Prayer Diary Feb 2012
Wednesday 1st
I trust in Your unfailing love Psalm 13.5
Trust doesn’t come easily, but our God is constant. Faithful God,
help me to hold on to You as another month begins and to prove
that You are indeed the One who will never let me down.
Thursday 2nd Candlemas
In the Church of Scotland we tend not to celebrate Candlemas – the
Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of
Christ in the Temple, but we can give thanks for Jesus, Light of
the World and pray that each of us might be a light where we are,
burning defiantly in the face of so much darkness in our world.
Friday 3rd Youth Group
Loving Father, thank You for each member of our Youth Group.
Bugs and poor weather have interrupted the plans over recent
weeks but the young folk are as keen as ever to meet to share in
fun and activity. Give them a specially good time together this
evening!
Saturday 4th Prayer Breakfast
Personal prayer is vital, but there is special value in gathering in
groups. Thank You that You promise to meet with those of us who
are able to come together this morning. Hear and answer our
prayers and the prayers of those who join us in the fellowship of
Your Spirit.
Sunday 5th
Almighty Father, as we gather in Your house today, accept and
inhabit our praise. Speak through Lyall as he leads us in worship.
Fill the service with Your Spirit, empowering us to live for You.
Monday 6th
Pray today for the people who were once faithful members of our
church and community but who are now in Care Homes or
housebound and receiving care. As we pray, Lord, prompt us to
bring Your comfort with a card, a phone call or a visit.
Tuesday 7th Caithness Presbytery meets in Thurso
Risen Lord, we pray for the growth of the Church. Show us how we
can live for You and encourage more people to want to become part of the Body of Christ here in Canisbay.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2.42
Wednesday 8th
Tomorrow the Session will meet along with our Board members.
Ivan will chair this meeting for the first time: ask God to give him
wisdom and pray that the Holy Spirit will brood over all our
discussion so that the decisions we make will benefit our
congregation and community and help to establish the Kingdom of
God in our part of Caithness..
Thursday 9th Kirk Session and Board Meeting
Gracious God, prompt us to pray often for our school. Thank You
for the teachers and all who support them. Bless and use Lyall in
the opportunities which he has regularly. Give him Your words so
that seed is planted in responsive hearts.
Friday 10th
Giving God, remind us to be thankful for all You provide for us
daily. It is easy for us to forget Your blessings or to take our
comfortable lives for granted. Even if things are hard, teach us to be grateful. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5.18
Saturday 11th
Isabel is to conduct our service tomorrow while Lyall will preach at
Keiss and Dunnet. Loving Father, bless them both in their
preparation and prepare the hearts of all who will attend.
Sunday 12th
Living Lord Jesus, so many people in our community crowd into
our sanctuary for a funeral but seldom or never come through the doors at any other time. This is so hard for us! Help us to pray for these people with love and understanding. You are able to work in their hearts. If there is some way in which we need to change, show us and help us to do something about it!
Monday 13th
Lord, You tell us to pray for those in authority and I do that today
and seek to do this more often. How important it is that politicians maintain integrity and make good, wise decisions, which are not merely based on winning popularity. Guard them from temptation each day and in each moment.
Tuesday 14th
St Valentine’s Day! Remembering that Valentine as a young priest lost his life because he refused to deny Jesus as his Lord, we pray today for Christians facing persecution for the Faith. We have it so easy: challenge us today and every day and prompt us in our prayers and actions.
Wednesday 15th
Loving God, we pray for protection for all who travel in bad weather and on difficult roads. Particularly look after those whose working hours mean that they drive when roads may be untreated. Give wisdom to those of us who are older as we consider whether we should venture out!
Thursday 16th
Compassionate Lord, we pray for all the people whom we know
who are suffering from cancer. We thank You for increasing
success in research although so much of the treatment has
unpleasant side effects. Comfort them and hear our prayers for
them.
Friday 17th
Merciful Father, bless our young people. Many difficulties face them in these times of growing unemployment. Work in each of them so that they find fulfillment in all parts of their lives.
Saturday 18th
Lord God, be present in families who seek to spend quality time together. Where there are problems, grant healing and love. And as Lyall prepares for tomorrow’s service, prompt some who have lost the habit of joining us for worship to resolve to be there. Multiply Your blessings as they respond!
Sunday 19th
Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! Psalm 147.1
Richly bless Your people as we gather today to sing Your praise, to read Your Word and to hear Your message for us.
Monday 20th
Pray for the members of our Armed Forces serving in Afghanistan.
Remember the Chaplains who do such a valuable job in bringing constant comfort and encouragement - making Jesus real when He is needed so much!
‘This is the best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.’ John 15.13 The Message
Tuesday 21st Shrove Tuesday
Heavenly Father, many of us will enjoy eating pancakes today! Remind us that this day marks the end of the period before Lent begins and prompt us to decide how we might spend the forty days which lie ahead so that we are truly ready to celebrate Easter when it comes.
Wednesday 22nd Ash Wednesday and Thinking Day
Almighty God, as members of the worldwide Guide and Scout Movement take time today to remember one another, richly bless each member and all whose dedication enables units to thrive. Many of us give thanks for what we learned in our earlier days as we strove to keep our Promise. Children in our community would benefit so much from this opportunity but where are the leaders?!
Thursday 23rd
Today we pray for those whose hearts are broken because someone very dear to them has been taken from them suddenly in a tragic accident. Comfort them, dear Lord, as only You can and help them to experience the reality of Your enfolding arms.
Friday 24th
Merciful Lord, we pray for people with limited means struggling to make ends meet in cold weather. Help those who have enough – and more than enough – to be generous, sharing with others in the name of Jesus Christ. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed towards the poor and needy in your land. Deut.15.11
Saturday 25th
Great God, when I think of all the things that You have done for me, words are inadequate to tell You how I feel. Help me to share my gratitude with someone else today so that they can think more highly of You as well. I will sing of the Lord’s great love for ever. Psalm 89.1
Sunday 26th
Loving Father, we pray today for those who once worshipped regularly in Your house but who are no longer able to attend. Give to each of them a rich portion of Your blessing and help them to know that we do not forget them.
Monday 27th
The days are longer and the sun is stronger. Thank You, Creator
God for signs of Spring and the promise of new life to come. But
Winter is not yet over so help us to persevere. Comfort those people who find it particularly hard to cope with adverse weather.
Tuesday 28th Guild Meeting
Remember the Guild as we meet this evening. Some of our members missed out on our Pot Luck Supper last month because of illness. Gracious God, restore them and enable them to come along to share with us in happy fellowship.
Wednesday 29th
The extra day which occurs only once in four years! Lord of time and of the ages, please help us to use this day well – as we should use every day. You know our weakness, Lord, but You also see our desire to serve You and to serve those with whom we have contact and opportunity. We need Your help!
