21st. May. 2020.Daily Devotion.

Our thoughts today are about faithfulness and consistency in our faith, endurance in prayer and the works of love. We are called to deepen all these attributes by consistent application. I’ve been tackling a concert piece by an American composer called Gottschalk, a bravura composition that is tricky and precise. It can be tedious to play complex things very slowly day after day, but extremely rewarding when one day you realise, “Hey, this is getting easier and feels so natural!” It is like that with faith and the Christian life. With consistent practice it becomes second nature.

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 1Thessalonians 1:2-5

I received this update about Tanya yesterday:

Dear sisters and brothers,
Thank you all for your concerns about little Tanya and her family and
thank you all for your prayers.

The situation now is this:

Tanya got through a very serious moment; the doctors had to revive her
for 20 minutes. They succeeded and thank God she survived. Now the worst
is over and her life functions are stable but still needs ventilation
and breathing support, so there is still a way to go.

The diagnosis is leukaemia, so she will probably need a long period of
treatment – chemotherapy. But it is too early to say any prognosis.

Tanya is in a hospital in Glasgow, the family is there with her,
although they can visit only one person at a time. Anyway, she is still
under strong sedatives.

Preethi and Arun are a bit better now and send their greetings to everyone.

Please continue praying for Tanya and her family, so that she can
recover and come back home and be as happy as she has always been. And
let us also thank God for the doctors and all the staff, for their skill
and their will to help. Let the Lord bless their hands and brains and lives.

Thank you. God bless!

Stepan

Martin Luther’s Prayer for Morning

I give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected me through the night from all danger and harm. I ask you to preserve and keep me, this day also, from all sin and evil, that in all my thoughts, words, and deeds I may serve and please you. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all that is mine. Let your holy angels have charge of me, that the wicked one have no power over me. Amen.

Prayer

Lord, I come before you today in need of your healing hand. In you, all things are possible. Hold my heart within yours, and renew my mind, body, and soul.
I am lost, but I am singing. You gave me life, and you also give me the gift of infinite joy. Give me the strength to move forward on the path you’ve laid out for me. Guide me towards better health and give me the wisdom to identify those you’ve placed around me to help me get better. In your name I pray, Amen.

Benediction

Now, oh Lord, I pray that you may lift up the light of your countenance upon me, and give me peace; in my going out and in my coming in; in my sitting down and my rising up; in my work and in my play; in my joy and in my sorrow, in my laughter and in my tears; until that day comes which is without dawn and without dark. Amen