23rd-29th June 2025
Over the past year I have seen evidence of the kindness, grace and faithfulness of God as He knits us together in the family of God. One word or sentence in a conversation can resonate and cause you to stop and think. An act of kindness, a text, a name coming into your head to pray for.
Remember how God blinded Saul on the road to Damascus and he was taken to a house for three days? Meanwhile God called out to another man in Damascus called Ananias and told him to go to Saul with a message. (Acts 9:10-18). Or do you recall when God told Elijah to go to Kerith brook after he had called down fire? God commanded ravens to bring Elijah bread and meat. Then God tells him to go to Zarephath with the words, “I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” (1 Kings 17). Isn’t it true that God himself could have told Saul all he needed to know and not used Ananias? Or miraculously sent Elijah food from the clouds?
God chooses to use people to bring about His plans. He chooses to use us. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we move toward other people and are amazed that God uses ordinary people to do His kingdom work. Ordinary people, used by God in ways they did not even know, to honour Him. Pete Greig likens this to God playing chess, “strategically, methodically moving pieces around the board”. Our recent teaching in Ephesians reminded us, “He makes the whole body grow and build itself up in love. Under the control of Christ, each part of the body does its work. It supports the other parts. In that way, the body is joined and held together.” (Ephesians 4:16). Let us lift our eyes this week and see all the people whose lives intersect our own and make the most of every opportunity to point them to God.
Written by Jill Campbell
MONDAY
Pray
Thank you that you are all seeing, all knowing and that you are at work in ways that are too high for me to know or understand. Lord, it is humbling (and slightly terrifying) that, in your great power, you choose to partner with people like me. In the words of Ananias, “Here I am Lord” Acts 9:10
Who are you asking me to notice today? Who can I welcome with your love? Encourage with your words? Pray for? Show me, Lord, and equip me to bring your wisdom. Amen.
TUESDAY
A prayer for the lost
“The Son of Man came to look for the lost and save them.” Luke 19:10
Father, thank you for this new day. Lift my eyes today to see the people in my life who don’t know you as Saviour. People in my family, people I work with, go to school with, am friends with, strangers who cross my path. Help me respond to the prompting of your grace to see their spiritual need. Help me to understand what keeps them from knowing you. Show me how to love them well and give me words that will stir their hearts. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
A prayer for the prodigal
I will give you new hearts. I will give you a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove your stubborn heart from you. I will give you hearts that obey me. Ezekiel 36:26 (NIRV)
Father, I thank you that you are always at work in ways that are higher than my understanding. You know how my heart is burdened for one whose faith has grown cold. A heart that has been hijacked by things that have taken your place in their lives. Hurt that consumes them. A complacency that has allowed them to become distracted by less important things. Revive their heart. Kindle the flame and draw them to think of you. How can I help in this breakthrough? What do you need me to do or to say? Lead me, Lord. Amen.
THURSDAY
A prayer for the suffering
“If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42 (NLT)
Father, you see every person in need, you hear their cries and you care for the broken-hearted. Open my eyes to the people I will encounter today who need to be seen, heard, loved. Move my heart to bring comfort, hope, practical help in whatever way you call me to. Compel me to be your hands and feet as I reach out to love them well with a compassion that points them to you. Prompt me and use me to bring glory to your name. For those in our world who suffer and are beyond my reach, have mercy God. Raise up your angel armies. Great I AM, will you be their provider, be their refuge, be their comfort. Amen.
FRIDAY
A prayer for the children
“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me…”
Mark9:37 (NIV)
Father, in a world where we admit to seeking recognition and reward, you call us to lay aside our agenda and love and serve those who are helpless and can give us nothing in return. Help me today to stop chasing the praise of others and instead pursue you and live for you in looking out for the needs of others. We pray especially for the children. The ones in our families, our church family, our schools, our country, our world. Show us today how to prefer their needs and deliberately set aside time to serve them in whatever way you lead us. With our voice, our time, our money. Help us to protect them. Watch over them and may they grow in awe and wonder of you. Amen.
SATURDAY
A prayer for my church community
“Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIRV)
Father, I thank you that you have given us a new identity as your precious children and a deep belonging in our church family. It is an incredible privilege that you call us in to your family. It is your will that we love each other. Who today in my church family needs encouragement and hope? Call them to mind and show me how to love them well today. We also acknowledge that in our humanity and brokenness we can cause pain and hurt to each other. Give us words that heal and a heart that desires unity. Strengthen me to do the hard work of repairing a hurt. If there is brokenness in my life, I bring to you my disappointment, pain and anger and ask you to help me. Help me build unity, love, hope and belonging in my church family and to reach out to others so they find that too. Remind me of my need to be with your people and help me take steps to commit to being obedient to you. Amen.
SUNDAY
A prayer for visitors
“Don’t forget to welcome outsiders. By doing that, some people have welcomed angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2 (NIRV)
Father, thank you for taking my sins so I stand perfect in you. Thank you for Sunday. A day to gather together with our church family to sing praise to you, read your word and encourage each other. As we mingle with the crowds, help us be mindful of all the people we have prayed for this week. Thank you that you strategically move us into one another’s paths and attention and use us to minister to one another. I thank you that you welcome us into your family and call us to welcome others. Help us to look up today and look around. Give us boldness to see the strangers in our midst. The visitors, the marginalised, the lonely, the people we don’t know very well. May we move towards them today, ask their name, find out about their lives and commit to pray for them, perhaps even pray with them. Help us to make the most of every opportunity and may our words be full of grace. Amen.