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:

‘Where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.’

from Matthew 6.21 (Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount)

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 17.22

I suspect one of the reasons the Winnie the Pooh books are so popular is that many of us see a little bit of Eeyore in ourselves. There is a pessimism – even a cynicism – that is part of what it means to be British, the ‘stiff upper lip’ that all too often turns into a sneer.

This proverb is not, I think, about pretending that everything is fine. In fact the Bible is never about pretending everything is fine. Time and again it recognises the reality of pain and suffering – perhaps nowhere more so than in Psalm 23:

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^*
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me.

^* or death’s dark vale, or the valley of the shadow of death

Psalm 23.4 (NIV)

It’s not about pretending the dark valley isn’t real or doesn’t exist, but recognising that God is with us even there, which means we don’t need to be afraid. I don’t for a second think David had mastered this – but he knew what he should be doing.

When we face a difficult situation (to pick an example at random, a winter of being isolated and unable to see our families, which looks increasingly likely), we have a choice: will we look at the dark valley, or will be lift our eyes to see that God is walking with us, alongside us, even carrying us.

It’s not a quick fix, but a learned attitude and habit that helps push our hearts away from Eeyore’s moaning, and towards David’s attitude that God is with him – which cannot but lift our hearts. God is with you – now.

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:

Ben & Jess Green, Lesley Willers, Wendy Ruff

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: Local Health, Police & Fire Services

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.