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.

Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

Proverbs 17.19 (NIV)

I’m sure we all know people who love a fight, who love to argue. It doesn’t really matter what you say, suddenly they think the opposite.

And I’m sure we all know people who are withdrawn, who are guarded in what they say, who don’t share much about themselves.

To be honest, I can understand both attitudes. Sharing ourselves with others can lead to us getting hurt – so it’s easier to withdraw. It’s challenging when people disagree with us – so it’s easier to fight and make them wrong, rather than admit we might be wrong.

But both attitudes separate us from each other – and that is sin. God created us to be in community, to have relationships with other people. This is one of the pleasures – and challenges – of being in a church family.

Think about yourself – are you argumentative, do you cut yourself off from others – or do you create barriers in other ways? How can you ask God to help you remove those barriers?

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
Ray & Jane Skarratt, and Carol Chadwick

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.