Daily Devotions for MARCH 2023

…Jesus said to them,
“The Son of Man is about to be handed over to men who will kill him;
but three days later he will be raised to life.”
Matthew 17 verses 22 and 23

During 2022 we were looking daily at the theme of GOOD NEWS as we journeyed with Paul through his letter to the ROMANS.
In 2023, we are looking at TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

….and pausing at our times of Midday Devotion to pray for others in our church family, our city and our world in this season of Lent as we journey with Matthew and a few Psalms.

We are all invited to listen for God’s voice and make our response as we journey together in our ‘rhythm of devotion’ in 2023

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 MARCH

Dear Lord,
Some of us come to the season of Lent
with an attitude or practice of self denial
to remind us of your 40 days fasting in the desert.
Whether or not we each do this,
please help us all to use this time
to prayerfully examine our way of life and our commitment to You.
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 – at Midday – Youth Silence

As a Church we were part of the global prayer venture last year in the 11 day run up to Pentecost – Thy Kingdom Come. This year the venture runs 18-28 May.

This prayer continues around the world throughout the year!

Each Sunday at Midday we are re-visiting one of the daily themes….and this time we revisit the Youth videos and the theme of SILENCEas we watch and listen on this last Sunday in February 2023….

Daily Devotions for Sunday 26th February, 2023

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

Reading : MATTHEW 15 verses 10-20
Meditation : take time and consider this passage this particular Sunday morning.
Unclean.
What is God teaching/reminding you today?
What words stay with you?

And then pray in response – using Jesus’ words as you turn to prayer

O God of amazing grace
And inner cleansing
We bow before you
We believe in you
We trust in you
We need your touch afresh
This new day
In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Midday
Pray the Lord’s Prayer as your 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 particular verses again from MATTHEW 15 verses 10-20
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
And your cleansing touch
As we pilgrimage on towards tomorrow
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions for Saturday 25th February, 2023

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

Reading : MATTHEW 14 verses 22-36
Meditation : take the time to consider these events this Saturday morning.
Jesus walks on the water.
Jesus heals.

Which words stay with you as your day starts?
What is God teaching/reminding you about Himself today?

And then take time to Pray with Praise in response to this God

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.

O God of great and miraculous things
We believe
Help our unbelief!
Amen we pray with praise together this new day!

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

Dear Lord,
Matthew teaches us that You care intensely about people.
Most notably those who are on the margin of society; the aged, the blind,
The infirm, the psychotic, and even those
whom we would naturally distrust.
Give us encouragement and grace to follow Your example,
that we may show Your Glory in our lives.
Amen

Evening
Reading : read the verses again from MATTHEW 14 verses 22-36
Reflect on the words…. and then Pray with Praise 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

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Daily Devotions for Friday 24th February, 2023

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from Jesus

Reading : MATTHEW 14 verses 13-21
Meditation : take time and consider all that is said here about our God.
Jesus feeds 5,000.
What images or words stay with you?
What is God teaching/reminding you today from this passage?

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

Happy are those who have the God of Jacob to help them
and who depend on the LORD their God,
the Creator of heaven, earth, and sea,
and all that is in them.
He always keeps his promises;
He judges in favour of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry

And so we bring our sacrifice of praise to you, our God Most High.
As we name those in a place of hunger at this time
Amen – we pray together.

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on Calum, our church organist
Father God, hear our prayers and bless him real good we ask

Evening
Reading : read this passage again from MATTHEW 14 verses 13-21
Reflect on the words written here and pray in response to the LORD our God.

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.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Daily Devotions for Thursday 23rd February, 2023

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

Reading : MATTHEW 13 verses 53-58
Meditation : take time and consider these words this morning.
Jesus is Rejected.
Which words stay with you?
What is your response to God’s Word today?

Then pause to pray to this Jesus we believe and trust in

And so we bring our sacrifice of praise to you, our Lord
Forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us
Bless those in a place of rejection at this time we call out
In Jesus’ name, Amen and Amen..

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on Jenny Thomasi and her family
God of grace…hear our prayers and pour a blessing we ask on this family

Evening
Reading : read these verses again from MATTHEW 13 verses 53-58
Reflect on these words – at the end of your day
and Pray with honest words in response to our God and Saviour

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.