Daily Devotions for Thursday 20th April, 2023

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from Father God

Reading : MARK 6 verses 30-56
Meditation : take time and consider these words this morning.
Jesus feeds.
Jesus walks.
Jesus heals.

Which words stay with you?
What is your response to God’s Word today?

Then pause to praise and pray to this faithful and good God

And so we bring our sacrifice of praise to you, our God
As we name others before You
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on Open Doors staff in Africa
God of grace…hear our prayers and pour a blessing we ask on this team

Evening
Reading : read these verses again from MARK 6 verses 20-56
Reflect on the words and images – at the end of your day
and Pray with honest words in response to this God – our God

People will speak of your mighty deeds,
and I will proclaim your greatness.
They will tell about all your goodness
and sing about your kindness.
The LORD is loving and merciful,
slow to become angry and full of constant love.
He is good to everyone
and has compassion on all he made.

O LORD, hear our evening prayers
As we name others before You
Forgive us our sins of this day
As we forgive those who have sinned against us – even today
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions for Wednesday 19th April, 2023

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God

Reading : MARK 6 verses 1-29
Meditation : take time to consider these words and events
Jesus is Rejected.
Jesus sends Disciples out.

What are you challenged and encouraged by this morning?
Where is Jesus sending you today?

Then take the time to Pray to this Jesus

I go to you for protection, LORD;
rescue me from my enemies.
You are my God;
teach me to do your will.
Be good to me, and guide me on a safe path.
Rescue me, LORD, as you have promised;
in your goodness save me from my troubles!

Send me
Where and when you will
Even today

In Jesus’ Name
Amen!

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on Open Doors at work in Latin America
O LORD God, have mercy on this work and hear our prayers this day we ask.

Evening
Reading : read these verses again from MARK 6 verses 1-29
Reflect on the words…. And then pray to the LORD our God

I go to you for protection, LORD;
rescue me from my enemies.
You are my God;
teach me to do your will.
Be good to me, and guide me on a safe path.
Rescue me, LORD, as you have promised;
in your goodness save me from my troubles!

Hear our evening prayers, O God, as this day ends.
We believe and trust in You and lay ourselves before You
As you send us into tomorrow
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions for Tuesday 18th April, 2023

Upper Room day – time-out with God

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from Jesus, Saviour and Lord

Reading : MARK chapter 5
Meditation : take time and consider these events this morning.
A Man with Evil Spirits.
Jairus’ Daughter.

What words or images stay with you?
Who is on your prayer list for a healing touch at this time?

Pray in response to what you have read
Naming others before Father God
Taking time to pause and listen for God’s answer to you

I call to the LORD for help;
I plead with him.
I bring him all my complaints;
I tell him all my troubles.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Midday
Take time to listen for God to speak with you at this time of day
Ask, seek, knock….hear!
Father God…thank you.

Evening
Reading : read MARK chapter 5 – in another version?
Reflect on the words…. and then Pray….to the LORD our God

I call to the LORD for help;
I plead with him.
I bring him all my complaints;
I tell him all my troubles.

In Jesus’ name.
Amen and Amen.

Time-Out Tuesday here and there

As we journey through these days of April 2023….

At Liberton Kirk we usually set aside a Tuesday each week and provide a place with space – the UPPER ROOM – a place for time-out in our busy days above the Kirkgate Cafe. This is a safe place for you to be.

The Upper Room will be open once again this Tuesday…..and you are invited to take time-out with God at some point…7.30am – 7.30pm….and to pause with Him….reflecting…praying….

This is a quiet place…..a safe place for you and God to take time-out together

* A space for you to be still in a busy world
** To pause and pray with God at this time – the God of all comfort, wisdom, mercy and hope
* To listen to God – Father Son and Holy Spirit – in these times

There are opportunities to pause and pray with others at 8am, 12 noon and 7pm….and John and others gathered then will be happy to see you at any of these times…..or you can arrange to pray with the Prayer Team at some point suitable for you….

You are also invited to walk round the Kirk, pondering some of the words laid out at the various stations……or to visit the Offering House – beside the gates – 8am-5pm each day – there are several helpful reflections and prayers – and helpful leaflets and booklets about our faith and our Kirk. There is also a Prayer Request Box situated here for you to leave your own personal requests – our Prayer Team will prayerfully support those you name.

The Daily Devotions have been taking us to a daily time of considering God’s Good News with God’s written Word – and you may want to pause to pray with others at the start of each day as we consider the truths behind the words of this part of the Bible. During April our focus continues on the theme of Telling Others the Good News from Mark’s Gospel . This is available on the Kirk website blog and our social media pages on Facebook and Twitter from 7am- and in the church magazine.

And – don’t forget the brief Sunday morning Reflection at 8am…….and you can still revisit Thy Kingdom Come global prayer venture daily reflections on our YouTube channel….from our Prayer Ministry Team providing a reflection over the 11 days period. This year the venture runs 18-28 May. Will you be praying for 5??

May we each and all experience time-out with the Living and True God – whenever – wherever – as we journey through the month of April 2023.

Daily Devotions for Monday 17th April, 2023

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

Reading : MARK 4 verses 35-41
Meditation : take time to consider these events as your day starts.
Jesus calms a storm
What words stay with you today?
Is there a storm you need Jesus to calm?

Then Pause to Pray in response to this Jesus

Pray your own words at the start of this day
Of praise and thanksgiving
Of confession and trust
For others
For our nation
For our world

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on believers in Nigeria
God of grace and mercy and rich blessing, hear our prayers we ask.

Evening
Reading : read these verses again from MARK 4 verses 35-41 – in another version?
Reflect prayerfully on what you read and then pray to our God in response

Eternal and Faithful One,
Hear my evening prayer
As I lay myself and this world before you at the end of today
Calm the storms we ask
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Verse for the Week and Sunday Morning Reflection

Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”
Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Mark 4 verse 39

Do you follow our Sunday morning reflection on the Bible Verse for the Week?
It is found on our YouTube channel…and our Facebook page……..8am each Sunday morning.
The link to this morning’s reflection from John is below (although a different verse but the same chapter!)