’re knocking on the door of heaven

And we won’t stop knocking ‘till we see heaven come to earth

Happy Exercising!

Much love

John

Daily Devotions for 13th January 2017

Morning

Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from the LORD God

Reading :  Daniel 9 verses 1-19

Meditation :  consider carefully and prayerfully Daniel’s prayer.
Which words and verses stay with you?

And then put it into practice in your own morning prayer as God leads you….

Father God,
Forgiving God,
Teach us to pray
And hear our prayers
That Your kingdom come, your will is done.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Midday

Pray for peace in our world
Amen and Amen, O God.

Evening

Reading : read the verses again

Reflect on the words Daniel said to his God and then pray with confession
O Lord, hear our evening prayers.

Daily Devotions for 12th January 2017

Morning

Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God, the Holy Spirit

Reading : Daniel 8

Meditation : take time and consider this chapter.
Note verses 26 and 27…..why do you think Daniel was so affected in this way?
What is God teaching you today – about His timings and plans?

Pray in response…to keep in step with the Holy Spirit whatever the time

Spirit of God,
I do not understand all I read,
But
Fall anew on me
Break and melt and mould and fill me
All over again
From the inside out
And guide my daily steps
At work, rest and play
That all I am and do
Is in keeping with your great timetable.
Amen…in Jesus’ Name.

Midday

Pray God’s blessing on members of your local Council
God of mercy and justice, hear our prayers. 

Evening

Reading : read the chapter again

Reflect on the words spoken and then Pray in response at the end of the day
Eternal God, hear my evening prayer.

Daily Devotions for 11th January 2017

Morning

Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God

Reading : Daniel 7 verses 15-28

Meditation :  take time to consider what troubles Daniel here.
Why do you think he was troubled?
What do verses 22…25 and 27 say to you this morning?

Take time to Pray in response to the One who is God Most High

O LORD God,
Almighty,
God Most High,
Help me to understand more and more
Who You are
And to give myself
In worship and surrender
To You alone.
Amen I pray this day.

Midday

Pray for those who suffer and grieve, and for those who comfort them.
O LORD God, hear our prayers.

Evening

Reading : read verses 15-28 again

Reflect on them at the end of your day…. And then pray to this God.
Amen and Amen we pray, O God

Daily Devotions for 10th January 2017

Morning

Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God, the Holy Spirit

Reading : Daniel 7 verses 1-14

Meditation :   consider Daniel’s dream….and ‘The Ancient of Days’
Take time to consider what ‘the Ancient of Days’ means in understanding more of God.
What is God’s word to you this particular day?

Pray in response

O Eternal God,
God of yesterday, today and tomorrow,
Our God,
Help us to make these words we read
A living reality…day by day…today.
With the help of Your Holy Spirit within us
Help us to trust you with our past, our today
And all that lies ahead in life.
Amen we say together.

Midday

Take time to listen for God to speak with you at this time of day
Lord…as we ask, seek, knock……thank you.

Evening

Reading : read the verses again

Reflect on what they say to you all these years later.. and Pray in response

(Pray your own words at the end of this day
Words of worship and praise – for who God is
Words of trust and thanks – for what God has done today for you
Words of hope and longing – for what God will do in and through you – even tomorrow)
Amen we pray together.

Daily Devotions for 9th January 2017

Morning

Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God our heavenly Father

Reading : Daniel 6 verses 15-28

Meditation :  take time to consider all that happens here.
Note Darius’ words in verses 26 and 27
What is God saying to you this morning?

and then pray in response to what God is saying to you 

(Pray your own words in response to what you have read and meditated on )
In and through Christ Jesus alone we pray this morning, Amen.

Midday

Pray the words of the Lord’s Prayer as your own prayer
(The words can be found in Matthew 6 or on LK website – Prayer tab)

LORD, have mercy and hear our prayer.

Evening

Reading : read these verses again

Reflect ….. and pray for others under persecution for their faith
God of all grace, hear our prayers