Prayer Diary January 2014
Wednesday 1st Happy New Year!
Eternal God, thank You for bringing us safely to the beginning of another year. We can’t know what this year will bring, but You know. Help us to put ourselves into Your hands, trusting You, both for ourselves and for those who are precious to us.
Thursday 2nd
Thanks be to God for His gift that is too wonderful for words! This modern rendering of Paul’s prayer recorded in 2 Corinthians 9.15 reminds us that we walk through the first days of 2014 in the glorious light of Christmas. If only this joy might attract others!
Friday 3rd
Gracious Lord, thank You for the gift of a New Year. Help us to make it properly new, putting away the things which we regret and resolving to live each day positively, using it as a gift from You.
Saturday 4th
As our church faces the ever-increasing cost of Ministry and of utilities in addition to the ongoing maintenance and upkeep of our buildings, please pray with us that those who can will consider increasing their giving.
Sunday 5th The first Sunday of this New Year
Living Lord, bless those who come to worship You today. May Your Word find soil ready to receive it. May our praise rise to You.
Monday 6th
Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. Ps.23.1
Thank You, Good Shepherd, that You will definitely provide for us, no matter what. Perhaps I could share this with someone else…
Tuesday 7th
I can do everything through Him Who gives me strength. Phil.4.13
The compiler of this Prayer Diary certainly needs this as she prepares this material and through each day of the month. If it is true for you that you are helpless without our God, pray with me: Lord, make this real to me today.
Wednesday 8th
Have you made any New Year Resolutions? Many of us don’t because we know we won’t keep them! If you don’t already do this, a good resolution for 2014 might be to spend even five minutes with God at the beginning of each day, perhaps with this Prayer Diary. You’ll be amazed at the result!
Thursday 9th
Schools have resumed and hopefully everyone is refreshed following the Christmas break. Loving Lord, help us not to take for granted the good education which our children receive. Strengthen the staff in what can be a hard term with unpredictable weather.
Friday 10th
The Youth Group will be looking forward to coming together after the Christmas break. There will be much to share! Thank You, Heavenly Father, for each of these young folk. Thank You too for a very successful Christmas Party. Please continue to give to Lyall and Isabel all the resources they need for the term ahead.
Saturday 11th
Almighty Father, we pray for friends and family members facing difficult situations today. Help us to know how to help, and also when to remain silent, talking about them only with You. Thank You that You always know what is best.
Sunday 12th
Joint service at Olrig to mark the new linking at 3 p.m.
Presbytery will host a service in which the linking of Canisbay with Dunnet with Keiss with Olrig will be celebrated. Lord of the Church, prompt Your people to attend and to reach out in genuine friendship to one another.
Monday 13th
God of the whole world, every year is marked by suffering and loss in so-called natural disasters and in war, terrorism, racial hatred… Your heart must have broken so many times because each person involved is known to You by name and loved by You. Enlarge our vision to care more and to do what we can, even if it seems so little.
Tuesday 14th
Remember our Interim Moderator, Rev Alastair Gray, in your prayers. Ask God to give him the wisdom he needs and energy in all his commitments. Rev Robert Nicol will also be involved as OLM. May God bless Lyall, Alastair and Robert as they work together in our four congregations.
Wednesday 15th
Loving Father, we pray for those who have been bereaved in recent weeks as they strive to come to terms with what has happened. Protect any from turning against You in their grief and give to those who seek to bring comfort and help the right words - or the companionable silence. Minister to those in need, Lord!.
Thursday 16th
Show us, Merciful Lord, how to help the vulnerable people in our neighbourhood. Some people do a great job, but some of us could make more of an effort. Prompt us, and strengthen us, we ask - and help us to do it for Your sake and not to bring glory on ourselves!
Friday 17th
Thank You, Lord, for Lyall and for all that he has done over four years in Canisbay, Dunnet and Keiss. With the new linking and other changes agreed by Presbytery, things will inevitably not continue as before. Specially help Lyall as he makes necessary adjustments. Give him patience and continued strength and health; keep his inspiration fresh and keep him walking close to You.
Saturday 18th
Although we know that the shortest day is far behind us, days still seem short and darkness comes early. Remind us, Lord, that You are Light and that we can find comfort in You. Encourage us too as we see the moon and the stars. What a wonderful world You have made!
Sunday 19th Service in Pulteney House at 3.00pm.
Lord, awaken Your people! We hear that in most congregations numbers attending are diminishing and that is certainly true in Canisbay unless we hold a special service. We know that some are prevented by poor health from attending and we join with them in the fellowship of the Spirit. But how we long to see more of those who are able resuming the habit of regular weekly worship with us!
Monday 20th
Pray for the House Group as we meet tomorrow afternoon. As well as benefiting from our discussion we hope to explore ways of attracting more to join us. Ask God to prompt us as we share.
Tuesday 21st House Group; Kirk Session and Board Meeting
This evening’s meeting of Office Bearers is very important as we have to make decisions particularly about finance and our Budget for 2014. Pray for wisdom and a clear sighted attitude. “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” (Ps. 127.1)
Wednesday 22nd
Welcoming God, how we rejoice in all the possibilities offered by our Church Hall! Bless each one, young and old, believer and doubter, who will meet with us within these walls this year. Give us the imagination to take hold of even more opportunities - and continue to provide the people to make it work!
Thursday 23rd Ministry and Mission Committee in Wick
Please pray for this meeting convened by Rev Stuart Farmes. Esme and Ruth Malcolm will attend on behalf of our church. Ask God to give wisdom in all discussion and in decisions made.
Friday 24th
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! Ps.139.16,17 It is awe-inspiring to think that Jesus calls us personally, just as He did His first disciples. Prompt me, Living Lord, to listen for Your voice, however it comes, and to respond.
Saturday 25th Burns’ Night
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the gifts You give to people which in turn bring enjoyment to others. Today we thank You for the poetry of Robert Burns and the pleasure this gives to so many. Bless too the social gatherings which take place over this weekend. Particularly bless lonely folk who find a Burns’ Supper a great blessing.
Sunday 26th
Almighty God, already it is the last Sunday of this New Year! Please bless the services in all four churches today and in the churches of every denomination in our county. May preachers and worshippers know Your Presence in a real way and may glory rise to You.
Monday 27th
Merciful Father, we all know folk who are anxious about their health today; waiting for the date for an operation or treatment; or for the results of tests. Keep us faithful as we pray for them and for their families and friends. Thank You that You hold us all in the palms of Your hands.
Tuesday 28th Guild Pot Luck Supper
Lord Jesus Christ, when You walked on this earth You delighted in fellowship with Your people at a meal. As the Guild enjoy this special time together this evening, make Your Presence as real as that of one another. We pray that nothing may prevent the success of what has traditionally been our most successful gathering.
Wednesday 29th
Thank You, dear Lord, for the joy and privilege of Christian fellowship. Please teach us to show more of the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - so that others will be attracted to You in us and want to know You too.
Thursday 30th
Please pray for Lyall as he conducts regular assemblies in our School. Thank God for the open door that there has always been in Canisbay. Pray today for schools which are closed to Your servants and for children who have no easy opportunity to learn about the things of God.
Friday 31st
And so another month draws to a close. 2014 is well established and some of our plans for this Year are taking shape. Thank 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.
