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

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 Tuesday 25th August, 2020

Upper Room day and Evening Gathering for Prayer

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

Reading : PSALM 127

Meditation : take time and consider this passage this morning.
In Praise of God’s Blessings – count them one by one in your life at this time.

And then Praise’n’Pray in response to what you have read
Taking time to thank God for each blessing in your life

Father God
Thank you
Thank you
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 PSALM 127 again as your day closes

Reflect on the words…. and then Pray….to the LORD our God

God of good gifts,
God of blessing,
Our God,
We bring our evening worship to you
As we lay ourselves and our families before you
In Jesus’ name.
Amen and Amen.

Rhythm of Time-Out in August

As a Church we set aside a Tuesday each week and provided a place with space – the UPPER ROOM – a place for time-out. However in these times sadly it is not possible to open and run this space….for now….

But…..our Tuesdays – and every day – can still be an opportunity for time out…..with God…..where we are at home or work

You are invited to pause regularly at some time during AUGUST and be still with God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

You are encouraged to speak with Him….to listen to Him.…to receive from Him…especially at this time as we seek to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church in our times.

You are encouraged to visit the PATHWAY of PEACE around the Kirkyard which is open 8am-8pm during August and visit the prayer stations as you walk and think and reflect and pray in these days.

Peace Pathway Poster 2020

You are encouraged to journey onwards and upwards with your rhythm of prayer and devotion – on your own and with others.

You are invited 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 5pm….focussing on all those affected by the coronavirus…..and during this particular week you are invited to join the Church of Scotland Week of prayer for Church and Country.

You are invited to pray with others in our Church family as we journey through this last week in August 2020 together…..and to listen for what God is saying to us in these particular days.

Call to Pray with Others in the Church

You are invited to pause and pray with others in our city and across the nation at this time in your Sunday

You are encouraged to pray for all those affected by the coronavirus

We were asked to pray for the Church and our Country this past week