Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 26/10/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Sunday 26th October
Heavenly Father, a couple of days ago I asked the question: "How can we measure what is true?" Today I was wondering how can we measure love? Possibly the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16 tells us this: "For God so loved the world that he gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"
Coincidentally, 1 John 3:16 tells us: "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters." A couple of verses later John tells us: "Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth." It is not what we say that shows our love, but what we do
It is now over a year since my wife, Jane, was told by a doctor that the leukaemia had returned, and over 6 months ago since she came out of hospital, the doctor saying they would "try" to get her home to spend some time with the family. Over the last year, and over the last 6 months in particular, there have been numerous visits from friends and family to see Jane, and me. I am sure there have been many people who have experienced the same love, care, and affection across the world
We see love in action in all sorts of ways, a stranger helping someone up after they have fallen; someone visiting an old lady who is lonely to wash her hair, but staying all day for company; someone donating money to help with extra costs caused by a lengthy illness; cooking meals; making up beds, and numerous other examples
Your Word describes love perfectly: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails"
Lord Jesus, Your love is perfect. Thank You, that by Your Spirit, we can love like You. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." You wouldn't give us this command without it being possible, and it is, with the help of the Holy Spirit. "And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God and God in him." Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
How deep the Father's love for us
Oh the deep deep love of Jesus
God so loved the world
God is love His the care
A new commandment I give unto you
Saturday 25th October
Lord Jesus, when You heard that Lazarus was ill You said: "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” This was an amazing thing for You to say
However, then word came to You that Lazarus was dead. When You met Martha, Lazarus' sister, You said to her: “I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” You then went and called Lazarus out of the tomb, and out he came
Lord, I believe every aspect of this story to be true. I believe the illness did not end in death because You brought Lazarus back to life. And I believe Jane's illness will not end in death because You will bring her back to life. In fact I believe that You will bring everyone back to life, even if they die. You told the disciples: "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out - those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned"
This is what John the Baptist meant when he talked about You: "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
You said in Your Revelation to the disciple, John: "Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over these the second death has no power." The second death? Those who believe and trust in You will gain eternal life. For those who don't, You said: "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death"
I also believe that You heal people so they regain their strength and death is stalled, although it does eventually come to us all; as it did for Lazarus. But even then there is so much more to look forward to: "Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." To God be the glory, great things He has done! Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
To God be the glory
Lord we long to see Your glory
This is our God
Friday 24th October
Heavenly Father, how can we measure what is true? If I want to measure distance I can use a ruler which has been specifically calibrated into small units, inches, feet and yards, or millimetres, centimetres and metres. If I want to make sure a shelf or a wall is exactly straight or flat I have to us a plumb line or a spirit level. And if I want to measure temperature I need a thermometer which measures degrees in Celsius or Fahrenheit. These are useful tools designed by men to give a unified set of parameters to help us measure
But how can we know what is true about life, about what is right and wrong? How do we know what is true about righteousness? How do we know what is true about life and death? Lord Jesus, You made a very bold statement about Yourself, You said: “I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." You are the Truth, You are the Way by which all other Truth is measured
We might ask by what authority do You make this claim? Well, You are the Author of Life, and You are the Author and perfecter of our faith. You tell us the Truth about life and death, and demonstrated that You have authority over life and death. You showed this by raising Lazarus from the dead, by lifting Jairus' daughter back from death to life, and by Your own resurrection from the dead: "I lay down My life - only to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father”
And that is what happened! The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The proof of the Truth is in the resurrection. You are the Creator and Sustainer of all things. You are the Author of Life. You wrote the Book!
Lord help me to keep a grip on reality. "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you"
Jesus, You are the Way, the path to follow to eternal life. Help me to hold on to You. Help me to hold on to the Truth. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
The Way the Truth and the Life
All my days (Beautiful Saviour)
The Way
The Truth
Thursday 23rd October
Heavenly Father, thank You that You have put us together in churches. Thank You that within our churches we find the love and support that we need to continue our journey of faith. Your Spirit strengthens us as we journey but You put us together as believers because we also need the support of others
Ecclesiastes tells us in Your Word: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken"
It is not wise to alienate ourselves, withdrawing from fellowship, because life is tough. It is exactly then that we need our brothers and sisters to lift us up. It is our pride that separates us. You give us this instruction: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him"
We can only "admonish one another with all wisdom" if we meet together. We are called to be a body, what use is an arm, leg or eye, without the other parts of the body. As You tell us: "But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." And it is in meeting together that we can share "psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit"
This is not from ourselves, "Yet not I, but through Christ in me... It's all about You, Jesus. It's not about me, as though You should do things my way." Help me, Lord, to keep going, and to keep going I need to keep going to church, where I will find You there. You said: "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it." Thank You Lord
Amen
Songs for today:
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Jesus lover of my soul
I will build my church
Victory
Wednesday 22nd October
Heavenly Father, "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens." Thanks to the Psalmist who reminds us of the time that is set to praise You
Jesus knew the Scriptures well and lived them out in His life. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." Whether we practise our ministry in the 'Premier League,' with our name known nationally or internationally, or if we minister in 'League Two' walking a solitary walk in a small village talking to the odd person who is willing to listen, our example is Jesus, our Lord is Jesus. Our manual for living is Your Word
In the Bible we find everything we need to know about right living. In Jesus we see the living Word made flesh, showing us everything we need to know about right living. I was reminded yesterday of the Scripture: "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it"
Lord Jesus You guarded Your heart by rising up early in the morning and going to solitary place to pray. Throughout Your ministry, You prayed. Before feeding the five thousand You prayed. Before giving the Word to raise Lazarus from the dead, You prayed: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me”
You taught the disciples how to pray. Your prayed for Yourself, for the disciples and all who would follow them. You prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And on the cross You prayed three times: "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing... Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani? (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?)... Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”
Lord, help us all to follow Your example, to pray early in the morning and before anything and everything we say or do in Your Name. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today (Wednesday)
Rise with the sun
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus in the morning
Until morning
Tuesday 21st October
Heavenly Father, I had an uninterrupted sleep last night thanks to the generosity of others not known to me. A 'Marie Curie' nurse sat with my wife overnight so I didn't have to respond to her calls. I know there are many people who find a good night's sleep difficult who will appreciate what a blessing it is. Just knowing I wasn't on call, that there was someone else taking responsibility, meant I wasn't on the alert all night. There must be many people who are constantly on the alert, mums and dads with young children, people caring for aged parents or sick loved ones initially spring to mind. It must be equally wonderful for them when someone else shares the burden
Thank You, Lord, for putting love and generosity into the hearts of people. Without such love there would not be such care or selfless giving. Your Word reminds us: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." Love comes from You; it is not something we have created, whether we know it or not, the love we have is from You!
The Bible puts it in the simplest terms: "God is love." And the Bible also tells us how You demonstrated Your love: "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another". And loving one another is shown in all kinds of ways, including generous giving to charities that help people in all kinds of difficulties
Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for us, gave Your blood for us. Whether it is giving money to charity or giving blood, thank You for every generosity given today, it all stems from love, and all love flows from You. "All good gifts around us are sent from Heaven above; then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all His love." You are a gracious, generous God
Amen
Songs for today:
Goodness of God
God is love His the care
We plough the fields and scatter
Good and gracious
Monday 20th October
Heavenly Father, C S Lewis wrote a whole book called 'The Problem of Pain.' Given what a clever fella he was I don't suppose I'm going to get an answer about the problem of pain in the next few minutes. I know already my 'go-to' answer about this as I have prayed and spoken to people about it many times before: we are broken people living in a broken world
Jesus made this clear when he said: "In this world you will have trouble." He didn't specifically mention pain, but His statement covered all the bases, all kinds of trouble. Another part of my 'go-to' answer is the fact You gave us choice, and gives us choice today. Some of our pain is self-inflicted, but not all I am sure. It was self-inflicted by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and we sometimes inflict pain on ourselves today with poor decisions and wrong thoughts, words and deeds, which all have consequences
Thank You that in Your loving kindness You not only forgive us our wrongdoing, but paid the price for our sin on the cross. A third part of my 'go-to' answer is that all our prayers will be answered one day in Heaven when You will finally deal with the problem of pain, when You will wipe every tear from our eyes, "when there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain"
It seems that some pain is random, as Jesus said about You: "He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." I suppose I have most of my answer already. I still have a question as to why pain can go on for so long and why some people are healed and others aren’t. Again, my answer is already there I guess! Your Word referred to miracles as "signs and wonders." Each wonder is a sign of things to come. Pain will always be a problem until Jesus returns
Thank You that there are plenty of signs and wonders in life which affirm the Truth that there is a better life to come when pain will be no more. Help me Lord to hold on to this Hope, only found in Jesus and let Your Light shine
Amen
Songs for today:
There is a Hope
Power of Your love
Praise my soul the King of Heaven
There's a place where the streets shine
Let your Light shine
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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