Prayer Diary Oct 2012
Monday 1st
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for
us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. (Heb.12.1,2 NIV)
Another new month! Gracious Lord, help me to move through it
with you!
Tuesday 2nd
Last week most of the key folk in our congregation met to hear of
Presbytery’s 10 Year Plan. Pray that we will have wisdom to know
how to receive the proposed changes and to discern God’s way
ahead for us in our church and community.
Wednesday 3rd
Thank You, Lord, for new technology which is such a blessing for
many of us. Help us to use it not only for our own convenience, but
for Your glory. Where it leads to forms of abuse, protect our
children and young people.
Thursday 4th Church Hall open for coffees, lunch & teas
What a joy it is to have our church hall with all the possibilities it offers! We continue to be grateful for the success of the lunches served on Thursdays both for fellowship and fund-raising. Some of our regular visitors urge us not to stop! Thank You, Lord, for this precious opportunity to reach out beyond our own community, forging friendship with others.
Friday 5th Youth Group/ Schools close for the Oct. Holiday
Thank You, Lord, for times of rest and refreshment. The school staff will welcome this break – bless them richly. Keep the children safe during these days and, if possible grant good weather so that they can be out of doors.
Saturday 6th
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for
ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Cor.3.5
We owe everything to God, so there is no room for self-pride.
Help!
Sunday 7th
Almighty God, prompt us by Your Spirit to welcome Your special
day with its opportunities for worship. Bless the service in our
church today and in all churches within our county, of every
denomination. May preachers and worshippers know Your
Presence in a real way and may glory rise to You.
Monday 8th
Friends always show their love. What are brothers (sisters) for if
not to share trouble? (Prov. 17.17 GNB)
Heavenly Father, help me to be a friend today to someone who needs to have their burden shared, and bless both of us!
Tuesday 9th
Merciful Lord, please comfort all who have been bereaved as a
result of accidents on our roads. Prompt all drivers to be considerate so that road users are safe! Protect us in darkness and frost.
Wednesday 10th
Things may be difficult today. Teach me to trust You and to prove that, although I may forget You, You will never forget me. Thank You, Lord!.
Thursday 11th Church Hall open for coffees, lunch & teas
We have been urged to continue serving lunches by those who have been regular visitors! Give wisdom to know how to respond, Lord, and strength and help to those for whom this is a huge commitment.
Friday 12th
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! (Phil.4.4)
If I feel happy today, Lord, thank You! Now help me to make
someone else’s day happy too!
Saturday 13th
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be - you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean. (Ps. 32.1 The Message)
Merciful Lord, some of us are old enough to remember using slates in school and wiping away all the mistakes we had made. It is amazing that You deal with us in the same way when we tell You we are sorry for the wrong we’ve done. Those things just aren’t around any more! Thank You so much!
Sunday 14th
I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the Lord’s house‘.
(Ps.122.1 GNB)
Heavenly Father, please bless Lyall as he conducts our morning service today. Fill him with Your Spirit and speak through him to bless each of us. Open Your Word and make it real to us in the way we need it just now - to challenge, rebuke, encourage - You know!
Monday 15th
Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. (Ps.116.7 NIV)
As I consider some of the blessings You continually pour out on me, Gracious Lord, help me to know peace in my inmost being.
Tuesday 16th
When You lived on earth, Lord Jesus, You healed the sick. We pray for people in our community who have suddenly been diagnosed with cancer or a similar disease. Thank You that you use medical research to bring healing today. Please make treatment effective for our friends and use our prayers for them as well.
Wednesday 17th
Merciful Father, as strife continues in Afghanistan and in other parts of our uncertain world, look after the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. Give each one whatever they need today. Thank You that each is known to You and loved by You.
Thursday 18th
Almighty Father, we read in Your Word that we should pray for those in authority over us. So today we hold up before You our politicians whose decisions affect our lives. Help them to discern what is just and fair for all people. Thank You for those of their number who are Christians, and for those committed to pray regularly for Parliament.
Friday 19th
I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. (Ps. 121.1 The Message)
Creator God, thank You for the beauty of creation which we enjoy in our part of Your world. Thank You that You are concerned with each of us, making that strength always available.
Saturday 20th
God hears and He answers prayer!
Thank You for answered prayer and for the answers for which I’m still waiting. Keep my faith bright, and my eyes on You.
Sunday 21st
Jesus said, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16.15
Lord of the Church, we do not measure the ‘success’ of our own church merely by the number who gather regularly for worship. Help each of us to be faithful in prayer for Lyall and alert to Your prompting to be used in prayer and in imaginative ways to grow our church in our community.
Monday 22nd
Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time. (Prov. 17.22 GNB)
Another Monday! Even if this week seems to hold little to cheer me, give me things to laugh at today, Lord.
Tuesday 23rd Canisbay Guild
Merciful Father, bless the members of our Guild as we meet this evening with Mrs Janet MacDonald from Wick. Janet is the Presbyterial Council Project Coordinator and will introduce the six new projects which the National Guild will support for the next three years. May our meeting be a rich time of fellowship as we gather in Your presence.
Wednesday 24th
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. (Matt. 11.28 NIV) Thank You, dear Lord, that You understand us and know all our needs. Thank You too that You always keep Your promises. So, why am I still so stressed? Help me to believe You more and to do what You say!
Thursday 25th
This evening Presbytery’s Ministry and Mission Committee meets in Wick, convened by our Interim Moderator, Rev John Nugent. Lyall and Esme are part of this group. Pray that there might be a spirit of wisdom and love as the Presbytery Plan and its implications for our and all other congregations will probably be high on the agenda.
Friday 26th
Thank You, Lord, for the Youth Group meeting on Friday evenings
in our church hall with Lyall and Isabel. Keep the young people
enthusiastic and help them to be excited about You and Your
purposes for them. Give Lyall and Isabel fresh ideas - and energy!
Saturday 27th
God of the family, we ask Your special blessing on the families of our church and community today. Give them quality time together. Where there is pain and stress, be specially close because You know and love every single one.
Sunday 28th British summertime ends: clocks change
We may well feel that we have been cheated of our summer this year! God of the Seasons, help us to be grateful for the blessings which we have received and mindful of those who have suffered greatly in flood and storm or in drought; whose homes and livelihoods have been destroyed.
Monday 29th
The fruit of the Spirit is love. Gal.5.22
Constant God, thank You for Your love for us which never
changes. Help us who know You in a personal way to reflect this
love to others so that they will reach out to You and in turn be
richly blessed.
Tuesday 30th
Faithful God, we trust You. As we talk with You day by day,
strengthen our trust. Perhaps You will give us opportunities to share
with someone else an experience in which we have proved You.
Give us the words to say and courage to speak!
Wednesday 31st
As another month draws to a close, we give thanks to You, Jesus, that You have gone ahead of us, and that we can trust that what we attempt in Your Name will bring results for the extension of Your Kingdom.
With gratitude for your fellowship in prayer, Esme and June.
