March 31 prayer
Holy Wednesday ‘Surely not I, Lord? The Passover The Passion The betrayal Compassion in the eyes of our Lord Upon the very one who turns away, Walks away From the very One who embraces all. In our turning He turns towards us Even when we turn our backs on him by looking for a way out. I look inward and ask, How many times have I ignored His call of mercy? When have I turned away from the difficult path, the way of the passion due to my own urgent distractions and needs? There is a doorway waiting to go through. A way towards him or away from him. Which way do I go? Must I go? Look to him and see only compassion in His eyes. This Holy Week Choose the door way of life, that will come from death. Stay close with him this week and do not rush by. Lord, I ask for the courage to stay with you. Amen DB Matt.26:14-25 March 30 Prayer
The passion, betrayal, denial, the darkness of the journey. How can we face it? How do we face it? As Peter or Judas? Here awaits glory. God is glorified through the very death of Jesus. Supernatural grace that abounds in the darkest moment, in the hidden betrayals of our hearts. I ask myself, where I hold back my heart because of shame? When do I deny the truth that invites me in to freedom only because I am too afraid to take the risk? Am I no different, no less human then they? May we be truthful and honest enough that we are in need of help. In need of a saviour to redeem, forgive and set our hearts on fire for him? May we live for His cause and not pursue our own security and approval from the world. What is it that you need to lay down on top of Calvary hill? Give him your hidden heart now to pray; ‘Lord, full of grace and mercy we come. We lay down our pride and ask to live our lives solely for you. Change us now and give us the courage to speak the truth and stand up for injustice. May it start in our own hearts to be truthful there. Empower your church to walk through the darkness into your glorious light. And draw our hearts close to yours as we walk together up the hill to Calvary. May all the glory be given to you. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Be glorified through us we pray. Amen DB John 13:31-38,Matt.26:13-16 March 29 Prayer
A broken vile of costly perfume a grain of wheat fallen to the ground. These seemingly acts unrelated become an act sacred and holy a death, an anointing Chaff blown by the wind and pieces of shattered pottery no longer needed. Our griefs and sorrows He bore, and our tears none wasted, but extravagant offerings of adoration and love. Feet wiped with tears become holy anointed feet Did she even know that soon He would wash her with his blood and water divinely poured out for all? May we take a human pilgrimage with him this holy week and enter the divine room of death to find eternal life awaiting. A Sweet aroma of fragrant oil be poured out from every cell we carry into the world. Through every act of love and self abandonment, may we see His glory there. Take a moment and offer your complete self to him this day in every yearning desire and every sorrow. Let him take the broken vile fill you once again with holy water from heaven above. Amen DB John 12:1-11,23-45 March 26 Prayer
‘The Lord is with me like a dread warrior, my persecutors will not prevail.’ Jer.20:11 ‘They picked up rocks to stone him.’Jn.10:31-42 ‘Jesus bore our sins in his own body on the cross. And God was with him. The rocks we hold in our hands, are the very rocks that defend us. For He is our rock and deliverer. God like none other will push back the oppressor, the lies and the enemy of our souls. ‘He took it all upon himself so we could be healed. Every doubt, blame, judgment, all the accusations and fears are the rocks we have picked up along the way. But He turned it around for us, Because of love. ‘So that dead to sin we might live in righteousness. By his wounds we are healed.’ 1Pet.2:24 ‘He is our rock, our protection from destruction.’ What are the wrong thoughts and lies that robs us from his presence? We no longer need to pick up any stones to defend ourselves. Lay them down at the foot of the cross. Let God be your warrior and fight your battles for you. Pause to pray; O Lord, you are our defender so we come willingly to you and lay down the stones we carry. May we see you as our true rock of redemption so we do not need to prove ourselves to another. For with You Lord, there is loving mercy. Help us to ‘Remain in God and He in us.’ For God is love and if we remain in love we remain in God.’ 1Jn.4:13-16 Let this truth become a strong force with us so when tempted to pick up those rocks of sin we have laid down, they are swept away from our reach. May our hands reach out for your love and mercy instead To bring this truth of your plentiful redemption to others. Through our thoughts, words and deeds. We look to the cross. Amen DB March 25 Prayer
It all started with an announcement, a proclamation an eternal light shining down on a humble human a woman’s heart ready to say “Here am I Lord, I have come to do your will.” Say yes to the impossible Yield to the unknown Power and glory from another realm A kingdom that never ends How can this be? We are chosen, we are beloved of God His birthing place of glory for the world to see. Impossible? Yes, but that is what He does when we say yes. Yield now to surrender your doubts, fears and questions as you pray; ‘Lord, here I am I desire You to do the impossible for me So that I may be your birthing place of love in the world around me. When I feel resentments and want my own way, May I feel the labor pains of grace to let go and allow your will to flow through me. When I feel frustrated and stressed, May I yield to your flow of peace and welcome the moment with you dwelling within me. When life becomes too hard and I see injustice, May I say yes to speak of your love and faithfulness, May I tell others of your wonders and your way To live with faith, hope and love. “You are the Lord of heaven and You take my hand, You are my help, so I will not fear.” Here, am I Lord, I come to do your will. May I be your birthplace’~ Amen. DB Lk.1:26-33, Psalm 40:8-9, Is.41:13 March 24 Prayer
‘Remain in me, spirit of truth . I know who sent me, My Father God.’ Jesus comes closer the day of his crucifixion, when he will experience the worst torture of body and soul. He will cry out the words of David from the psalms, Why, have you Forsaken me? Jesus, knew the truth, knew the Father sent him. Followed the divine will to become our remedy. To heal us and set us free from what binds. He was sent there to be present in the middle of fiery furnace To protect, defend the weak, and show the Father's glory to all. Shall we not remain in him? Be rooted and grounded in his truth, He sends us, he lives in us and we have his imprint upon us. Receive the remedy for all your darkness, sickness and worry. Hold up the ones you know that are in need of a remedy today as we pray. ‘Father of truth, we trust in the love of Christ to enfold us. We look for the peace of Christ to give us courage when we fear what others may say. We receive your grace to inspire us, by your spirit to imprint upon us the very character of God. Reveal your glory through us today. We remain in you, and with you, knowing you are always present for us. Amen DB Heb.1:2-5,Ps..22:1, ’John 8:31-42 March 23 Prayer
John 8:21-3 Who are you then, Jesus? Questions are asked, answers misunderstood all from the perspectives passed down from generations. Jesus knew The Father and the Spirit with him. Always with him, guiding and showing him the way to go. There are worlds we know not of, higher grounds, widows of faith to look out of if we can believe. When Jesus is lifted up on the cross we see the face of God. Far beyond our own human belief systems that in such a despicable death there could ever be a better way. A higher way and a deeper way from an eternal world. This is our God. Here with us in the very midst of darkness and suffering. He never leaves us alone. Pause to pray; Lord, this past year has been a very long suffering journey. It has seemed that there was never any end in sight and we still hold this liminal space before us. Show us the higher way to see you here with us. May we see you before us and all around us on this earthly plane. When there is one that suffers may we suffer with them for there you are looking into our hearts asking the question, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus, you are always with us, show us what is pleasing, good and the right way to respond to all the unanswered questions. With loving hearts and open hands we pray. In your way give us life today. May your kindness and redemption lead us to lift Jesus up before us in everything we do. Amen March 21 Prayer
John 8:1-11 It’s in the writing on the ground. Shame leads to blame Proving your worth, to gain acceptance once again. “You are alright, good enough, you’ve earned it by your pain Your own suffering. Seeking validation, qualification, While every accusation is being erased In the writing on the ground. By the finger of Jesus The very divine finger of God Touching earth Created truth in the writing, Love covers all. Sin no more, No more condemnation, No more hiding from love. This is where your healing begins To know you need his touch. His defense for you. You no longer need to defend yourself, To prove yourself worthy enough, good enough, But broken and needy enough for his writing in the ground. Let Him touch you there. Here we pray, “I surrender all, To you Lord, I surrender My own suffering and blame, I am poor and in need of your help. I surrender my own self will to be right And let You make it alright. Turn my shame into a way for your glory to come in That I can rest in your gift of love I will receive it all and in return I will give you my all.” Amen John 8, Rom.8:33-37,Psalm 127 March 20 Prayer
Saturday slowdown There is a peace waiting to be present, In the simplicity of the morning cup of coffee, Steam rising to the atmosphere, The weeks scattered papers as pieces to be gathered or tossed away. Less means more space for peace in the slowdown. Simplify things a bit and climb through to a place of understanding. Rest in there a while in the slowdown of the day. As the sun glows upon the sea slowdown to take a second glance at the tree, the bird that cries out or sings a melodious sonnet. Receive the spaciousness this day will bring, When you can slow down. And let it settle there in the open space of your soul. Put your hope in God and in what is being created in the silence, in the deep holiness of the hour. Peace be In you. All glory be, In Jesus. Amen DB March19 Prayer
Steadfast love Hearts firm Without fear Aligned with the Holy way, The Holy One, the light that comes In hopeless days. Speaking without words to those who take notice, To those who are able to look into the quiet seemingly common places of everyday life. Things that do not matter much Switch on the light, and how does it happen? A simple flick of the finger, a man and woman’s consent to a plan given for a long awaited purpose to be fulfilled. In the dark silence without answers, when hope has died, the Son of man, Son of God, with a steadfast heart, firm without wavering extends to all who will take notice, To love him back at the foot of the cross, with hearts that will not fear death, but live in the everlasting covenant of love~ Here we pause to pray, ‘Here we come to give you our hearts and enter into your Holy way today. We trust in the simple ways you speak to us and take time to notice your spirit moving all around us. May we slow down enough and relax into what has already been done and release to you what is yet to be accomplished. With steadfast and grateful hearts we join with you in living fully alive to love in us and through us. In the simple things may we find your Holy way this day. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen’ DB Rom.4:13-22,Ps.112:1-9 |