Skip to main content

Prayer Column - January 2022

Image
By

The turn of the year

As a new year approaches we tend to wonder what lies ahead, hoping always to shake off the past’s bad record and for something better to come, as if hoping could make it so. We wonder about next year because of course we don’t know what lies around the corner (however great the store of human knowledge, and however thorough our Googling). Search as we may, and it’s a royal honour to do so (Prov 25:2), some things are known only to God: times and seasons fixed by his authority are not for us to know (Acts 1:7), for the future is his.

This is a time to remind ourselves of God’s omniscience: he does know (Rom 11:33). He knows the plans he has for us – plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future (Jer 29:11). And it’s time to remember also that God is not far-off and aloof, but a loving, heavenly Father who wants a close living relationship with each of us, day by day and breath by breath – he sent Jesus to bring us back to him. So we can put our hand in his and be led and guided into and through the future that is unknown only to us – to a place and a time where with him all shall be well, for ever.

So today, as long as it is called ‘today’, seek the Lord and get to know him as loving Parent. Read his word to us (the Bible) and let it read us, for it is living and active, inwardly searching thoughts and intentions, and deeply revealing (Heb 4:12-13). And as we pray, share with him our thoughts and fears, our praise and hopes – in words, or just incoherent feelings, for he understands. But also listen, for there is much he wants to say to us: as he leads and guides, challenges and corrects, promises and reassures.

Roy Lorrain-Smith

A prayer for each week

Dear Lord – such uncertain times! But its only us that don’t know. So please, Lord, lead us safely through the year ahead, whatever your plan. Amen.

Dear Lord – such threatening times! But the victory is always yours, and through Jesus can be ours too. Please give us faith to trust and obey. Amen.

Dear Lord – such unstable times! But though nations may seethe and rage and totter on the brink, please give us inner peace, through Jesus. Amen.

Dear Lord – such wayward times! But though many cast your guidelines aside, please help us trust in your word as the only secure foundation. Amen.

Dear Lord – such hopeless times! But despair creeps in when we’re deaf to your word. Please open our ears and hearts to your glorious future. Amen.

Your own prayers
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Biblefresh Festival 11 June 2011 - bookings now open

By
Bradford North and South Circuits invite you to their city-wide Biblefresh Festival Saturday 11 June 2011 Full details and booking form
Post a Comment
Read more

Godly Ways 8-10 March 2013

By
Godly Ways CODEC  and the  Dales Biblical Literacy Project  present: A weekend of Worship – Teaching – Workshops. WHEN : March 8th to 10th 2013 (Starts Friday evening) WHERE : Elm Ridge Methodist Church and Bondgate Methodist Church, Darlington and Ingleton Methodist Church SPEAKERS: Revd. Professor David Wilkinson  is a Methodist minister and Principal of St. John’s College, Durham. Well-known as a writer, speaker and broadcaster, David has wide-ranging interests, although he is especially concerned about science and religion. Revd. Dr. Peter Phillips  is a Methodist minister and Director of Codec, a research centre housed at St. John’s College, Durham. For many years, Pete served on the staff of Cliff College. He has a great interest in the New Testament and in communicating the faith in a digital age. Revd. Ron Willoughby  is an ordained minister with the Southern Baptist Convention in the United States, now living in this cou...
Post a Comment
Read more

Summer Coffee Evenings raise over £1,200

By
Wilsden Trinity Church We would like to say a big thank you to all who supported us for your help in making our Summer Coffee Evenings such a brilliant success. The evenings have proved to be very popular and have been really well attended, attracting people from Wilsden village as well as members of other churches in the circuit.  Together we have munched our way through a tonne of biscuits and home-made scones and consumed gallons of coffee and tea. We have baked and bric-a-bracked and book sorted and are all exhausted and half a stone heavier than we were in May but feel it has been well worth the effort. In addition to enjoying very pleasant social evenings, with God's help we have succeeded in raising over £1,200 - approximately £250 each for the five chosen charities: Yorkshire Air Ambulance , Parkinson Society , Alzheimer's Society , Multiple Sclerosis Society and Martin House Children's Hospice . We are already planning for next summer and look forward t...
Post a Comment
Read more