Daily Devotional reflections

As we journey through these uncertain times, each day Sean will seek to post a thought or reflection, a Bible verse or a prayer.

Thursday 26th June 2020

Something slightly different this morning! Traditionally, faith and spirituality have been seen as very positive things. By personally encountering God's love, we discover our true sense of self worth. Encountering God's love gives birth hope and provides a narrative on which we can be build our lives. But there is something that is frequently missed out or understated. It is how love brings the power to change.

In the video below the Moderator, Rt Rev Martin Fair, interviews two men, Andy McDougall and Fraser Simpson, who as the result of family tragedy, turned to drugs to help the cope. It is a very honest story that radiates with hope. Not only that people can find recovery and rebuilt their lives. But through Jesus, people find an inner strength that comes with being filled with the Holy Spirit.

BIBLE READING

Matthew 5: 25-30

The Father Revealed in the Son

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

PRAYER

Let us remember

People yearning for change in their lives
People struggling with addiction
People who have lost hope
People who lack purpose and direction
People who have no knowledge or experience of the reality of God's love.
This we have come to know,
this is what we have heard:
the Eternal is an everlasting God,
creator of heaven and earth,
who does not grow weary or faint;
whose wisdom is unsearchable,
giving energy to the meek
and strength to those who have none.
Even youths shall faint and grow weary,
young athletes shall fall exhausted;
but those who love the Lord Jesus
and patiently put their trust in God,
shall renew their strength;
they shall soar with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

O God, our loving Shepherd,
you come to us with the strength and love of a father,
and the tender mercies, patience and protection of a loving mother.
We see you in the very living of our days,
and yet we so often fail to praise you or to offer our burdens to you.
Hear us, Lord,

as we lift to you our prayers for others and for ourselves.
We pray for those in need–those who hunger or are homeless.
We pray for those in pain—the abused, brokenhearted and lonely.
We pray for the sick in body and in mind, and for those who grieve.
For the life of this community and all those who put their trust in you
for all their todays and all their tomorrows,
we pray that your lovingkindness to the world would be offered
through our hands, our words, our deeds, our hearts.
Free us, Lord, as your own people,
to sing your praise in the work of our everyday lives.
In those comings and goings of our simple and complicated living,
make us instruments of your peace and grace
in weary days with weary people.

Bless our memories, O God,
that in our remembering we may partake
of the mystery that is eternal life in its fullness.
For we pray in the presence of your risen Christ,
our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.

The Lord’s prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
you will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen

BLESSING

So now we leave this space of worship
And while so much of the road ahead is uncertain,
the path constantly changing,
we know some things that are as solid and sure
as the ground beneath our feet,
and the sky above our heads.
We know God is love.
We know Christ’s light endures.
We know the Holy Spirit this there,
found in the space between all things,
closer to us than our next breath,
binding us to each other,
until we meet we again,
Go in peace.
Amen