2026 will again be through the Bible chronologically selecting verses which attract my attention or questions or encourage me on the day. I pray it blesses whoever reads . . . My theological background is Salvation Army College and now Church of England. I love all Christian denominations.
Lord Jesus, I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Forgive me and help me turn from everything I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay the price and set me free from my sin. Please come into my life, fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus. Amen.”
“Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.” Matthew 22:29-33 NKJV
“But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “TheSon of David.” 43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: 44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’? 45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.”” Matthew 22:34-46 NKJV
Father God and Lord,
The Sadducees and the Pharisees were both well versed in the scriptures and the Law of Moses. But they had settled into two camps and neither wanted to see Jesus as the promised Messiah. That was one thig they could agree on. He was a risk to the stability of Jerusalem under the rule of Rome. Plus their comfortable lives running the Temple and religious practice. It was their living.
Here we see Jesus cutting through their dependence on their own knowledge. Taking them back to their own particular beliefs and undoing their misunderstandings. Not by lecture or judgement but by directing them to answers from the only place they would accept was authority. The same law they were using to back their own arguments.
Jesus takes the law and instead of it being a set of rules with tick boxes, he makes them reconsider what they are reading, believing and seeing. They were astonished at him but that did not change their minds. It seemed to unnerve them. They failed to see who they were speaking to. Help us not to make our faith a series of rules and tick boxes to reassure us we are OK. Help us learn where we have misunderstood, no-one knows it all! Even if we like to think we do . . . .
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 12th November 2026
An old hymn and with a familiar tune to many. And so profound in its request. I am almost afraid to pray it!
Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings! Be Thou Thyself the answer to all my questionings; Live out Thy life within me, in all things have Thy way! I, the transparent medium, Thy glory to display.
The temple has been yielded, and purified of sin, Let Thy Shekinah glory now shine forth from within, And all the earth keep silence, the body henceforth be Thy silent, gentle servant, moved only as by Thee.
Its members every moment held subject to Thy call, Ready to have Thee use them, or not be used at all, Held without restless longing, or strain, or stress, or fret, Or chafings at Thy dealings, or thoughts of vain regret.
But restful, calm and pliant, from bend and bias free, Awaiting Thy decision, when Thou hast need of me; Live out Thy life within me, O Jesus, King of kings! Be Thou the glorious answer to all my questionings.
“Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?” 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.” 31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”” Mark 11:27-33 NKJV
Father,
November is a time to remember. ‘Remember remember the fifth of November, the Gunpowder treason and plot . . . ‘ Many, unless it is covered in school history lessons, do not really know what bonfire night is about. And today is remembrance day. I know schools do cover this in the curriculum but I wonder how real it seems. The generations who lost fathers and brothers and husbands and sweethearts in the first and second world wars are less with each year that passes. The women who were the land army and the home guard too. And the animals. How sad that we have now so many more wars to list and so many more casualties.
So what do we need to remember from this passage of Your Word Father God for our time? The religious leaders prefered to say they did not know rather than answer Jesus. Can’t admit they may be wrong! Safer to sit on the fence and plead ignorance. Surely that doesn’t apply to me? This passage reminds me I cannot plead ignorance when I do not want to be put in the spotlight or grapple with difficult questions.
Some things we will never know the answers to – like when are You coming back (Matthew 24:36). Some questions put us on the spot. Challenge us when we have lapsed become complacent and think we are OK. Some questions are asked to try to belittle or embarrass us. Help us to answer wisely questions of faith.
So Father, when you question us or others put us on the spot. Help us to admit when we might have been wrong or were. Help us to apologise, say we will find out or pray about it and come back with an answer. Help us to recognise those things we cannot answer but You know God. Jesus was never pushed into a corner or persuaded to take a certain view. He looked to You. Ignorance and opting out is not an excuse. ‘Help’ before I open my mouth is a good prayer.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Wednesday 11th November 2026
Keeping the main thing the main thing in worship
Who paints the skies into glorious day? Only the splendour of Jesus. Who breathes His life into fists of clay? Only the splendour of Jesus. Who shapes the valleys and brings the rain? Only the splendour of Jesus. Who makes the desert to live again? Only the splendour of Jesus.
Teach every nation His marvellous ways; Each generation shall sing His praise.
He is wonderful, He is glorious, Clothed in righteousness, Full of tenderness. Come and worship Him, He’s the Prince of life, He will cleanse our hearts In His river of fire.
Who hears the cry of the barren one? Only the mercy of Jesus. Who breaks the curse of the heart of stone? Only the mercy of Jesus. Who storms the prison and sets men free? Only the mercy of Jesus. Purchasing souls for eternity? Only the mercy of Jesus.
Teach every nation His marvellous ways; Each generation shall sing His praise.
“Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”Mark 11:11-17 NKJV
“Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”” Mark 11:20-21 NKJV
Father God,
Sometimes I do not find the headings added by translators helpful. Though at other times they help me find passages. Here I find that to understand why You punished the fig tree I need to read as if the heading were not there. To see what You saw in the Temple and the fig tree..
You were not short tempered, having a bad day or just needing to vent! I used to wonder why that green healthy looking fig tree had to die? For You it symbolised the Temple You had just visited. The Temple looked good and busy like the fig tree looked promising with all its greenery. But both had no fruit. So he made an example of the fig tree. And the following day he spoke to those misusing the Temple. The fig tree is sandwiched between seeing the Temple and your judgement of its state. A sobering thought.
But then You speak to us in John 15. Promising grace and mercy. You are the vine and we the branches and we bear fruit only through You Lord. (John 15:5). You remind us that if we are joined to You, pruning is to help us grow healthy and strong (John 15:20). And we can abide in Your love if we choose to stay (John 15:9).
Choice it always comes back to choice. To go it alone or go with You Father. Allow You to help us grow or go rogue. To bear fruit or be obstinately self reliant . To live or to die. I can be stubborn, obstinate, careless and forgetful. Really? Yes, but I often hide it and only You know my heart Father. So as I am eternally grateful to be grafted into You Father by the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I open myself to Your Holy Spirit to be purified, pruned and helped to produce fruit for Your glory. I pray You will persevere in love with me, with those who struggle to let You in or those who want to be good but don’t know how.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 10th November 2026
Not well known. But give it a try.
For my waking breath, For my daily bread I depend on You, I depend on You For the sun to rise, For my sleep at night Lord, I depend on You, yes, I do, I depend on You
You’re the Way, the Truth, and the Life You’re the well that never runs dry I’m the branch and You are the vine Draw me close and teach me to abide
Where the Spirit leads, As I’m following Oh, I depend on You (I depend on You), Yes, I depend on You For the victories,Still in front of me, oh Oh, I depend on You, Yes, I depend on You
Chorus
Be my strength, my song in the night Be my all, my treasure, my prize I am Yours, forever You’re mine Draw me close and teach me to abide
When I pass through death, As I enter rest I depend on You, Jesus, I depend on You, For eternal life, To be raised with Christ Oh, I depend on You, Yes, I depend on You
Chorus
Be my strength, my song in the night Be my all, my treasure, my prize I am Yours, forever You’re mine Draw me close and teach me to abide
Based in Little Rock, Dwell Songs is a community of worship leaders and musicians who are passionate about seeing spiritual renewal and awakening in this generation. Led by Aaron Williams, Dwell Songs is part of the Dwell movement, a broader discipleship and worship movement that equips and empowers young leaders through events, resources, and community
