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 good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.

Proverbs 22.1-2 (NIV)

Who doesn’t want more? Most of us want more than what we’ve got. Maybe we aren’t happy with our car, or the holidays we go on – or wish we could afford to go away. Maybe we aren’t happy with our job, our family, or even – God forbid – our church.

The thing is, the secret to contentment is not ‘getting what you want’, but ‘being happy with what you have’. (Of course that doesn’t mean we can be lazy or stop working hard – it simply means we don’t make ‘stuff’ the be all and end all of our life.)

Think of Christians you ‘esteem’, those you really admire – I suspect they aren’t greedy or selfish or self-centred. Thank God for them, pray God’s blessing on them. And, if it’s appropriate, maybe use today to find a way of sending them a message or note of thanks and encouragement.

For I suspect they are people who have learned the true value of things, who have learned to accept what they have as a gift from God, and make him their number one.

Do you want to be ‘esteemed’ (for the right reasons)? How can you, together with God, get your priorities right?

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
Ben & Jess Green, and Lesley Willers

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.