Daily Devotions for Wednesday 17th February, 2021

First Day in Lent

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

Reading : PSALM 17

Meditation : consider all that is said here as your day starts.
The Prayer of an Innocent Person.
How would you describe your relationship with God at this time?
What is your response to God’s written Word today?

Then turn to pray to God in response….looking again at verses 6-9

I pray to you, O God, because you answer me;
so turn to me and listen to my words.
Reveal your wonderful love and save me;
at your side I am safe from my enemies.
Protect me as you would your very eyes;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the attacks of the wicked.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on the land and people of Tunisia in these days
O LORD, have mercy and hear our prayers we ask this day.

Evening

Reading : read this passage again from PSALM 17
Reflect on the words you have read and then pray in response – to this God, our God

Listen to my honest prayer.
You will judge in my favour,
because you know what is right.
You know my heart.
You have come to me at night;
you have examined me completely
and found no evil desire in me.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Call to Midday Time-Out

Tuesday before Lent

As a Church our theme for 2021 comes from John 15.5……Listening to God, in Prayer with Him.
It was the theme we took time to consider at our Focus Day at the atart of the year…..which was recorded if you missed it….well worth the catch-up!

As a Church we usually set aside a Tuesday each week and provide a place with space – the UPPER ROOM – a place for time-out in these busier days. In the early weeks and months of lockdown 2021 it is not possible once again to open and run this space.

However you are invited however to make time to pause and take time out where you are…at this significant time of the year….perhaps for the first time this week or month….. and with Lent beginning tomorow – traditionally a time for reflection and self-denial – you are invited to pause just now and take a few minutes with God….listening, asking, waiting, receiving…

You are also invited during Lent to share in the Midday Prayers and Evening Prayers that will be posted online at 12noon and 9pm on various days on the Kirk website and on our social media pages. We are also encouraged to pray with others in our city and across our land at 6pm….focussing on all those affected by the coronavirus…..and during these particular weeks you are invited to join with others and pray for all those affected afresh by the new coronavirus restrictions.

We are all invited to pray with others in our Church family as we journey through these early days of 2021 together…..and to listen for what God is saying to us in these changing and uncertain days. You are encouraged to take some exercise by the Government..and we would invite you to take a walk around the Kirkyard and consider the Word for Today words and images from PHILIPPIANS at this time.

Daily Devotions for Tuesday 16th February, 2021

Upper Room day – time-out with God

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

Reading : PSALM 3

Meditation : take time and consider these verses this morning.
A Prayer for Help.
What is God saying to you today and what is your response?

Take time to Pray in response – including for others in need known to you at this time

I call to the LORD for help,
and from his sacred hill he answers me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Evening
Reading : read these verses again from PSALM 3
Reflect…. and then Pray to this God as your day closes

I lie down and sleep,
and all night long the LORD protects me.
I am not afraid of the thousands of enemies
who surround me on every side.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Daily Devotions for Monday 15th February, 2021

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

Reading : 2 SAMUEL 7 verses 18-29

Meditation : take the time to consider this passage this morning.
David’s Prayer of Thanksgiving.
What words or images stay with you?
What is God saying to you this morning and what is your response?

Pray in response – to this God
Looking again at verses 28 and 29

Pray your own words at the start of this day
Of praise and worship
Of confession and trust
For others in your family at this time

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Midday

Pray God’s blessings on the land and people of Eritrea at this time
O LORD, have mercy on all we call out and pour rich blessings!

Evening
Reading : read the set passage again prayerfully at the end of your day
Reflect….. and then pray to God in response to what you have read

Father God, hear my prayer this evening.
I bow before you
With thanksgiving and confession
As I humbly name others before you.
As I lay myself and this world before you
In these changing days
In Jesus’ name. Amen
.

Daily Devotions for Sunday 14th February, 2021

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

Reading : PSALM 18 verses 25-29

Meditation : take time and consider these verses this Sunday morning.
‘O LORD, you give me light…
You give me strength to attack my enemies’

What encourages and challenges you today?

And then pray in response to this God, the LORD our God
Use verses 28 and 29 as you turn to prayer.

O LORD, you give me light;
you dispel my darkness.
You give me strength to attack my enemies
and power to overcome their defences

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Midday
Pray the words of the Prayer for the Month as your own prayer today

God of the journey,
You call us to follow you
Without fear of stumbling,
Your hand held out
To steady the weakest soul.

Grant us faith strong enough
To take you at your word
And, should we struggle,
To know you’re with us along the way.

Through Christ our Saviour
Amen.


Evening

Reading : read these set verses again from Psalm 18
Reflect on all that is said here in this short passage and then Pray in response to this God

O LORD, our Great Creator God,
Our Help and Strength,
Hear our evening prayers we ask
As we thank you for what we read
As we look back over our day
As we look ahead to tomorrow
As we name before you those we are concerned about.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thy Kingdom Come #thanks

As part of God’s Church we have participated in the global prayer venture of Thy Kingdom Come each year. This runs during the 11 days between Ascension and Pentecost…..and this year it will happen May 13th-23rd.

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 THANKS as we pause to pray with others in our nation and across the world.

We are encouraged to pause and take time with the LORD our God on this particular Saturday in February 2021.
To Thank Him for who He is – the LORD Almighty – our Father God – Saviour – Helper – the same, yesterday, today and forever – pandemic or not!

To Thank Him for the blessings of this past week

To Thank Him for 3 people you know in your life

To Thank Him for the vaccines being given at this time