Tag: Daily Prayer Devotional

Monday 13th January 2025

“ Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. 18 Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.” 19 And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.” Genesis 29:15-20 NKJV

Father God,

The schemer Jacob was outmanoeuvred or rather out scammed here! Leah was given to him in the dark after the revelling and then he had to promise to do another 7 years hard labour for Rachel even though she was given in marriage the next week. And he agreed. I wonder how he would have reacted before he encountered You, God who promised him a future? Perhaps he saw the bigger picture and perhaps You had worked on his heart so he could accepted their customs, the marriage to Leah and 7 more years labour.

One thing we learn early in life, is that we cannot always have our own way. And things can go wrong regardless. Knowing You, Lord, we learn that our thoughts are not always Your thoughts. Or rather as You say through Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” You know best. Jacob learned to be patient for 14 years while preparing for the next move. Father, praying for patience is a long hard lesson!

But we do pray, that like Jacob, when we are disappointed, misled or have the unexpected happen, that You will give us the peace of mind to seek You first. And be able to get on with whatever needs to be done in the best way possible. And trust You even if we have to be patient.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Monday 13th January 2025

When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

Chorus

For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last

Lyrics: Matthew Sherman Merker
From the hymn by: Ada R Habershon

Continue to pray for Los Angeles
Ukraine
Middle East
Our family, friends, church and neighbourhood.

Saturday 11th January 2025

“Abraham lived for 175 years, 8 and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life.” Genesis 25:7,8 NLT
“As the boys grew up, Esau became a skilful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. 30 Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”) 31 “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” 32 “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”” Genesis 25:27-32 NLT

Father God,

Even your people can become dysfunctional families! There was obviously favouritism and jealousy from birth and openly shown. Do we show favouritism and in doing so put someone down? It led to Esau showing disrespect for his family openly. He disrespected and traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a meal. Afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. One wrong action led to another . . .and it was then too late for repentance, even though he begged (Hebrews 12:16-17).

Help us to learn to love as You love. Paul words it so beautifully in Hebrews 13:4-8 “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” We just need to be the best we can be and trust You, God for the rest.

Esau was not dying of starvation. Help us to not just see our own immediate needs out of proportion. Thank You that it is never too late to repent with Jesus and help us to grow like Jim in grace and truth.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Saturday 11th January 2025
Love this thoughtful rendition.

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
 Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinners to find.

Chorus

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.

Chorus

Lyrics: Thomas Obediah Chisholm

Pray for the residents of Los Angeles.
Pray for Ukraine and the Middle East.

Friday 10th January 2025

“Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. 18 Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. 19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20 But the herders of Gerar quarrelled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarrelled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. 22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarrelled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” Genesis 26:16-23 NIV

God of the thirsty,

It is easy to pass over passages like this where there is movement but no real life changing experiences. But for Isaac and his shepherds these were days of worry, trouble and annoyance. Probably sleepless not knowing what may happen next. Abimelek was true to his word and the disputes were only verbal scuffles and threats (Genesis 26:11)!

Isaac seemed to know what arguments to stand up to and when to back off for a peaceful life. Did You prompt him? There was an awful lot of digging and this was when it was all done by hand in stony land with no modern equipment. At last they had a well to water their livestock and keep themselves alive.

Sometimes it does feel like we are having to dig for blessings and sometimes our spiritual life is still dry. But they had perseverance. Help us persevere and not be willing to succumb to negative voices around us or within! Remind us that negativity cannot kill us! Like at work or church if there is someone we just cannot get along with for whatever reason. Or there are those who know just how to provoke us. Help us know when to move away and dig into You for refreshment Lord. Holy Spirit release Your water of life in our hearts and grant us peace amidst the challenges of life.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Friday 10th January 2025

Let Your living water flow over my soul,
Let your Holy Spirit come and take control,
Of every situation that has troubled my mind,
All my cares and burdens on to you I roll.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Father, Father, Father
Spirit, Spirit, Spirit

Come now Holy Spirit and take control,
Hold me in your loving arms and make me whole,
Wipe away all doubt and fear and take my pride,
Draw me to your love and keep me by your side.

Give your life to Jesus, let Him fill your soul,
Let Him take you in His arms and make you whole,
As you give your life to Him, He’ll set you free,
You will live and reign with Him eternally.

Repeat first verse . . .

Lyrics: John Watson (Vinesong).

Pray for your family and friends
For Kings and those in authority
For peace and freedom for Ukraine
For our community, nation, world
Our needs.