Our church building may be closed, but God’s eyes are open and his ears are attentive to our prayers (2 Chronicles 7.15).

Each day I intend to publish the proverb from our Lent Prayers, a short reflection, and prayers for the people on our Lent prayer calendar. If you would like to receive these by email, please click here.

Opening

Speak these words out loud:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.’

Psalm 91.1-2 (NIV)

Today’s Proverb

Read the proverb through three or four times, slowly. Pause in-between, maybe write it out by hand – savour the words, let them speak deeply to you.

The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
and their lips promote instruction.

Proverbs 16.23 (NIV)

Yesterday we read a warning about gossip – today we read an encouragement to share wisdom, prudence, and instruction.

One way of reading this would be ‘enjoying telling other people what to do’, but I don’t think that’s what Solomon was getting at!

Instead he was talking about God’s instruction, God’s wisdom – in other words, encouraging each other in our faith, our journeying with God.

This is more important than ever as we are isolated from one another. Why not think and pray about an imaginative way you can encourage one or two of your Christian brothers and sisters in their faith?

If you have been encouraged in this way by someone, and are happy to share it, please let me know – it would encourage the rest of us.

Prayers

Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form.

Today we are praying for
Janet Wilson, Catriona Paton, and Joyce Moore

Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.

Please pray for our leaders and healthcare workers, and all those working to keep us safe, well, and fed. Please pray that people would unselfishly put others before themselves, and buy only what they need.

Church Family Prayer

Come Holy Spirit,
and make us one in heart and action,
so that we can serve God faithfully:
abounding in love,
maturing in holiness,
and seeking out the lost.
Help us grow as disciples of Jesus –
in commitment, in depth, and in number –
that we may be a blessing to Amington;
to the glory and praise of God the Father.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

Closing Prayer

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
the only way to the Father.

Psalm 127.1, Hebrews 12.2 & John 14.6

May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
Amen.