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I once was lost…

“Today, if you are reading this and you have been marginalised, belittled, ostracised, or left out in the cold; if you have made mistakes, hurt others, or hurt yourself; if you have walked away from relationships, said harsh words, or behaved badly; if you are continually hijacked by inappropriate or disturbing thoughts, desires, or feelings; if you feel undeserving, a lack of self-worth, or that you are unlovable; then hear the message of Jesus — that God loves you, has come to you, and wants you to find your home in them.” Rev Gav, 2022

Daily Prayers

Morning Prayer

Your love, O Lord, is never ending
and your mercies endure forever.
They are new every morning.
Great is your faithfulness!

The night has passed, and the day lies open before me,
and so, at the dawn of this new day, I come before you
with an open heart and ready to be filled with your love.

As I rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set my heart on fire with love for you.
Fill me with your life-giving Spirit
that I might be Jesus to all I meet
and a vessel for your unending love.

Loving God, who abides in heaven,
you are the Father and Mother of us all.
May your holiness be declared,
your justice be observed,
your will be embraced,
and your sovereignty be established
on earth as in heaven.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
And from the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For the kin-dom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Prayed 72 times.

Afternoon Prayer

Where can I go from your spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, you are there.
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning
and dwell by the farthest oceans,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.

Holy God,
kindle in me the fire of your love
that I may bring warmth to the world.
May I be led from death to life,
from falsehood to truth;
from despair to hope,
from fear to trust;
from hate to love,
from war to peace.
And may I be so anointed with your Spirit
that I may be filled with both your peace and joy,
and live and work to your praise and glory.

For all that has past I thank you
and for all that lies ahead I give you praise.
May my eyes be open to see you
in all whom I serve and encounter.

Help me be Jesus to the world.
Help me be your hands and your feet.
Help me have your heart for the broken-hearted.
Help me be Jesus to a world
that needs you more than words can tell.
Help me be Jesus to the world.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with me and all those I hold dear,
Now and for evermore.

Prayed 30 times.

Evening Prayer

Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be honoured in the earth.

Loving God,
As this day draws to a close
may I know your grace, mercy, and peace.
Cleanse my heart and mind
of all anxiety, weariness, and pain,
and in the stillness,
may I know your loving presence.

As I reflect on my day,
I give you thanks for all that has been done
And let go of all that has not been done,
handing it over to you
to make good that which I am unable.

For the love I have shared, I am grateful.
For provision and nurture, I am grateful.
For kindness given, I am grateful.
For the sorrow I have caused, I pray for forgiveness.
For injustices ignored, I ask for mercy.

As I look forward to this night
I cast my fears upon you –
fears of the world’s darkness
and fears in my inner being.
May I find my rest in you.

May the peace of your Spirit
that transcends all understanding
fill me and all those I love and hold dear.

Tomorrow is a new day
with new joys and new possibilities.
May I wake tomorrow
feeling refreshed, expectant, joyful,
and with a heart full of your love.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.

For you are with me,
now and always.

Prayed 19 times.

Night Prayer

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Holy God,
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
and hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Protect my conscious and my unconscious,
and guard me as I sleep this night
that my dreams will be filled with hope
and my rest be in your loving arms.

Spirit, in whom I live and move and have my being,
from you, nothing is hidden.
Breathe into me your cleansing wind
that I may be filled with your unending love.

Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.

From evil dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Tread underfoot our deadly foe
That we no sinful thought may know.

O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;
And Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Our souls are raised to life from death.

Jesus Christ,
I cast my burdens unto you,
and ask that my soul might be refreshed as I sleep.
For I am yours and you are mine.
Now and forever.

Prayed 37 times.

Daily Bread

Our weekday devotion.

Rev Gav | Nov 22

Boom!

There is nothing more sick and twisted than telling someone that their illness or life situation is due to some unconfessed sin!

And after getting into a boat he crossed the water and came to his own town.

And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ Then some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he then said to the paralytic—‘Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.’ And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

There is this pernicious idea, one held by religious people (including Christians) that our misfortunes are tied up with our sinfulness — i.e. that if we endure illness or suffering, it must be of our own making.

There is a word we use, in the United Kingdom for this kind of thinking — excuse the language — “Bollocks.”

Our fortunes, whether positive or negative, have absolutely nothing to do with the reality of our status with God. Why? Because we stand forgiven, accepted, and welcomed by God — and God never wavers or changes stance! As we read in the Book of Revelation, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

Jesus tackles this idea head on by approaching the paralytic on the bed — a man who was defined by his paralysis (being called ‘a paralysed man’). Firstly, note how Jesus does not ignore the paralytic boy by talking to the carers in front of him! No, he talks directly to the boy — a wonderful example of pastoral work. Secondly, note how he calls the man ‘son’ showing compassion and affection and affirming his status as a beloved child of God. Thirdly, Jesus directly challenges the prevailing narrative (which, no doubt the man would have heard many times) that his illness was somehow due to some unconfessed sin in his life.

If you have not got the gist of what I am saying, let me write this plainly. There is nothing more sick and twisted than telling someone that their illness or life situation is due to some unconfessed sin, yet, on more than one occasion I have heard Christians say this to people! Just, no!

Jesus said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven,” and what a wonderful thing to hear! A rabbi — and the famous rabbi Jesus, no less — told him that his illness was not due to sin!

Of course, the scribes (law teachers and copywriters) complained that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy. Why? Because only God can forgive sins! Jesus, knowing what they were thinking, took the whole scene to another level by giving a brief commentary before telling the man to get up and carry his bed home!

Can you imagine the scene? Matthew writes, “When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God.” Talk about an understatement! There would have been a huge celebration with whooping and cheering and excited shouts and chatter — a holy uproar! Boom!

Today, wherever you are or whatever opinion you have of yourself, hear the words of Jesus, “Take heart, my child, your sins are forgiven!” and know that God wants the very best for you.

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

Holy God
How difficult
it is for me
to accept your
unconditional love!
Thank you that I stand
forgiven, accepted,
and welcomed by you.
This day and forever.

Prayed 13 times.

Insights

Published every Sunday.

Rev Gav | Nov 23

What does it mean that Christ is Sovereign?

A person sits with their hands facing upwards in a position of openness and prayer.

No matter what your past, what baggage you are carrying, or what problems you have, you are welcome here.

A girl holds up her hands to make the shape of a heart.

Nov 16

How do we endure hardships?

It is normal and right to feel anger when we experience injustice, but it is what we do with that anger that matters.

A close-up of poppies in a field at sunset.

Nov 9

Why is remembrance important?

Remembering acts of self-sacrifice during times of abhorrent war, can ultimately point us to a God who loves us and who has given self for us.

Banksy art of rebel throwing flowers like a grenade.

Nov 9

What does Jesus say about resurrection?

Resurrection is about raising (from the dead) AND revolution (vindication of the righteous)!

Devotions

Rev Gav | Nov 22

Boom!

A man jumps in the street with his fists raised high, exhibiting joy.

There is nothing more sick and twisted than telling someone that their illness or life situation is due to some unconfessed sin!

A man, probably a coach, looking at a group of footballers on a field.

Nov 21

Threatened

We might not be able to prevent ourselves being attacked by those who feel threatened by us, but the best protection is to ensure that we are secure in God.

A man's arm is outstretched and his hand is held out, palm up, as if to say 'stop'.

Nov 20

Simply

We are not blind to people’s lives and circumstances but we do not judge or condemn those we seek to reach with God’s love.

Nov 19

Vista

John literally and literary paints a picture of God’s sovereignty.

Resources

Nov 14

Have we made the Bible into an idol?

Rev Gav

A Bible with its pages being turned by the wind.

Many churches, Christian communities, and individuals are rediscovering a love for the different texts found in the Bible, but more than that, through doing so, they are discovering a God who loves them more than they can possibly imagine.