Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 25/05/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Sunday 25th May
Heavenly Father, the doctors told me I have a heart condition. They have shown me the evidence from the various tests they have done and they prove, conclusively, that this is undoubtedly true. That was some time ago and, thankfully, the doctors have provided medication so that I can live a full life and I don't have to worry about my heart
This morning, as I sat down to pray, I think You said to me: "Everyone has a heart condition". On thinking about this, sitting here in Your presence, praying, I realise the Truth of what I think You said. We all have a heart beating in our body, and it is some sort of condition, good, bad or middling!
But I also think that, although You are concerned about our health, this is not the heart You are thinking about. The heart that concerns You is the one that shows our love, the one that is connected to our soul; and this is where You want to work in our lives
One day, my beating physical heart will stop and my life on earth will end. It is not at that point that a decision will be made about my final destination. That decision was made at the point I gave my heart to Jesus. The condition of my heart was changed at that point, my heart was changed from one of stone to one of flesh
Your promise is: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh". Your diagnosis for each of us is the same; we have a heart of stone! Your remedy for each of us is the same, a heart transplant; You take away our stone heart, encrusted with sin, bitterness, guilt and shame, and You give us a new heart, a heart like Jesus; one that loves and serves, brings hope and light into the lives of others. A heart that loves You with all our soul, mind and strength
Thank You Jesus, the Great Physician, who makes all this possible. I owe my eternal life to You
Amen
Songs for today:
Create in me a clean heart
Purify my heart
This is my desire
Saturday 24th May
Heavenly Father, thank You for this day at home with the family. In saying this, I know what a gift it is to have family around me; I am acutely aware that this is not the case for everyone
I used a phrase yesterday in conversation, which I realised was not entirely possible. I said: "They will be coming for the foreseeable future". As soon as I said that I realised that I cannot see the future, only You can do that. What I can do is to make a decision as to how I will be in this coming day. As it happens my calendar today had the following on it: "Each day, we face a choice. We can sow either grace or condemnation into the lives of the people we interact with and serve. Whichever one we choose will bear fruit. God grant us His tender Spirit today so that we may model grace and sow its seeds into others' hearts"
Coincidentally my devotional for today had this passage: "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me"
We all live in different circumstances so we may not meet hungry or thirsty people today, strangers or people needing clothing, or people who are sick. We may well meet people who are imprisoned! Not necessarily in the local jail, but bound within themselves, facing a day without hope, and no good foreseeable future
Into the day of everyone I meet I can bring Your Word, whatever it is You prompt. Into every life I can bring Jesus, alive in me. Into every life I can sow good seed knowing that good seed brings a good harvest. I have made my choice, to be like Jesus. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
The Jesus Way
Make me a channel of Your peace
Show me Your ways - Thrive Worship
Friday 23rd May
Heavenly Father, it seems that we have a deep longing built into us to return home. There are some who may want to escape because of what they have done. Some may want to escape because of what was done to them. But deep within most of us there is still a desire to go back home, no matter what has happened
I know my family all have this desire. At the end of the day there is something very special about settling down together and sharing some of the day's events, sharing a meal, sharing memories or simply sharing a laugh together. We hear said: "Home is where the heart is". It is not the building, although familiar surroundings are good, it is the family that makes the home. 'Familiar' and 'family' share a common root word, the Latin word 'familia' meaning household or family
I wonder if Paul felt at home in the churches he established through Your Spirit? I wonder if he was thinking of the church at Philippi as family when he wrote: "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"
Lord Jesus, it is wonderful that we can be confident You will complete the work You have started in us; that I can be confident You will complete the work You have started in me! This is not a boast about anything I may have done, this is all about what You have done and will do. Our real home is with You, in a paradise garden; this is the longing for home deep within us
Thank You that You have made us a family of brothers and sisters in Christ, children of God, and opened the Way for us to return to You, today, tomorrow and eventually forever in eternity
Amen
Songs for today:
The Family of God
Homesick for Heaven
Heaven song
Thursday 22nd May
Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You do for me. I am forever grateful for Your love and concern, especially that shown through Jesus. Wherever I find myself today, whatever circumstances I find myself in, I know You will be with me. My prayer today is that whatever I ask will not be for me, but through me
We are where we are for all kinds of reasons, and it may be that we ask You to change those circumstances or get us out of that place, but while we are there You will have a purpose for us being there. Just as You had a purpose for Abram leaving Ur of the Chaldeans, and later Harran to go to the Promised Land; just as You had a purpose in sending Joseph to Egypt and Jonah to Nineveh, You have a purpose for us being where we are today
Sometimes Your Way is not clear to me, sometimes Your purpose for me being where I am is not known, but I can trust You to not waste my life in a pointless pursuit where there is no fruit and You are not glorified. You are working all things for good! Your Word tells me this: "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose"
The greatest good for me is to do Your will and thus glorify Your Holy Name. The greatest good ever was done by Jesus, even though He suffered for that good on the cross. There is often suffering when we are living according to Your purpose because we are in a hostile environment, but the joy we have when we see Your purpose fulfilled far outweighs any suffering we may have to endure
So, today, Lord Jesus, by Your Spirit I ask that You work through me to further Your Kingdom and to glorify Your name. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
God is working His purpose out
Love moves (in mysterious ways)
Tears
The more I seek You
Wednesday 21st May
Heavenly Father, Jane was given a magazine the other day and was really pleased with the choice. She said that some of the other magazines, not mentioning any names here, have so much drivel in them, focusing on which famous people got married and for how many times, saying they have never been happier, for the umpteenth time, and looking at their new home together, or on their own if they are newly separated
I suppose it is another form of escape, to live life through reading about others; not unlike watching 'soaps' on the TV. I don't watch any now, but I must admit I used to. Many people watched 'Ken and Deidre' or 'Angie and Den' in years gone by. I don't know who people follow these days
Father, help me to keep my head in the real world! Escaping into a good film for an hour or two is relaxing, or at least it can be; a good thriller can get me on the edge of my seat. To find myself talking about what is going on in 'soap-land' takes me away from reality. And there is enough going on in my life and in the world to keep me busy
Help me to think and pray about real situations and real people. There are plenty to think and pray about! Most I can't affect at all, but as the saying goes, "I know a man who can!"
Lord Jesus, You affected the lives of so many as You walked the earth, and throughout the centuries since, and still today You help and guide millions of people as You answer the prayers of those who love You. Fill my mind with situations today where it is Your Father's will to intervene and do something miraculous. May my prayers never be 'drivel' but real and full of hope. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Living hope
Hope for the hopeless
Tuesday 20th May
Heavenly Father, the film "Star Trek VI" is titled "The Undiscovered Country". It is about the future of the 'Federation of Planets' and how some people fear the future. It could be a title for each one of us
Late last I thought I heard You say to me: "journey into the unknown" which I thought was also about the future; each day is unknown to us. We may have regular routines, but there is always the possibility that something unexpected will happen. There is also the possibility that something planned, but entirely new will happen; making each day a journey into the unknown
Today will be such a day for me, as it will be for many people. Whether it is a visit to a strange place, perhaps on holiday, or to an appointment which will determine a decision about future plans, or a delivery of some sort, the day lies open before us. It is good to journey into the future with others, as the Bible tells us, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour. If either of them falls, one can help the other up"
There will be a hospital bed delivered to our home today; this is our undiscovered country, our journey into the unknown. Soon there will be another day with unknown elements when the hospital bed is occupied for as long as it is required
Thank You that go before us in each day. Nothing is a surprise to You and You will give us what we need to deal with any and every situation. I am sure David had qualms when he ran to face Goliath, but all his confidence was in You! "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied"
The day may not have a sword, spear, or javelin, but there will be things the enemy will try to throw at me, in my thoughts and in the day's troubles, but You will be with me and I will overcome each one of them, because: "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us". Thank You Jesus
Amen
Songs for today:
More than conquerors
Overcomer
Thanks and praise
Monday 19th May
Heavenly Father, thank You for the many thoughts and prayers I receive regarding Jane. And the concern shown for me. They are a great encouragement and comfort. Thank You also for those who visit, often giving me a few minutes to go for a little walk, usually to the chapel
Those few minutes give me time to come into Your presence in peace and quiet and solitude. I love being with Jane, of course, and with other people, but there is something very special about being alone with You. Solitude gives me time to reset my mind, my thoughts; it gives me time to remember my place in the world, to remember I am Your child and that You know me, that You know all about me and that You love me
Sometimes my thoughts tumble out, telling You about my day, what I have done or what I have to do; all things You already know but You still like me talking about them. I'm pretty certain I tell You everything for my benefit as much as Yours. Often of course I just sit in silence, there are no words to express how I am feeling
Lord Jesus, You said: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him"
Thank You for the Psalms written by King David and others. This one gives great guidance! "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations"
Whether shouting it out or silently, thank You for Your ever loving, everlasting kindness
Amen
Songs for today:
Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
God can hear your silent prayers
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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