Prayerfully
In 2025 I aim to pray my way chronologically (as it happened) through the Bible and listen for God.
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.”
“Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him. 10 Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”” 1 Samuel 7:7-13
Lord of Thunder,
Naturally the Israelites were afraid. They were sorely beaten last time. I am glad we are not expected to be super human because we have You within us. Rather we are ordinary people but with You, Lord extra-ordinary! Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6-7). We too still have very real emotions and feelings but can lean on, turn to, rely on, find in You strength and help in all situations when we ask.
But they were calling on You this time. Samuel made a sacrifice. A young perfect lamb. A symbol of the one perfect Lamb You would send that first Christmas. Jesus. And You, Lord sent the children of Israel a thunderstorm which dispersed and defeated their enemies. They did not have to fight. When Jesus died there was an earthquake (Matthew 28:2) and darkness over all the earth for three hours (Luke 23:44). The Israelites gained victory over their enemies. A small victory pointing to Jesus who would be victorious over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:57).
So Samuel raised an Ebenezer, a stone of remembrance. Also a stone to remind them of a victory where previously they were defeated. A reminder of the difference You made in their lives. We have the risen Lord to remind us of our victory. We may slip, or make mistakes, do our own thing but there is always a way back.in You, Jesus.
Worship Saturday 19th April 2025
You need to take 5 or 6 minutes and settle down with this worship.
Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unchanging love!
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
Above all else, I adore Your name
Above all else, tune my heart to sing Your praise
Above all else, I adore Your name
Above all else, tune my heart to sing Your praise
Above all else, I adore Your name
Above all else, tune my heart to sing Your praise, oh
Above all else, I adore Your name
Above all else, tune my heart to sing Your praise
The highest praise, the loudest praise
To the Name above every name
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Repeat . . .
Lyrics: Robert Robinson additions by Shane Barnard
“After the battle was over, the troops retreated to their camp, and the elders of Israel asked, “Why did the Lord allow us to be defeated by the Philistines?” Then they said, “Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord from Shiloh. If we carry it into battle with us, it will save us from our enemies.” 4 So they sent men to Shiloh to bring the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were also there with the Ark of the Covenant of God. 5 When all the Israelites saw the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord coming into the camp, their shout of joy was so loud it made the ground shake! 6 “What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the Lord had arrived, 7 they panicked. “The gods have come into their camp!” they cried. “This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before! 8 Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness. 9 Fight as never before, Philistines! If you don’t, we will become the Hebrews’ slaves just as they have been ours! Stand up like men and fight!” 10 So the Philistines fought desperately and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. 11 The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.” 1 Samuel 4:3-11 NLT
God beyond the symbols and buildings,
Before I met You, Lord, I think I did believe a little in lucky charms, St Christopher’s and touching wood . . . but now I see they are just things and it is a lie of the enemy to turn us away from You, the source of all help.
It is sad that even believers sometimes put there trust in the rituals or the symbols or the church building and altar. Of course You are in the building, You are omnipresent. The only place You are absent is the place we call hades or hell, the outer darkness (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Here in 1 Samuel the children of Israel are trusting in the Ark which represented the presence of You God with them. And when they saw it they raised an almighty shout of joy that made the ground shake. But it is a little like a man dying for a drink trusting in the bottle and not the water within it!
It does us good to meet together to worship, your Spirit speaks to us often when we are turned to You in services or taking communion. But it is You, the living God who we have a relationship with not bricks or bread and wine. The holy Ark was captured but not You, God. They had to learn over and over again where to put their trust. Keep our faith from wandering from You the source of all we need, all we have and all that is to come. We will raise our praises and hallelujahs to You alone.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 18th April 2025
I raise a hallelujah to the Lord. I will put my faith and hope Him.
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the king is alive!
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!
Chorus . . .
Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder (in the presence of my enemies)
Sing a little louder (louder than the unbelief)
Sing a little louder (my weapon is a melody)
Sing a little louder (heaven comes to fight for me)
Sing a little louder!
Chorus . . .
Lyrics: Jake Stevens, Jonathan David Helser, Melissa Helser, Molly Skaggs 2019
“The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”” 1 Samuel 3:1-10 NIV
Lord who calls,
A young boy given to serve in the Temple by his mother with the agreement of his father . . . awoken in the night . . . runs to the one he serves and obediently says, “Here I am.” waiting for instructions. Would I have done that? Or would I have groaned and muttered under my breath about needing sleep! And when I was small, I was a little afraid of the dark.
But there have been times when I have wanted to really hear You speak as Samuel did. And wished You would write directions down so I could be sure of following properly. Samuel learned to be open to hearing You. Eli told him how to respond. When we need to hear You God, we need to let You know we are listening. Not for Your sake – because even before a word is on our tongue you already know it. (Psalm 139:4). But for ourselves to turn ourselves to listening mode and give You time and opportunity to get through to us.
The other morning I awoke and said out loud, ‘do not worry or be afraid’. And later I understood why You reminded me in advance to keep me calm. You seem to delight in finding new ways to speak to us. It is not always after hours of silence or meditation or prayer time. But we do need to have openness to You and open our spiritual senses and rest our mouths. Speak Lord Your servants are listening . . .
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 17th April 2025
A new song to me but I find the prayer in its lyrics just right for today.
When You speak, confusion fades
Just a word and suddenly I’m not afraid
‘Cause You speak and freedom reigns
There is hope in every single word You say
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
‘Cause everything You say is life to me
I don’t wanna miss one word You speak
Quiet my heart, I’m listening
When sorrows roar and troubles rage
You whisper peace
When I don’t have the words to say
I won’t lose hope
When storms won’t break
You keep Your word
Oh, and Your promises will keep me safe
Chorus . . .
Your ways are higher, You know just what I need
I trust You, Jesus, You see what I cannot see
Your ways are higher, You know just what I need
I trust You, Jesus, You see what I cannot see
Chorus . . . Repeat . . .
Lyrics: Benji Cowart, Chris Mcclarney, Josh Thomas Bronleewe.