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

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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.

A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.

Proverbs 21.2 (NIV)

A couple of days ago we were thinking about how easily we overlook our own ‘folly’, and rage against others instead.

Today Solomon hits home again: not only are we great at criticising others, we are also great at thinking we are (always?) in the right.

We find our reasons for a particular behaviour completely justified – yet everyone else’s reasons completely wrong. And again, as I preached a couple of weeks ago, it’s so tempting, so seductive, to follow our desires and longings, while telling ourselves it’s right to do so (and the world would agree).

We might trick others – we might even trick ourselves sometimes – but God knows what we’re up to. He doesn’t stop loving us when we act like this, but like the most loving parent you can imagine, he longs for us to be honest, to do what he knows is best for us: to love and follow him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Prayers

Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form – and local parishes and senior church leaders.

Today we are praying for
Archbishops Justin and John, and the Church of England

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.