Matthew – Page 21

Daily Devotions for Saturday 21st January, 2023

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

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

Reading : MATTHEW chapter 5 verses 17-20

Meditation : take the time to consider these words from Jesus this Saturday morning.
The Law.
Which words stay with you as your day starts?
What is God teaching you today about His ways?

And then take time to Pray with Praise in response to this God
Make these words your own

Praise the LORD!
It is good to sing praise to our God;
it is pleasant and right to praise him.
The LORD is restoring Jerusalem;
he is bringing back the exiles.
He heals the broken-hearted
and bandages their wounds.
He has decided the number of the stars
and calls each one by name.
Great and mighty is our Lord;
his wisdom cannot be measured.
He raises the humble,
but crushes the wicked to the ground.

Amen we pray with praise together this new day

Midday
Pray the Prayer for the Month as your own midday prayer

Dear Jesus, to each other we have given our gifts of love
When we celebrated your birth.
But the wise men brought gifts
Showing Your Kingship,
The bitterness of life,
And the embalming in death.
Help us to remember that You came Purposefully
To exchange Your Life for ours.
Amen

Evening
Reading : read the verses again from MATTHEW chapter 5 verses 17-20
Reflect on the words…. and then Pray in response to what you have read
This is our God!

Sing hymns of praise to the LORD;
play music on the harp to our God.
He spreads clouds over the sky;
he provides rain for the earth
and makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives animals their food
and feeds the young ravens when they call.
His pleasure is not in strong horses,
nor his delight in brave soldiers;
but he takes pleasure in those who honour him,
in those who trust in his constant love

Thank you O God
For your perfect ways
For your perfect Law
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions for Friday 20th January, 2023

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from Jesus

Reading : MATTHEW chapter 5 verses 13-16

Meditation : take time and consider all that is said here about our God’s Kingdom ways
Salt and Light.
What images or words stay with you?
What is God teaching/reminding you?

And then Pray with your own words to this God of ours in response

And so we bring our evening prayers to you, our God Most High.
Amen – we pray together.

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on Jacqui, Edna and Sunny as they serve us
Father God, hear our prayers and bless them real good we ask

Evening
Reading : read this passage again from MATTHEW chapter 5 verses 13-16
Reflect on the words written here and pray in response to the LORD our King.

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, my soul
I will praise him as long as I live;
I will sing to my God all my life.

Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done
On earth
As it is in heaven
In Jesus’ name, Amen

Daily Devotions for Thursday 19th January, 2023

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

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

Reading : read MATTHEW chapter 5 verses 11 and 12 again– in another version?
Reflect on the words…. and then Pray….to the LORD our God

Meditation : take time and consider these words this morning.
Insulted. Persecuted.
Reward in Heaven.
Which words stay with you?
What is your response to God’s Word today?

Then pause to pray in response to this faithful and merciful God

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

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on Judy Weston and our Finance Team
God of grace…hear our prayers and pour a blessing we ask

Evening
Reading : read MATTHEW chapter 5 verses 11 and 12 again

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
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 18th January, 2023

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity starts

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God

Reading : MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 10

Meditation : take time to consider what these words teach us.
Those who are persecuted.
What are you challenged and encouraged by this morning?
Who are you praying for in a place of persecution?

Then take the time to Pray to this God, our God who helps.
Praying for people suffering injustice in our world
Praying for those who are persecuted for being believers in 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!

O LORD our God
Hear our cry for others
Give help and strength
Grace and mercy
Comfort and peace
In Jesus’ Name
Amen!

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on Chris and Margaret Brandie and their family
O LORD God, give blessing and hear our prayers this day we ask.

Evening
Reading : read MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 10 again– in another version?
Reflect on the words…. and then Pray….to the LORD our God

Hear our evening prayers, O God, as this day ends.
We believe and trust in You and name others before You.
Give strength and comfort
Peace and wisdom
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions for Tuesday 17th January, 2023

Upper Room day

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

Reading : MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 9

Meditation : take time and consider this verse this morning.
Peacemakers.
What is God saying to you today about His Kingdom ways?

Pray in response to what you have read
Naming people of peace and places in need of peacemakers.

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 MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 9 again– 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.

Daily Devotions for Monday 16th January, 2023

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

Reading : MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 8

Meditation : take time to consider these words as your day starts.
The pure in heart.
Let the Holy Spirit speak with you about your inner being.

Then Pause to Pray in response to the LORD our God
With honest humility.

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 John and Lindsay and their family.
God of grace and mercy and rich blessing, hear our prayers we ask.

Evening
Reading : read these words again from MATTHEW chapter 5 verse 8 – in another version?
Reflect prayerfully on what you read and then pray to our God in response

True and Faithful One, hear my evening prayer
Have mercy
Purify my heart
As I lay myself and this world before you at the end of today
In Jesus’ name, Amen.