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:

Let us build with care,
building on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

from 1 Corinthians 3.10-11

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.

Proverbs 16.20

The word ‘blessed’ here is like the word ‘blessed’ we read a couple of days ago (‘blessed are the poor in spirit’); the word doesn’t mean ‘blessed by God’, as if God rewards those who act in a certain way. The Good News version is actually a little closer here, with ‘happy’.

The word denotes something more like ‘fortunate’ or ‘well off’ (in a spiritual not material sense); it isn’t a promise, but a recommendation. It is like saying, ‘I recommend you walk up this mountain – it’s a tough climb, but the view is spectacular.’

Certain behaviours contain within themselves their own reward – why? – because that’s how God made us to live. And this is probably number one: trust in the Lord.

Now, my first instinct was to write a challenge along the lines of ‘what sorts of things do you trust in?’ It’s far easier to lean on physical, more immediate things. But actually I won’t. By all means go down that rabbit-hole if you wish, but I’d rather focus on the recommendation.

We might recommend someone walks up a mountain because of the views. We might recommend someone watches a TV show because we loved it and think they will too. We might recommend a place to eat because the food was delicious.

But we recommend someone trusts in God because he along is strong enough to take the weight. He alone is faithful enough not to let us down. He alone is powerful enough to keep us safe. He alone is loving enough to stay patient with us day-in-day-out. He alone is worthy of our trust.

So I wholeheartedly recommend you do exactly that – and you will be blessed.

Prayers

Pray for Five – pray for your five friends / family from Thy Kingdom Come.

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:

Rosemary Baxter, Allan & Anne Baldwin

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

We also pray for: Couples Getting Married

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.

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.