19th. May. 2020. Daily Devotion.

Yesterday I received two requests for prayer for children. The first was from a school friend in Lockerbie, asking for prayer a child in the Church of Scotland congregation there, two-year-old Tanya who is suffering from a serious but yet undiagnosed liver disorder. The other was through the Presbytery of Dunfermline thus:

My eldest cousin (in N Ireland) John Bleakley has become a grandfather this week. His daughter Kerry (and husband Richard) had a very difficult birth. Baby has been born, but has had stroke, with deep bleed to the brain. No idea if baby will survive, or if it will have mental/physical issues going forward.

Its…awful. Please, please pray for baby, Kerry, Richard & wider family. Just had an update from cousin.

Baby Baird’s doctor is pleased with his progress so far. He is only on 1 epileptic medication whereas most babies are on 3 or 4 with brain injuries. So, keep praying that his brain will be healed. He had a plasma transfusion today to try to prevent him bleeding in his brain again. He seems very alert. Saw him in a video call today and he was grabbing a wee toy octopus with his good arm. He’s going for a scan tomorrow morning at 8am for an MRA scan to try to see veins in his brain and check them. So please pray for more good news. Can we ask Dunf. Presbytery for prayer?

This also came yesterday:

A Godly Touch

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, “I will. Be healed!” Matthew 8:3

Oh, the power of a godly touch. Haven’t you known it? The doctor who treated you, or the teacher who dried your tears? Was there a hand holding yours at a funeral? Another on your shoulder during a trial? A handshake of welcome at a new job? …

Can’t we offer the same?

Many of you already do. Some of you have the master touch of the Physician himself. You use your hands to pray over the sick and minister to the weak. If you aren’t touching them personally, your hands are writing letters, dialling phones, baking pies. You have learned the power of a touch.

But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it’s just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be …Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t make the same mistake? Just like Jesus. Max Lucado

Of course, at the moment we cannot touch literally, but hands clasped in prayer focus the power and energy of your love for those whom you would touch with healing.

Remember also that some children are very vulnerable to a rare inflammatory syndrome like Kawasaki disease linked to Covid-19. Please pray for those who are studying this rare disorder and for healing for children and families suffering from it.

Here are some prayers for children who are unwell: Please add any others whom you know to the prayers

Father, thank you that when your Son graced this earth, He welcomed the children and blessed them. Thank you that the same power that raised Him from the dead Is at work within Baby Baird and Tanya now. Lord, we give them to you. We invite you to come by the power of the Holy Spirit and restore these beautiful children to life. Come and pulse through their bodies by your Spirit. Bring your healing and strengthen their being. We ask that in the name of Jesus this sickness leave their bodies now. Thank you that you hear our prayer and no matter what happens You cherish these children and hold them in the palm of your hand now and always. Amen.

A Prayer for family protection

Lord be besides us, all every day Guiding and leading us gently always. Lord be above us, help us to see the hope of the future, of all we could be. Lord be beneath us, carry us when We’re too shattered or tired to have strength. Lord be ahead of us, smoothing our paths Protecting and blessing the places we pass. Lord be behind us, healing our wounds, forgiving our mistakes, and making us new. Jesus be within us, this family is yours Now and forever, you are our Lord.