Daily Devotions for AUGUST 2020

Praise the LORD, O my soul; All my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Psalm 103 verse 1

During 2020 we have been looking at standing on the promises of God – as well as dipping into a Psalm most weekends – pausing in prayer at our times of Midday Devotion for others in our church family, our city and our world at this time.

In August we continue to consider words from the PSALMS – including the words of Psalm 101 each weekend.

We are all encouraged to listen for God’s voice and make our response as we journey together in our ‘rhythm of devotion’ during this particular year of 2020.

These Devotions are but one way to feed on God’s Word in the morning, at midday, in the evening… to pray with Him continually through the day and even to share with others the treasures or hurdles you discover.
The Church website and Facebook page (even on a handy mobile) provide a fuller daily devotional page. However it all follows the pattern below which the information provided fits into, based on the Kirk’s origins of the Celtic and Northumbrian traditions which we started as a church family in 2015.

Morning
Reading and Meditation on the content and Prayer of response
Midday
Prayer – mostly for others
Evening
Verse(s) from the morning reading
Reflection and Prayer at the end of the day

A Prayer for the Month
A Prayer for August….from Denis Turner

I’d like you to look at your hands. Have you ever thought about them? Are they big and strong or are they fine and delicate? And do you ever think about our children’s hands? When newly born their hands are not much bigger than a 50 pence piece, the amazing thing is they already have 27 bones.
So, I’m thinking we are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made” Ps 139 v 14.
But this is only the start, what about our senses, we have five right, hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and touching. Yes, those are the physical senses but what about the two we’ve forgotten? Common sense, which the bible often refers to as understanding and combines it with wisdom. Also, there is the greatest sense of all Love.

Consider these verses before we pray.
Wisdom & understanding Psalm 49 v 1,2,3 Proverbs 3 v 13&14 19&20
Love Ephesians 5 v 25 1Corinthians 13 v 13 John 3 v 16

As we consider being “fearfully and wonderfully made” in Your image God, we think of what makes us special. Our five physical senses which enable us to experience joy, pleasure, and wonderment, at your creation Also, we, like you, have knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Most of all our heavenly father you have imbued us with love, that deep sense of care and empathy which raises us above your creation, We receive your love to dispense your love, may we continue to do so in Jesus name. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Now and for ever
Amen

Thy Kingdom Come #adore

As a Church we took part in the global prayer venture of Thy Kingdom Come earlier this year.
This ran during the 11 days between Ascension and Pentecost.

Each Saturday at 12 noon we are continuing to ask and seek and knock on Heaven’s door…..’Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done’…..and to pray for up to 5 people we know to meet with Jesus and to experience God’s Kingdom reign in their lives.

This week we focus on the theme of ADORE as we pause to pray in praise with others.
We are invited to spend time giving praise and adoration to the LORD our God.

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

o Lord, our Lord,
How glorious is your name in all the earth!

High above the heavens your majesty is praised!

O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Amen!

Daily Devotions for Sunday 19th July, 2020

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from the Living God

Reading : PSALM 23 verse 5

Meditation : take time to consider this part of the psalm on this Sunday.
My cup overflows.
What words or images stay with you?
What are you grateful for at this time?

And then pray in response,
Using the words as part of your own prayer of praise

‘Give thanks with a grateful heart’
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Midday
Pray the Prayer for the Month as your midday prayer

Loving Father,
We face a wide river and we long to reach the other side;
And we must use the stepping stones offered to us.
You say, ’When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
When you pass through rivers, they will not sweep over you’.
Our trust is in you, O Lord.
In Jesus’ name. Amen

(Isaiah 43.2)

Evening
Reading : read these words again from PSALM 23.5
Reflect on the words and images and then Pray in response at the end of your day

O LORD, our Provider and Protector
We bring our evening sacrifice of praise to you.
As we return our thanks to you
As we acknowledge You our Saviour and Help even this day.
As we pray for all corners of our world
To know of Jesus.
In His saving name, Amen.

Thy Kingdom Come #help

As a Church we took part in the global prayer venture of Thy Kingdom Come earlier this year.
This ran during the 11 days between Ascension and Pentecost.

Each Saturday at 12 noon we are continuing to ask and seek and knock on Heaven’s door…..’Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done’…..and to pray for up to 5 people we know to meet with Jesus and to experience God’s Kingdom reign in their lives.

This week we focus on the theme of HELP as we pause to pray with others.

Thank God for His help this past week.

Ask God the Holy Spirit for His help to speak of Jesus to someone – today – this week.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions for Saturday 18th July, 2020

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

Reading : PSALM 23 verse 4

Meditation : take time to consider this verse afresh this morning.
The valley of the shadow of death.
What do these words mean for you in your life?

And then Pray in response – for others in a valley at this time

O God of all comfort,
Mercy and peace,
Hear our prayers
And walk with those we name before you.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen

Midday
Pray the Lord’s Prayer as your own midday prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Now and for ever
Amen

Evening
Reading : read these words again from PSALM 23.4 at the end of your day
Reflect on these words as you look back over your day and then Pray in response

LORD God, our God, hear our prayers this evening
As we return our thanks to You
And trust you for tomorrow
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Devotions for Wednesday 15th July, 2020

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God, the Three in One

Reading : PSALM 37 verses 1-7

Meditation : consider all that is said here as your day starts.
Do not fret…Trust…Delight…Wait…
There are some great teachings in each of these verses.
Which one will you hold onto at this time?

Then turn to pray to God in response….looking again at verse 7

O LORD our God,
Thank you for all these words
And all they teach me.
May we be a people
Who ever trust you above all others.
O teach us what this truly means
In our lives
In our community
In our world
In Jesus’ name, Amen


Midday

Pray God’s blessing on the City Council in our city at this time
O LORD, have mercy, give wisdom and hear our prayers we ask this day.

Evening
Reading : read this passage again from PSALM 37
Reflect on the words you have read and then pray in response – to this God, our God

LORD God, our God, God of perfect righteousness,
Hear the evening prayers of your people
For we are indeed in need of your guiding in our world
In Jesus’ name. Amen.