Prayer Booklet 77

Dear Friends,

Week beginning 3^rd October 2021

Back in August, I changed the format of the reflections and prayers I had been sending out.  A number of people said they enjoyed the new format when I focused for the week on the story of Zacchaeus.  This week it is the story of four men taking a friend who was paralyzed to meet Jesus. There is a challenge for each of us as we reflect on this story.

I will continue to encourage prayer with less of an input from me.  I am trying not to pray the prayers for you, but to encourage you to pray as the Lord leads you – away beyond these suggestions. I also continue to welcome ideas that people have found helpful to share with others. Also, I will include current topics for prayer – you can add your own to this.  This week the focus is Mission.

I plan to include Sunday’s prayer for as long as the Moderator of the Church of Scotland is involved in putting it out – and from time to time will include prayers from other sources such as The Guild.

I will also continue to send out any prayer requests and updates that I receive.

At the end each week I will include prayers for ‘Mission Planning’ that is happening now and may close more churches…

I hope you find this format helpful.  Above all take time to pray.

Love in Jesus,

Christine Stewart

You can contact me at  christistewart@btinternet.com

Sunday 3^rd October, 2021

This week’s prayer for Sunday from the Prayer Team in churches across Scotland… First, the accompanying letter:

“What do we see? As we survey the day-to-day progress of life: What do we see? What we might prefer to see is a world that is coherent and ordered, with everything in its place and a place for everything.

“Equally, we might prefer to see a world subject to a guiding hand leading us on to a place of certainty. Whatever we might prefer to see, we may be certain that it is not yet the world as we see it today.

“The Letter to the Hebrews takes up the words of the Psalmist and pictures the ‘son of man’ as the One who has all things subject to Him. Indeed, the Letter affirms that: ‘God left nothing that is not subject to Him.’ Immediately thereafter, it states: ‘Yet at present we do not see everything subject to Him.’

“There is a vision of the world as it shall be and a realisation that the world in which we live is not yet aligned to that vision. What we see is the world as it is and not yet the world as it shall be in the providence of God.

“The place we inhabit is the point of tension between the world we see and the world as God intends it to be. In this place, and by the grace of God, ‘we see Jesus…now crowned with glory and honour because He suffered death’ and we resolve to live out our faith as we follow the One who is the author and pioneer of our salvation. (Hebrews 2: 5-12/Psalm 8: 4-6)”

We pray:

Living God,
You give life to the world, and to all Creation,
And we seek Your guiding hand in the days in which we live.
Grant that we might discern Your guidance
And live faithfully in accordance with Your will.
Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You give life to the world, and to all Creation,
And Your care for Creation
Overflows to all the earth.
Grant to us the resolve to care for Creation
In the place we inhabit and in the time You have given to us.
Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You give life to the world, and to all Creation,
And You create us to reflect
The image of God.
Grant to us that we may see in our neighbour
A reflection of Your image and so value the lives of all.
Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Living God,
You give life to the world, and to all Creation,
And we see the world as it is
And know that it is not yet the world as You will it to be.
Grant to us faith that we might see Jesus and follow the One
Who is the author and pioneer of our salvation.
Lord, in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Monday 4th October, 2021

Passage for the week: Luke 5: 17-26  

¹⁷ One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal those who were ill. ¹⁸ Some men came carrying a paralysed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹ When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

²⁰ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’

²¹ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, ‘Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’

²² Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? ²⁴ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the paralysed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ ²⁵ Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. ²⁶ Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’

(Please don’t discard this after today as I will refer to it all week…)

For today, I suggest you read the passage as if you were a friend of the paralysed man. Ask yourself, as that friend:

• Why have I come to this place – was it my idea or did another friend talk me into it?
• How do I feel when I see the room full of religious leaders?
• Where did the courage come from to break through the roof?
• What were some of my feelings when the first thing Jesus did was say to the man, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven’?
• What puzzles you most in this passage?
• What touched your heart most in this passage?

(You may well think of other things as you read prayerfully…)

Let us Pray (Notice I am not writing out the prayers – just suggesting pointers for prayer suggested by this story. Let God lead you):

• Lord help me to help others come to you…Pray for those you know who really need Jesus to touch their lives
• We don’t know what people really feel inside themselves
• Ask Jesus to teach you more of what healing really means
• Think about people you know and love, and those you have reason to dislike – pray for them in Jesus’ name, that you won’t be a barrier to anyone finding Jesus.

In our prayers today we might include the following:

• If you are a church member, pray for your church, that as part of the body of Christ you will ask Him to lead you to those who need to find Him.
• Local news – take time to pray for people and situations near you as God lays them on your heart

Tuesday, 5^th October, 2021

Re read yesterday’s story about the healing of the paralysed man. Our focus for today is verse 17:

^“ 17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem.”

Imagine a situation where your minister is addressing a congregation of people who were there only to jeer at him/her, or to test them and try to catch them out. Make no mistake, this congregation had come specifically to do that to Jesus.  They had made special journeys to do that.  Or imagine sitting there listening to the word of God being read and thinking to yourself, ‘well I might believe that bit, but I don’t think I’ll go along with that verse…’ Who is God whose word we read or listen to?

Prayers for today might include:

• Asking God to help us to read and understand His word with the help of the Holy Spirit, and to recognise Jesus as the fulfilment of the Word of God.
• Giving God thanks for his word, and the easy access we have to read it and hear it. Pray to know his wisdom and truth.
• Ask God to help you to store His word in your heart.

Prayers for others might include:

• Asking God to let His word be given to those who live in countries where the Bible is banned; praising him for the ingenuity and bravery of those who get to others.
• Increased protection from the virus while schools, colleges and now universities are underway for a new term
• Increased wisdom for all medical and research staff still battling to control and conquer Coronavirus
• Wisdom for all who govern us at home in the many issues affecting us post Brexit and Pandemic

Wednesday, 6^th October, 2021

“Some men came carrying a paralysed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.” Verses 18 & 19

There appear to be so many lessons in these two verses.  Who do we know in our circle who truly need the healing touch of Jesus?  How far are we prepared to go to help them to meet Jesus?  How much do we trust that Jesus would receive them and reach out to them in loving grace?  Do we begin by praying for them and for God to teach us how to bring them to His dear Son?

Our prayers:

• Let take time to thank God for his rescue plan in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus – and for reaching us and healing us with His forgiving love and mercy.

Prayers for others:

• Pray specifically for people you already know who need the healing love of Jesus. Ask God to bless them and may He help us to live in a way that reveals the love of Christ.
• Pray again for those who feel they are so self-righteous that they believe they do not need Jesus. May God break such barriers down so that they understand the sins of everyone of us nailed Jesus to the cross. Paul, perhaps the most self-righteous of all, could eventually say, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23
• Continue to pray that God will reach down into our world in healing power to bring to an end the rule of Covid-19 in our lives, believing that he can: ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” Jer 32

Thursday 7^th October, 2021

“ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’” Luke 5:20

Jesus did two amazing things when this strange event occurred, but He didn’t stand and say,” What have you done to this home?” (Of course, the structure of roofs allowed this to be done for getting things in and out, but there would be some inconvenience for a time.) Instead, he saw the faith of this group of friends and acknowledged that.  Then, in His wisdom, he offered forgiveness to the paralysed man. The watchful Pharisees believed that people were made ill by their own sinfulness.  Jesus taught this was not true. Illness is part of a fallen world and all may suffer. It is also true that His forgiveness is for eternity; healing of physical ailments is time-bound.

Our prayers:

• Thank Jesus that he always sees to the heart of the matter.
• Who do you know that you feel challenged to pray for – and to keep praying for until God’s purposes are fulfilled in their lives? Ask God to reveal to you who you should be praying for.

Prayers for others:

• Keep bringing those who are sick or who suffer for other reasons to God in the name of Jesus. Faith changes things for the better.
• Ask God to bless all those who have decision-making powers in our churches. Pray for people not to stand on rules and regulations, but on the love, mercy and wisdom of Jesus.
• Pray that God will send His Holy Spirit amongst us to bring many to Himself in Jesus’ name – to fill our churches and keep us faithful to His command to share the gospel…“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Friday 8^th October, 2021

^“Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.” V26

Many times throughout the gospels, when we see Jesus at work amongst the people, we read of hearts being moved to praise and thanksgiving in awe and wonder at what He has done.  Let’s try to be honest: how many times do we stop in our daily lives to give honour and praise to God for Jesus and especially for his ultimate sacrifice on the cross to bring us to a relationship with His Father?

Our Prayers:

• Take time to offer thanks to God for Jesus and reflect as you do on the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:13-15 “others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
• Thank Jesus for calling you to share in mission through prayer. Ask him to show you what else you might do to serve him in worship and thanksgiving.
• Pray faithfully for those you know and love who seem to ignore God. Ask God to open their hearts and minds to receive his healing and his blessing.

Prayers for others:

• Pray for our churches here in Scotland that we will not lose the privilege of freedom to worship and that we will engage in mission faithfully to draw others to the Lord.
• May God lead us to those who long to know Him

Saturday, 9^th October, 2021

Did you perhaps see the shocking news in the Ayrshire Post about anticipated reduction of Ministers and Churches?

Let’s move now to some prayers about the critical plans to reduce the number of visible churches, not only in Ayr Presbytery but across Scotland.  Already in some parts of Ayrshire alone you can travel many miles without coming across a church that is still testifying to the glory of God and his wonderful saving grace that would draw us into His family.  There are plans to reduce this witness even further, while at the same time they are suggesting we continue to minister and serve the 5 marks of mission.  These are:

1. To Proclaim the Good news of the Kingdom
2. To teaching, Baptising and Nurturing new believers
3. To respond to human need by loving service
4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society, in challenging violence of every kind and pursuing peace and reconciliation
5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

How can a Minister in the Church of Scotland commit to delivering each of these mission endeavours if they are shared with more than one – indeed with several communities – and lead us in worship to the glory of God? How can they do this alone in churches where so many sit back in apathy, believing it is all up to the Minister? Concern about Finance seems to have replaced faith – but we must all ask ourselves why this has happened?

Surely the first thing to do is to take the whole problem to the Lord and ask for His guidance and blessing. So let us begin:

• Reflect and pray about our own commitment to being active in delivering Mission to our community
• Ask forgiveness for those areas in which we have failed to reflect the love of Jesus to those around us; and where we have failed to recognise how much we need to take every aspect of mission to the Lord in prayer.
• Invite God to open our eyes to see what He wants us to see.
• Reflect on this verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14: “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
• Pray for all those who have grown cold in heart and ignore the Lord in their lives that they will return to Him and serve in His name. Remember that ‘wickedness’ includes shutting out God’s call on our lives and living in our own selfish way.
• Then reflect on the wonder and joy of the blessing God pours out on those who trust him: “The Lordbless youand keep you;
  the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
  the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.’” Numbers 6:24-26
• Pray the Lord’s blessing on those you know and love

As we go through the 5 Marks of Mission for prayer, let’s enjoy singing in our hearts (or out loud if you wish) some familiar words of well-known favourite hymns, as if they were our prayers. (3 & 4 linked)   You might like to find them on You Tube and listen to the music at the same time.

1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

Think of these words and pray them through – Hymn CH4 251

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright .
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord.
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them. They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my Word to them. Whom shall I send?

Chorus

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?

2. Teaching, Baptising and Nurturing new believers.

Think of these words and pray them through – Hymn CH4 502

Take my life, Lord, let it be
consecrated, glad, and free;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Your love;
take my feet that I may run,
bearing news of Christ Your Son.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my intellect and use
every power as You shall choose.

Take my will  –  Your will be done,
may my will and Yours be one;
take my heart  –  it is your own,
it shall be Your royal throne.

Take my love  –  my Lord, I pour
at Your feet its treasure-store;
take myself, and I will be
all for You, eternally.

3. To respond to human need by loving service AND
4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society, in challenging violence of every kind and pursuing peace and reconciliation

Think of these words and pray them through – Hymn CH4 528

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring your love;
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord;
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

Oh, Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved, as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, only light;
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving of ourselves that we receive;
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life

5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

Think of these words and pray them through – Hymn CH4 239

When your Father made the world,
before that world was old,
to His eye what He had made was lovely to behold.
Help Your people to care for Your world.

The world is a garden You made,
and You are the One who planted the seed,
the world is a garden You made,
a life for our food, life for our joy,
life we could kill with our selfish greed.

And the world that He had made,
the seas, the rocks, the air,
all the creatures and the plants He gave into our care.
Help Your people to care for Your world

When You walked in Galilee,
You said your Father knows
when each tiny sparrow dies, each fragile lily grows.
Help Your people to care for Your world.

And the children of the earth,
like sheep within Your fold,
should have food enough to eat, and shelter from the cold.
Help Your people to care for Your world.

So finally, let us pray for :

• Wisdom and grace for everyone involved in decision-making
• Ministers and congregations afraid of losing their church
• Knowledge of God’s will and courage to stand…
• People who have previously made a commitment to return to worshipping and serving God in Christ Jesus
• Many people to find the Lord for the first time and seek to join others in Praise and Worship and Service
• That those of us who believe should reflect the light and love of Christ to all we meet
• God to shower his blessing on all our efforts here wherever He has placed us to honour our call to serve Him
• God to bless all those serving in Ministry. May His Holy Spirit lead and guide them in the way ahead for Mission
• All office-bearers and all who serve in Jesus’ name

I leave you with the words of a beautiful hymn – Mission Praise 241:

Holy Spirit, we welcome you, Holy Spirit, we welcome you,
Move among us with holy fire
As we lay aside all earthly desire,
Hands reach out and our hearts aspire,
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Holy Spirit, we welcome you!

Holy Spirit, we welcome you, Holy Spirit, we welcome you,
Let the breeze of your presence blow,
That your children here might truly know,
How to move in the spirit’s flow,
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Holy Spirit, we welcome you!

Holy Spirit, we welcome you, Holy Spirit, we welcome you,
Please accomplish in us today
Some new work of loving grace, we pray –
Unreservedly- have your way.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Holy Spirit, we welcome you!

And an amazing verse of scripture from Ephesians 3: 20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.