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:

By his power God raised Jesus from the dead,
and he will raise us also.

1 Corinthians 6.14 (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.

Proverbs 21.22

‘The pen is mightier than the sword.’

I’ve never been convinced by that, because at the time the sword definitely wins! However over time, the pen – literally I suppose – has the last word.

Our Western world values strength, perhaps above all else (beauty certainly gets a look-in, at least a certain kind of beauty). Europe in particular has been the continent of Empires, long before Darwin’s ‘survival of the fittest’ won the battle of ideas (which is both a valuable – and often accurate – scientific theory, and a product of Victorian superiority).

There is no doubt a literal aspect to this proverb, a nod to the clever general who defeats his (or her) enemy against the odds. But unless you are a military general, that aspect is of little value. So read this from Paul:

Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10.3-5 (NIV)

What are those weapons? Verse 1 : ‘By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you…’

Really? Humility? Gentleness?! When have they ever won anything?!

Sadly, wars between human brothers and sisters are and will continue to be fought all over the world, every day. But the real war is the ‘war inside’, the battle in our heads and in our hearts, the battle to cling on to peace and joy despite pain and despair, the battle against temptation, the battle to be different, to live as Jesus did.

We lose that battle when we think that strength can win it.

We win when we realise that being different, living as Jesus did and by his values – that is our victory: taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

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:

Don & Jean Sands, Helen Slim, Gill Knight

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: Primary Schools in Amington

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.