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 17.24

Have you ever been challenged by a bully, ‘What are you looking at?’

Yesterday we thought about whether our eyes look to the darkness or to the God who is with us always (after all that was Jesus’ promise to his disciples, and to us: ‘I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ – Matthew 28.20).

Today Solomon urges us to ‘keep wisdom in view’.

Many times I’ve used the example of walking towards a landmark vs walking in a wooded area. In the first, you walk in a straight line towards your destination. In the second that is almost impossible, and it’s very easy to get lost.

It’s like that with life. There is so much to distract us. Sometimes I think that’s what our culture is all about – it’s full of more and more things to distract us – from alcohol to smartphones to social media to trashy TV – to take our minds off the pain and difficulties of life.

There’s nothing wrong with a lot of those things – in moderation – but the point of the proverb is this: what are you aiming at? If nothing, you’ll wander and meander about like the fool in the proverb.

Instead, I suggest something better to aim for – or rather someone. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus – enduring hardship, ready to sacrifice everything, living a faithful and obedient life that brings true joy and fulfilment.

Surely that’s better than being distracted all the time?

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:

Rose Swaddle, Linda Dearne, Simon Dearne

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: Evangelism & Outreach

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.