Daily Devotions for Wednesday 29th March, 2023

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God

Reading : MATTHEW 27 verses 11-44
Meditation : take time to consider what these verses teach us about fasting.
Pilate.
Jesus is sentenced.
Jesus is mocked.
Jesus is crucified.

Then take the time to Pray to this Jesus
Look again at verses 22 and 23 as you turn to prayer
Giving thanks for Jesus – come from heaven to earth
Praying for people suffering injustice in our world
Praying for those working for truth and justice

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!

In Jesus’ Name
Amen

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on those who have heard bad news recently
O LORD God, have mercy and hear our prayers this day we ask.

Evening

Reading : read these verses again from MATTHEW 27 verses 11-44
Reflect on the words…and all that happens….. 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 lay ourselves before You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Midday Prayer with Others

On this last Tuesday in March – in this Season of Lent – you are invited to pause and pray where you are with those gathered in the Upper Room today

P-ause with God
R-ejoice in His blessings given
A-sk for the needs of our church family, the SEECofS churches, our nation and our world at this time – especially the people and leaders of Ukraine, Turkey and Syria
Y-ield to His Kingdom ways

Time-Out Tuesday in Lent

As we journey through these closing days of March 2023…in this season of Lent…

At Liberton Kirk we usually set aside a Tuesday each week and provide a place with space – the UPPER ROOM – a place for time-out in our busy days above the Kirkgate Cafe. This is a safe place for you to be.

The Upper Room will be open once again this Tuesday…..and you are invited to take time-out with God at some point…7.30am – 7.30pm….and to pause with Him….reflecting…praying….

This is a quiet place…..a safe place for you and God to take time-out together

* A space for you to be still in a busy world
** To pause and pray with God at this time – the God of all comfort, wisdom, mercy and hope
* To listen to God – Father Son and Holy Spirit – in these times

There are opportunities to pause and pray with others at 8am, 12 noon and 7pm….and John and others gathered then will be happy to see you at any of these times…..or you can arrange to pray with the Prayer Team at some point suitable for you….

In the evening….we gather on Zoom for our monthly church family Gathering for Prayer – 7.30-8.30pm…..when we take time to give thanks for blessings received….wait and listen with God….focus on the Church in need in our world….and pray for each other. All are invited!

You are also invited to walk round the Kirk, pondering some of the words laid out at the various stations…from PSALM 139….or to visit the Offering House – beside the gates – 8am-5pm each day – there are several helpful reflections and prayers – and helpful leaflets and booklets about our faith and our Kirk. There is also a Prayer Request Box situated here for you to leave your own personal requests – our Prayer Team will prayerfully support those you name.

The Daily Devotions have been taking us to a daily time of considering God’s Good News with God’s written Word – and you may want to pause to pray with others at the start of each day as we consider the truths behind the words of this part of the Bible. During March our focus continues on the theme of Telling Others the Good News from Matthew’s Gospel and dipping into Psalms at the weekends. This is available on the Kirk website blog and our social media pages on Facebook and Twitter from 7am- and in the church magazine.

And – don’t forget the brief Sunday morning Reflection at 8am…….and you can still revisit Thy Kingdom Come global prayer venture daily reflections on our YouTube channel…..from our Prayer Ministry Team providing a reflection over the 11 days period

May we each and all experience time-out with the Living and True God – whenever – wherever – as we step into the month of April 2023.

Thy Kingdom Come – at Midday – Cheeky Pandas!

As a Church we were part of the global prayer venture earlier last year – Thy Kingdom Come.

This prayer continues around the world and the ThyKingdomCome prayer venture runs 18-28 May this year.

Each Sunday at Midday we are re-visiting one of the 11 daily themes….and this time we revisit the video that was released for younger viewers…..on the theme of SILENCE.

Daily Devotions for Sunday 26th March, 2023

5th Sunday in Lent

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

Reading : PSALM 51
Meditation : take time and consider this psalm of confession this particular Sunday morning.
A Prayer for Forgiveness.
What is your response to these words?
What is your prayer to God this morning?

And then pray in response – using the words of verses 1 and 2 as you turn to prayer

O God of greatness
We bow before you
We believe in you
We trust in you
We confess to you
We receive from you
We offer you our songs of praise
This new day
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

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

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

Evening
Reading : read these particular verses again from PSALM 51
Reflect on the words spoken and then Pray in response to this God

Praise him, kings and all peoples,
princes and all other rulers;
young women and young men,
old people and children too.
Let them all praise the name of the LORD!
His name is greater than all others;
his glory is above earth and heaven

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
Confessing our sins
Receiving your cleansing
As we pilgrimage on towards tomorrow
In Jesus’ name, Amen.