“The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” Numbers 13:1
” We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:33
Lord God Almighty,
Another truth from Your Word which is etched in my mind, alongside mental pictures of grasshoppers! Good advice – go check it out. God says trust me. And from the children’s chorus I always remember the line – 10 were bad spies and two were good. But here is the crux of the story. They all saw that the promised land was exactly as You promised a land flowing with milk and honey. Beautiful, abundant, fertile. But 10 didn’t trust You for the future after all they had seen and done in the past. Like small children they exaggerated their fear and said they felt like grasshoppers against the giants they saw.
We have seen Your provision in our lives. Help us not to see just the problems ahead but trust Your promises to provide. One day we will enter our promised land, Heaven. There will be no more death, pain or suffering. There will be joy, rejoicing and fellowship of the richest kind.
Meanwhile, we live and trust in Your promises for now as we journey there. Trust You to be our Shepherd (Psalm 23), our Saviour and our sufficiency (Philippians 4:6). Help us to be like the two good spies and forge ahead with trust and faith. Life is a challenge as well as a blessing. You are with us, our faithful unchangeable God – and friend.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
Lord God of every day,
For all our family, friends and neighbours. Thank You and bless them as they need.
For our church fellowships, ministers, officials, congregations thank You and bless them..
For King Charles, the Queen and the royal family.
For our government and their families. Lead and speak clearly to them, that Your will be done in these days. Lead us this year of elections, to the best Government for our time.
For Ukraine a withdrawal of Russian troops. Peace an end to war.
For wherever there is unrest, war, military oppression: Myanmar, Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Nigeria, China . . .
For the Red Sea and growing International disruption. Overcome and deliver the world from evil.
For young families growing up in todays society. Show them the value of faith, hope and love.
For our local community, our near neighbours, local doctors, dentists, community police, schools.
For all those who provide help, food banks, district nurses, home helps, friends, family. Samaritans, help lines, Lifeboats, mountain rescue, emergency relief charities.
For ourselves, the knowledge that we have a clean sheet today, all errors, mistakes gone. Help us to step into today with a smile even if there are things we just have to do and don’t really want to!
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 19th January 2024
Sometimes we just need to slip into familiar words and harmonies and worship and give thanks.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside
Lyrics: Thomas Chisholm