Daily Devotions for SEPTEMBER 2020

This is my command – be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go
.

Joshua 1 verse 9

During 2020 we have been looking at standing on the promises of God – as well as dipping into Psalm 119 some 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 September we consider PROMISED LAND LIVING in JOSHUA and JUDGES – as well as words from Psalm 119 each weekend.
(If you want to pursue this further – Glory Days by Max Lucado is a very helpful book about Promised Land Living – Alastair has a copy to be borrowed!)

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 challenging 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 of September

In Joshua we see Israel in the wilderness and the lesson that fullness of your will in us is through Jesus and not the law.
Lord, just as your people Israel experienced swollen rivers and walled cities, so do we today with viruses and sickness, people lost in darkness, man’s inhumanity to man, poverty and hardship close to home. Equip us in your strength to overcome. Bring us into your fullness; deliverance, healing and abundant living; and plant in us the fruit of your Spirit. Help us face the future with courage and keep us fixed on your Word.
Lord, your people had to wait faithfully and patiently to enter the promised land; they suffered loss when Moses, their leader, was taken from them but you met them in their loss and provided for them a new leader to take them through.
When we become impatient in waiting for you to act we need to remember that you operate on a whole different level to our understanding. Please help us to trust and feel your presence with us as we wait on you.
Thank you for your promise that you will never leave us alone.
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

Daily Devotions for Sunday 30th August, 2020

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

Reading : PSALM 101

Meditation : take time and consider this psalm again this particular Sunday morning.
A King’s Promise.
What does it mean for you today?
What is God teaching you about Himself and His Kingdom ways??

And then pray in response

O God of greatness
We bow before you
We believe in you
We trust in you
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Will be Done
In our day
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 verses again from PSALM 101

Reflect on the words and images and then Pray in response to this God

O LORD, hear our evening prayers we ask
As we thank you for the blessings of this Sunday
As we believe and trust in you
As we pilgrimage on towards tomorrow
Thy Kingdom come
Thy will be done
As it is in heaven
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thy Kingdom Come #Jesus

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 JESUS as we pause to pray with others.

We are invited to spend time with the LORD our God….asking for others to meet with Jesus….

Name those known to you….in your family…..street…..office…..sports club…..

O Lord
Hear our prayers
And give saving grace
We ask
In Jesus’ name
Amen

Daily Devotions for Saturday 29th August, 2020

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

Reading : PSALM 101 verse 8

Meditation : take the time to consider these words this Saturday morning.
What are you encouraged and challenged by?
Where in our society and our world do you long to see evidence of God at work?

And then take time to Pray in response to this God
Make these words your own
As you pray for our city
Our nation
Our world

Amen we pray together this new day.

Midday
Pray the Prayer for the Month as your midday prayer

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


Evening

Reading : read verse 8 again from PSALM 101

Reflect on the words…. and then Pray in response to what you have read

LORD God, our God, hear our evening prayers.
As we worship you for who you are
As we thank you for your help this day
And name others before you
As we call out to you for our nation and our world in these days
O LORD God, have mercy and give saving grace we ask!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Call to Midday Prayer

I cry out to the Lord;
I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before him
and tell him all my troubles.
When I am overwhelmed,
you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go,
my enemies have set traps for me.
I look for someone to come and help me,
but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
no one cares a bit what happens to me.
Then I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life.

Amen we say together

Words from this morning’s Daily Devotions – Psalm 142

Daily Devotions for Friday 28th August, 2020

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from Jesus

Reading : PSALM 142

Meditation : take time to consider these verses this morning.
A Prayer for Help.
What is your response to God’s Word today?
What is your prayer to Him this morning?

Take time to Pray in response to the LORD our God
Looking again at verses 1-3

O God of power and grace,
As I read these words
Help me believe
And trust in You
In good times and in hard times.
May Your Holy Spirit work in and through me.
As You were doing through the psalmist’s life
As You are doing across the world.
O show mercy in these days we call out!
In Jesus’ name.
Amen – we pray together.

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on those in need of God’s help at this time
Father God, hear our prayers, have mercy and pour out blessings we ask

Evening
Reading : read these words again from PSALM 142

Reflect on the way God has led you in your life
and pray in response to Him – with humility
and for others known to you in need at this time

Lord Jesus, hear our evening prayers
As we return our sacrifice of praise
As we bring ourselves to you at the end of this day.
Our thanks
Our troubles and complaints
Our concerns
As we name others in need before You.
Amen.