30th. December. 2021. Daily Devotion.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20.
Gratitude honours God. Gratitude is the echo of grace as it reverberates through the hollows of the human heart. Gratitude is the unashamed acceptance of a free gift and the heartfelt declaration that we cherish what we cannot buy. Therefore gratitude glorifies the free grace of God and signifies the humility of a needy and receptive heart.
Lord, however great or small my lot may be in this life, let me always be grateful to you, for without You, I have nothing at all. Amen.
Prayer for the Morning
God, let your Holy Spirit be powerful to direct my thinking today, so that it be empty of self-pity, dishonesty, self-will, self-seeking and fear. Inspire my thinking, decisions and intuitions. Help me to relax and take it easy. Free me from doubt and indecision. Guide me through this day and show me my next step. God, show me what I need to do to take care of any problems. I ask all these things that I may be of maximum service to you and my fellow man. In the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.
I am giving you worship with all my life,
I am giving you obedience with all my power,
I am giving you praise with all my strength,
I am giving you honour with all my speech.
I am giving you love with all my heart,
I am giving you affection with all my sense,
I am giving you my being with all my mind,
I am giving you my soul, O most high and holy God.
Praise to the Father,
Praise to the Son,
Praise to the Spirit,
The Three in One. (Carmina Gadelica 1900)
For our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For people struggling with life.
Gracious God, we pray for those who are struggling emotionally and spiritually, those finding it hard to experience your presence, those who can’t see you through the tears and the anguish. Thank you that even when we are struggling to have a vision of you. You are with us. You have promised to never leave us, and you have said when we seek you we will find you. Thank you that you enter into our sorrow and pain, you journey with us in our questions and our doubts. Bring comfort strength and hope we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.