Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us (Psalm 96.2, GNB).

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Opening

Speak these words out loud:

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.

Jeremiah 17.7 (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.

Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you. (NIV)

Don’t take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and he will make it right. (GNB)

Proverbs 20.22

Revenge is not a dish best served cold; revenge is a dish best served straight into the kitchen bin.

How have you been wronged in the past? Spend a few moments remembering, calling it to mind. If you’re like me, it won’t be a pleasant experience, and your instincts will probably be that you’d like those people to be hurt back, as punishment for the way they hurt you.

And then spend a few moments – this will be even harder – thinking about all the people whom you have hurt, who would be thinking about you if they were reading this.

This is why vengeance belongs only to God. It is why only he can sort everything out and make everything right. The world is a huge mess of pain. Taking revenge on people – even when they deserve it – simply makes the world an even bigger mess than it already is.

The wise – and much, much, harder – thing to do is to learn to let go and forgive people when they hurt us – and leave sorting it all out to God. Forgiving people is not easy, but actually it’s the only way to stop bitterness growing in your heart.

Every now and then I get or hear nasty messages from people, who are bitter and angry, because they haven’t learned to forgive people who’ve hurt them – often long in the past. They take revenge, in reality or (more likely) in their heads, time and again. They let the pain and the anger fester and grow, and they become unpleasant and bitter.

Friends, be wise and trust God to make everything right. Learn to let go and forgive those who hurt you – now, or long ago. And your heart will be full of light instead of darkness.

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:

Irene Davies, Alan & Joyce Page, Rita Harris

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 Councillors

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.