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.”
“And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 14 Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.” And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. 15 So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and in the treasuries of the king’s house. 16 At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.” 2 Kings 18:13-16 NKJV
God our Saviour,
Hezekiah buys his way out of the threat by his enemies, with gold and even stripping the Temple doors and pillars of their gold! So King Sennacherib knows Hezekiah has nothing of value left and bides his time. The gold will do for now and Jerusalem is subdued.
Sometimes we go through seasons when something weakens us and we seem to have no fight left. Even a hallelujah or counting our blessings is forced. It may be physical, emotional or mental it may be from a slipping away from feeding our spirit. It may be worry. Life can be a challenge. And it is no use looking at those who seem to sail through life.
Hezekiah has been ill. It could be weakness that made him act as he did. He could be emotionally drained from leadership or he could be facing a spiritual war within himself (Ephesians 6:12).
Sometimes we need to retreat into You God the one who fights for us. Moses discovered the truth t between the sea and Pharaoh’s army. You told Moses, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Exodus 14:14). Sometimes that is the hardest thing. Letting go and letting God. It may have been cheaper for Hezekiah if he had done that first.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Saturday 20th June 2026
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord
Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God The everlasting God You do not faint You won’t grow weary
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord
Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
You are the everlasting God The everlasting God You do not faint You won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak You comfort those in need You lift us up on the wings Like eagles
Our God, You reign forever Our hope, our Strong Deliverer
‘Cause You are, You are the everlasting God The everlasting God You do not faint You won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak You comfort those in need You lift us up on the wings Like eagles
From everlasting to everlasting God, You are everlasting
“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ” 2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.” ’ ” 7 Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?” 9 Then Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing which He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?” 10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down tendegrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees.” 11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.” 2 Kings 20:1-11NKJV
Father God,
Some people might read this and say that we have a God who changes his mind and decides to give Hezekiah 15 years more. After all Hezekiah has not been a bad king as we read earlier. He did what was right in Your sight when he began to reign (2 Kings 18:13-3).
But then reading this passage, we see the change to Hezekiah’s heart. True humility. He weeps bitterly and is humbled as he considers meeting You, His maker, soon. It is Your faithful response to the call of one of Your children. It will not remove the judgement upon Judah, but brings mercy to Hezekiah. And it gives Judah extra time to repent and humble themselves too. And a miraculous sign of time going backwards! A greater miracle was You holding back death for another 15 years.
You are a God who does not change. You are judge but also give grace and mercy. Wrong will always be wrong and sin will always be sin. But You keep Your word and provide us, not with a few extra years, but with the miracle of life through Jesus. And sometimes we see the signs of You in our lives, we know Your healing and Your deep, deep love for us. And sometimes we feel Your touch and it’s amazing.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 19th June 2026 Those times when moved to tears in worship or brought to our knees or just knowing in the moment Your Spirit is touching us . . .
When I feel the touch of Your hand upon my life, It causes me to sing a song that I love You Lord, So from deep within my spirit singeth unto Thee, You are my King, You are my God and I love You Lord.
“The burden against Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste and destroyed, 2 he has gone up to the temple and Dibon, to the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; on all their heads will be baldness, and every beard cut off. 3 In their streets they will clothe themselves with sackcloth; on the tops of their houses and in their streets everyone will wail, weeping bitterly.”Isaiah 15:1-4 NKJV
“Woe to the land shadowed with buzzing wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, which sends ambassadors by sea, even in vessels of reed on the waters, saying, “Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth of skin, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation powerful and treading down, whose land the rivers divide.” Isaiah 18:1-2 NKJV
“The burden against Egypt. Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, and will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. 2 “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; everyone will fight against his brother, and everyone against his neighbour, city against city, kingdom against kingdom. 3 The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, and they will consult the idols and the charmers, the mediums and the sorcerers. 4 And the Egyptians I will give into the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.”Isaiah 19:1-4 NKJV
God Almighty,
A last look back at Isaiah as I move on, I notice that judgement was not just for Your people Israel and Judah. You warned all the nations known to them. Their behaviour will be judged regardless of their faith or belief systems. They know the choice between good and evil.
It makes me consider the nations now. Nothing has changed regarding Your judgement of sin. Everything has changed regarding access to You and forgiveness and the opportunity to walk according to the Holy Spirit’s leading. The cross makes You available to everyone, always.
But there is still the question of judging the nations. I don’t see anywhere that it has changed or gone away. And we do not fully understand how that will work or happen? They seem to get away with murder literally. Will the leaders have to take responsibility or are we all responsible? And the church cannot afford to sleep where it can have influence and speak out. And some churches speak out at great risk to their safety. It brings more questions than answers. And no removal of responsibility if we have opportunity. So we can only seek You and listen for Your guidance. And pray for our nation, the world, the church worldwide and its influence. And one day we will understand.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 19th June 2026 It is not that many years ago we sang this during Covid lockdown. Or rather I joined in on YouTube. We still need to pray it for our nation – and all nations. I was once told to draw a small circle and stand in it. Thats where revival starts I was told . . .
Lord we long for You to move in power, there’s a hunger deep within our hearts; To see healing in our nation, send Your Spirit to revive us.
Heal our nation, heal our nation; Heal our nation, pour out Your Spirit on this land.
Lord we hear Your Spirit coming closer, a mighty wave to break upon our land; Bringing justice and forgiveness, God, we cry to You, “revive us!”
Chorus Repeat . . .
Lyrics: Trish Morgan, Ray Goudie, Ian Townend, Dave Bankhead
