Prayer Diary March 2014
Saturday 1st
February has gone - perhaps it seems to have flown! - and March is here. What a blessing it is to know that God has gone before us; He knows what lies ahead; our times are in His hands. We could have no greater security! Lord I believe; help my unbelief.
Sunday 2nd
I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ Ps.122.1
If I’m honest, Lord, I don’t always feel like that. Sometimes attending our weekly service is an effort. And then I wonder why I don’t come away feeling blessed! Work in me through Your Holy Spirit so that I anticipate meeting You in each part of the service and in those with whom I shall gather today and in the week ahead.
Monday 3rd
At our Session and Board Meeting last week we welcomed Mrs Myrtle Gillies as our Interim Moderator, taking Alastair Gray’s place following his request to relinquish this post because of his family commitments. Alastair has been of huge help to us over the years and we shall miss him greatly but we understand. Pray for Alastair and Fiona and their family at this very busy time.
Tuesday 4th Presbytery meets in Thurso West
Lord of the Church, grant wisdom as the business is dealt with this evening. May Your Spirit brood over all the proceedings so that decisions made are in accordance with Your will.
Wednesday 5th Ash Wednesday
‘It is not what we give of ourselves or our resources that is the measure of how we love, but what we hold back.’ Celtic Daily Prayer, p374.
Lord, help me to set my priorities right, particularly towards those who depend on me. Make me sensitiveto the needs of others.
Thursday 6th Canisbay School Assembly
It is likely that Colin Carmichael, staff worker for Scripture Union, is in our school today taking a Religious Observance Assembly and advertising SU Holidays. Pray for good listening! In the past, several of our children have attended these holidays. Pray that the children might be keen and that parents are willing and able to let them sign up.
Friday 7th World Day of Prayer Youth Group
We gather this afternoon in Dunnet Church for the service prepared by Christian women of Egypt on the theme: ‘Streams in the Desert’. There are very obvious Biblical connections with this and we shall also be encouraged to think of streams in our own deserts when God is actively at work. Ask God to bless richly all His people across the world who take time to share in this precious experience of fellowship and prayer.
Saturday 8th
‘May the Son of God be Lord in all your ways; may he shepherd you the length of all your days’ Celtic Daily Prayer p300
Lord God, make it true for me.
Sunday 9th First Sunday in Lent
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for our church and for Your Church worldwide. Thank You for freedom to worship You. Comfort and encourage today all who have to meet in secret and who are persecuted for their faith.
Monday 10th
During Lent we remember how privileged we are. Many of us using this Prayer Diary are women… Christian Aid tells us that women own only 1% of the world’s property! Take a few moments to take that in.
Tuesday 11th
Almighty God, over the years, Caithness has had such a problem with road traffic accidents, especially involving young or elderly drivers. Give wisdom and safety to all who travel on our roads and elsewhere. Keep me considerate and alert!
Wednesday 12th
‘Teach us your ways, O Lord, and let us walk in your truth. We put behind us our stubborn independence, and turn again to you.’ Celtic Daily Prayer p250
Hear our prayer, Lord!
Thursday 13th
In these days of economic uncertainty, pray for people with vision and entrepreneurship to pursue opportunities to improve our Caithness economy and to provide jobs for our people.
Friday 14th
It is not so long since we were appalled to see on our TV screens the result of extreme weather which destroyed homes and livelihoods in the south of England. Gracious Lord, we have escaped. Give us caring hearts to pray and somehow to help.
Saturday 15th
‘ Let your tender word wear a hole in the hardness of our hearts; so as we hear your word frequently our hearts will be opened to fear God.’ Celtic Daily Prayer p768
Make it true as I worship You tomorrow!
Sunday 16th Service in the Hospital Chapel at 2.15 pm.
Whether Lyall or Esme conducts this afternoon’s short service, it is a quick turn around after two morning services! Pray that patients will attend - or listen on the Hospital Radio - and that they will be blessed. This short time of worship can mean so much to those who spend a protracted period in hospital and miss their home church!
Monday 17th
Few of us find change easy to accept and deal with, particularly in the Church of Jesus Christ! Hopefully we learn to trust as the days pass.. By this time the new post created in our four way church linkage should have been advertised and the future made clearer. Thank God that our times are in His hands and that He always has the best for us.
Tuesday 18th
It is not easy to be a church leader. People have expectations of us, and we have expectations of our own. The pressures can be immense. Merciful Lord, give them, give us, wisdom and courage to speak with Your timing and grace.
Wednesday 19th House Group
Those of us who have met for some time trust that we are neither a clique nor a threatening hot-house! We enjoy natural Christian fellowship in which we are able to relax and sometimes o share dilemmas. We long that those who are missing out might feel able to join us! If you live locally and are free in the afternoon, why not give us a try? If only all God’s people could benefit from such a group!
Thursday 20th Canisbay School Assembly
Religious Observance in schools has been challenged by the secularists and we must not be complacent. Give thanks for the opportunities still open to Lyall and to others in our county and pray that the seeds sown in young hearts may bear fruit.
Friday 21st Youth Group
In recent weeks there seems to have been a great deal of publicity about adverse influences on children and young people and the need to protect them. Sometimes we think ‘it isn’t like that in Caithness’. But the pressures of the media and their peers can be overwhelming. Merciful Father, thank You for good influences such as our Youth Group and continue to bless and prosper all who lead.
Saturday 22nd
Dear Father, we pray today for people who have little sense of worth. Some are elderly, feeling alone and vulnerable. Prompt those of us who are able to know how to bring assistance - and help us to do this for the sake of Jesus Who loves each of them dearly.
Sunday 23rd Stated Annual Meeting following the service
Today Myrtle Gillies comes to conduct our service and to chair our Annual Meeting, having already done this at Keiss! Pray that God will enable Myrtle fully. This meeting is an opportunity to look back with thanks at 2013 and to try to discern something of God’s will and purpose for us as a congregation. Lord Jesus. We are Your Church! Prompt Your people to come. Renew in us a sense of loyalty!
Monday 24th
God to enfold me, God to surround me, God in my speaking, God in my thinking. God in my life, God in my lips, God in my heart. Celtic Daily Prayer, p757
Lord God, so many dear people in our community suffer from cancer and other life-limiting conditions. Only You are sufficient for them. Answer this prayer for each of them, as for me.
Tuesday 25th Canisbay Guild
In our Guild Meeting this evening, we ‘Revisit 125’ - the celebration of the Anniversary of what began as the Woman’s Guild through which countless women and not a few men were blessed. Although we are a small group, we value precious fellowship and fun. We wish that more would join us: the benefit would be theirs!
Wednesday 26th
Loving God, Loving God, as we journey towards Easter, we thank You that Your purpose was always to give Your Son to die for us. There are people around me who need to understand this. Help me to share with them - in a word or in my prayer for them now.
Thursday 27th
Good Shepherd, while we thank You for the joy of Springtime and the new life we see around us, we realise that those involved in lambing are weary. Give them the strength they need to bring them through and watch over lambs, ewes and shepherds alike.
Friday 28th
‘Lord of my heart, give me vision to inspire me, that working or resting I may always think of you.’ Celtic Daily Prayer, p526
If we were only more enthusiastic about what we believe, others may be attracted and want to find out more! Don’t let me put them off, Lord!
Saturday 29th
Tomorrow is the fourth Sunday in Lent, Mother’s Day or, more accurately, Mothering Sunday. In earlier days, people would return to worship in their ‘Mother Church’ where they first heard about Jesus and grew up to love and serve Him. Perhaps that sounds sentimental to some today. Have we lost our sense of loyalty? How tragic that so many seem to have done so. Lord, speak to these dear people!
Sunday 30th British Summer Time begins, Mother’s Day
Some people who have forgotten may be late for church today! Some cold wintry weather may well lie ahead but how encouraging it is to enjoy longer hours of daylight and all the signs of new life and growth. Keep on praying for new life and growth in our churches, asking God to keep us alert to seize every opportunity He gives us.
Monday 31st
And so another month ends. Easter lies ahead. If only we prepared for Easter as we prepare for Christmas! I can make sure that I am prepared: three weeks lie ahead. Crucified and Risen Lord, go before me! Help me to follow You.
