Daily Devotions: Tuesday 30th June

Here are Tuesday’s morning prayers and Bible meditations. They are designed to be read in 5 to 10 minutes.

The theme for this week’s readings is that God made the world, loves it, and has given it to us to care for.

Opening Prayer: Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
present in all places and filling all things,
the treasury of blessings and Giver of life:
come and abide in me.

Lord’s Prayer: Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen

Text: ‘So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ (Gal 3:26-28)

Explanation: As the world is grappling with issues of race and identity, these verses have so much to teach us.  We are all, whatever our race or ethnicity creatures of the same Creator. We are all, whatever our race or ethnicity, sinners who can be loved and redeemed by the same Saviour. 

Questions: Take a moment and give thanks for all that Jesus has done for you over the last day. Then ask: 1. How does knowing that you are a child of God and therefore precious in his sight make you feel? Do you see yourself like this? 2. How do these verses challenge you about how you see other people? 3. What might this mean for your life?

Prayer: Father thank you I am your child and am loved, valued and saved through Christ.  Help me to grasp my identity in you and help me to see others in the same way.  Help me always to remember that every person in this world is your creation and to love them with the same love that you have shown me. Amen.

Prayer for the Day: Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace.
Help me in all things to rely upon Your holy will.
In every hour of the day reveal Your will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that come to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all.
In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events let me not forget that all things are under Your care.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray Yourself in me. Amen. 

Check out our talk about this week’s theme: 

Daily Devotions: Monday 29th June

Here are Monday’s morning prayers and Bible meditations. They are designed to be read in 5 to 10 minutes.

The theme for this week’s readings is that God made the world, loves it, and has given it to us to care for.

Opening Prayer: Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
present in all places and filling all things,
the treasury of blessings and Giver of life:
come and abide in me.

Lord’s Prayer: Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen

Text: ‘Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. ” Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food. ” And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning —the sixth day.’ (Gen 1:26-31)

Explanation: This passage has many implications for how we live.  Firstly, God made us in his image; we are his intentional creation and we are different to everything else he created – we have a soul and a spirit and are capable of showing and receiving love.  Secondly, God created us in a particular way and for a particular purpose – he made us male and female, he made us to have children and fill the earth and he made us to rule over the rest of creation.  Thirdly, God looked upon all that he has made and it was good – God loves us and he loves his creation.  In the same way this should encourage us to show that same love to one another and to the rest of creation as we seek to rule over it as God has purposed.  

Questions: Take a moment and give thanks for all that Jesus has done for you over the last day. Then ask: 1.What does it mean to you to be made in the image of God?  2. How does knowing God created you for a purpose impact your life? 3. How does this effect the way we see and treat others in the world?

Prayer: Father thank you that you are our creator.  Thank you that when I am struggling to know what my identity is and my purpose in life, I can read these verses and know that I am your creation, designed and given purpose by you.  Thank you that I am loved.  Help me to treat the rest of your creation with that same love. Amen.

Prayer for the Day: Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace.
Help me in all things to rely upon Your holy will.
In every hour of the day reveal Your will to me.
Bless my dealings with all who surround me.
Teach me to treat all that come to me throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all.
In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events let me not forget that all things are under Your care.
Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray Yourself in me. Amen.

Check out our talk about this week’s theme: