MAY 1-2 – A Sabbath Prayer

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled” - John 17:6-12

Our Father, who art in heaven,.

We come to you Lord, as our Father, but You are also our Creator God – our Saviour and Redeemer – our friend and brother. Remind us today that You live and reign....not in heaven only, but all around us and in our hearts. Make us aware of Your active presence, and keep us humble Lord in all our undertakings, and with the people we meet. We see You Lord in the beauty of nature, and the vast expanse of the heavens You made....may we always give glory to You.

Hallowed be Thy name,

How can we not respect and reverence you Lord, when we see a scan of a baby in the womb....the splendour of nature....the wonderful mix of people we meet....and the still small voice that calls us to be more like You? May we 'hallow' what You give, and what lies before us, by consciously referring it to You. May we ever honour Your perfection, Your holiness, by seeking to become more like You.

Your kingdom come,

Yes, soon Lord, and allow us to become agents of that kingdom by bringing peace to the anxious, grace to the needy, and Your love to all. The world is groaning and dying Lord under it's weight of sin. . May people believe in Your soon coming and reign of Goodness because of how we live, and work for You, today. May they reach out and grasp Your promise of eternal life.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,

We see that will most clearly in Jesus, who healed the sick and comforted the grieving, who lifted up the downtrodden, who stood always for life and not death....for hope and not despair....for freedom and not bondage. He lived out heaven's will on earth, even to His death at Calvary – death, that we might live. Help us to be like Jesus. May our hearts and arms be open wide as His were on the cross, to receive and comfort Your hurting people.

Give us today our daily bread,

We have no guarantee beyond this moment. May we trust You for what we need today. Nourishment for both body and soul. I pray we thirst ever for the Living Water of Life, and not worry about future needs and wants. May we also be ever responsive to those who lack food, and care, and shelter. Please bring them today their daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,

Remind us of our true state Lord – debtors who can never buy our way into Your favour, or earn our salvation. Thanks be to God we do not have to. Forgive us Father where we have failed You, and for the times we have failed to have compassion on others. Grant us the same attitude of forgiving grace toward those who have hurt us....wronged us....let us show them the same forgiveness You give us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Let us not slide mindlessly into sin today. Make us alert to it's temptations, and strong to resist it, with neither fear nor regret. Give us the power of Your Spirit to withstand the wiles of the devil. To see the pleasures he dangles before our eyes for what they are. Dear God, preserve our souls.

For Thine, and Thine only Father, is the kingdom and the power and the glory. For ever and ever, AMEN.

Our music? “I'll Pray for You” - (LIVE). Click on the picture of Christ glorified to listen.