21st-27th April 2025
It all begins with an idea.
I remember it well. I was in first year at “big school” and had just been handed a little red Gideons International New Testament. One of the things I recall most clearly was the little index of “verses to read when…”. I had seen lots of bibles before then, but I don’t think that particular list had featured in any of them and I’m sure it made me look up a few of the listed scriptures.
Of course, I’m aware that there are risks to picking and choosing single bible verses and reading them out of context. It’s wonderful when we can spend some time really digging down into God’s word and leaning into all the details and nuance. But I imagine that many other Christians are as grateful as I am that, as we look at God’s word, we meet people, read stories, hear words and see aspects of God’s character that speak clearly into many different situations.
As Solomon nears the end of his life, he writes in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 that “there is a time for everything” – he acknowledges the different seasons in our lives and how the things we experience fit within God’s plan for our lifetime.
Whether Christian or not, we can find ourselves in times of great joy, bitter disappointment and overwhelming grief, all in the space of a few days [or maybe even a few hours]. In our prayer diary this week, I want to encourage all of us to consider how important it is to meet God in those moments, reflecting on what is contained in His word that might encourage, challenge, and comfort us.
Written by Ruth Ford
MONDAY
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” Psalm 95:1-7
Father, we thank you for the wonderful blessings that you lavish on us, your children, each day. We have much to be thankful for – for how you meet our daily needs, for the love of family, for the friends who we share our lives with. Thank you that we can share gladly in special moments of blessing with one another. Much more than that, God, we are filled with joy when we really think about who you are, the great King above all gods. You created everything, the whole wonderful world is at your command and yet you have invited us to be yours. May our identity as children of the living God be the truest source of our joy. Amen.
TUESDAY
If you ask me what I’m scared of I’d tell you that, honestly, my head for heights could use some work. But if you ask me what I fear, I would probably sit for a while and come up with a list of much more serious things. We may fear the unknown, we may fear the state of the world, we may fear loss of health, a relationship or our job. That fear can be relatively benign, or it can be totally overwhelming.
Psalm 46 invites us to consider that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:1-7
Father, at those times when we can hear roaring waters and when the ground beneath our feet feels unstable, we praise you for your presence with us in the storm. We cling to you as our stronghold and we cherish your promise of safe shelter at a time when we feel unsteady and anxious. Help us to fix our eyes on you and continue to walk with you, knowing that you are the God who saves us. Please help us to remember that our security is in your might and strength alone. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:8-12
We only get three short chapters into the entire bible before sin appears. Adam and Eve disobey God’s command and the beautifully intimate relationship they have had with God up until this point is ruined. Acutely ashamed, they try to hide from God when he appears to walk with them.
Father God, when we examine our own thoughts and actions it is so very easy to see ways in which we have sinned. Our hearts are heavy with guilt and shame. We are so grateful for the example shown by Jesus who met the woman caught in adultery with love and compassion, instead of condemnation. Help us not to be so overwhelmed and convicted by our guilt that we try to hide our sin, staying distant from you. We know we don’t deserve your mercy and grace, but we hold on to your promise that you forgive us and will never again remember our sins. As we move through this week, help us stay close to you and guard our hearts against further sin. Amen.
THURSDAY
Last year I had the wonderful opportunity to hike in both Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. The price to pay for those awe-inspiring views was some steep climbs and a few pretty sketchy bits of trail to follow. Even with a decent route map and some signposts, there were occasions when it was a bit of a guess as to the best way to get somewhere.
As I have read through the Psalms, there are lots of references to the path we walk. In Psalm 16:11, David says that God has “made known to me the way of life”, in Psalm 18 he speaks of how God “broaden(s) the path beneath me”, and Psalm 94 speaks of God supporting the psalmist’s slipping foot. One thing we can be confident in is God’s desire for us to trust Him to lead us in His ways and to keep us from stumbling.
God, there are so many times that we can feel uncertain of the way ahead and desperately need your guidance. Help us place our focus on walking with you – studying your word so it may light the way and not straying away from what we know to be right and good. Be with those who have big decisions to make this week – help them to be aware of your presence and to seek your guidance above all others. Amen.
FRIDAY
“O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I will cry out to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed.” Psalm 61:1-2
There are lots of biblical examples of people who came to God from a place of great heartache and sadness. Jonah called out in distress “from the depths of the grave” in the belly of a fish, knowing he had turned away from God and needed rescue. In the temple, Hannah, full of “great anguish and grief” and deeply troubled by her childlessness and the scorn of others, prayed so fervently that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. The bleeding woman didn’t even speak but, in her desperation, she sought out the opportunity simply to touch Jesus’ cloak, praying she would find healing through him.
In each of these situations, I can see how easy it would be for the person’s heart to be full of bitterness, instead of confidence in God’s goodness. Yet, in each scenario, God heard their prayer and it was answered in a miraculous way.
Father God, thank you that you hear the cry of our hearts. You know the times of sorrow, loneliness and despair that each of us face. Thank you that your word reminds us that you heal the broken-hearted, binding up their wounds and bringing the hope and peace of your presence. We pray that you would please use us to help show your love and bring your comfort to those in difficult seasons. Amen.
SATURDAY
In Psalm 73, the psalmist writes about his struggles to understand how God was at work – that the wicked were prospering while the godly were facing daily struggles and hardship. I love this honesty – the doubt that follows even though he acknowledges that God is “good to Israel”. Doubt is such a relatable human emotion that, when Thomas refuses to believe the resurrection of Jesus without seeing him in person, I can picture myself alongside him. But the psalmist here reminds us that ultimately the only thing we can rely on is God –
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26.
Father, help us to remember that every good thing comes from you. We trust in the truth of your word and know that you have the ultimate authority over every power in this world, including death. The psalmist here reminds us that what helped his understanding was to be in your presence, where you opened his eyes to your wisdom and justice. Give us patience and determination to spend time drawing so close to you that we get a clearer view of your heart for your people and how your plan of salvation is at work in our world. Amen.
SUNDAY
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” Psalm 105:1-4
Father God, we thank you that we can come to you in any and every circumstance. We can always sing praise to you, rejoicing because you are always the same God – mighty in power, rich in love, full of compassion and grace. As we reflect on your faithfulness to your people throughout the ages, may we too know your presence in our hearts today. By your Spirit, give us boldness in our witness about how you are working in our lives. Help us to always seek your face – in times of joy and of sorrow, when we know your blessing and when the valley is full of shadows. We give you thanks, Father, because you are good and your love endures forever. Amen.