Daily Share-a-Prayer w/e 06/07/2025
Derek Mill
Worship Leader, All Saints Church, Belton
Saturday 5th July
Heavenly Father, it came as quite a shock to me a few days ago when I heard that a friend I had shared a house with and played football with 47 years ago, when I was at Teacher Training College, had died. I hadn't heard from him since the day I left college, nor were we that close at the time, but it still came as a shock and I was affected far more than I thought I would be
When I heard a couple of days ago that Diogo Jota, a Liverpool and Portugal international footballer had died with his brother in a car crash, it also shocked me and affected me more than I thought it would. I didn't know him personally at all so I was surprised, again, how deeply it affected me. I suppose I felt as though I knew the footballer because I watched him play so many times. The number of tributes laid outside Anfield, Liverpool's home ground, was very moving; not unlike the day when Princess Diana died in a car crash many years ago
And not unlike the grief King David felt over the death of King Saul and Saul's son Jonathan, who both died in battle. David felt the loss and expressed it by saying: "How the mighty have fallen". Three times he repeats the same words. It is almost like he can't believe what has happened and sees the deaths as a loss of potential, it hurts so deeply
Sometimes grief can overwhelm us, and it takes a long time to recover. We keep repeating the same phrase again and again, like David did. "I can't believe it, I simply can't believe it!" The realisation that someone has gone out of our lives is difficult to deal with. And I know my grief was over people very, very distant to me. Grief over people nearest to us must be almost unbearable
Thank You Father that Jesus experienced grief and wept over his close friend Lazarus. Thank You that Jesus also showed that death is not the end by raising Lazarus from the dead, and then by being raised from the dead Himself. Lazarus died again later but Jesus didn't; He was taken up to Heaven as the disciples watched! It is right to grieve, but it is also right to have hope, as we will all meet again when we meet with Jesus. What a hope I've found! Such joy, even in a time of grief. Thank You
Amen
Songs and grief article for today:
One Day (When we all get to Heaven)
What a friend I've found
Dealing with grief article (Diogo Jota and personally)
Friday 4th July
Heavenly Father, sometimes I know I have let You down, I am not the best version of myself and what comes out of my mouth is not worthy of You. I can make all sorts of excuses but none of them is reason enough to give a valid cause for my poor reaction
I'm sure You were often exhausted and very often frustrated but You always seemed to find a Way to be kind, calm, and generous. You didn't use Your tongue as a lash on those You loved. Help me to find Your Way of dealing with those around me at all times and no matter what the circumstances. There is a long road ahead and I need to be at my best to deal with whatever comes
Forgive me for my shortcomings and help me to change. I dare say some people will say I'm only human, but the Truth is I am not only human, I am also filled with Your Spirit and I need to let Him take control of my life, so that when I am knocked, in any way, what comes out of me is You and not me. I know St Paul struggled with this. "We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do"
Paul later writes: "So I find this Law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's Law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?" Paul finds his answer in You, Jesus: "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Thank You that today is a new day and because of Your love and forgiveness I can start again. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness". Thank You, make me better today than yesterday
Amen
Songs for today:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
Lord look upon my need
God of the second chance
Thursday 3rd July
Heavenly Father, as we prayed last night two thoughts came, one to me and one to Jane, the first: "Leave it to Me" and the second, "Savour the Saviour". I have a friend who has said to me, and to Jane, "Leave it with me" or "Leave it to me" and a little while later will turn up with something he has made or will arrive to sort out the problem
It is good to have a friend who we can rely on to help us in our times of need. This is just what You are like! We can rely on You in our time of need. Sometimes the answer comes quickly and sometimes it takes a while, sometimes a long while, but we can trust You to be working away, unseen, until at some point in time, or in eternity, the answer comes
Thank You that there are times when You just say: "Leave it to Me". You said through the prophet Ezekiel: "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them... so will I look after my sheep... I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered... I will bring them out from the nations... I will bring them into their own land... I will pasture them... I will tend them in a good pasture... I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down... I will search for the lost and bring back the strays... I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak... I will shepherd the flock with justice"
And then, Lord Jesus, You said: "I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep". You turned up and gave Your life for us, so we could have life in abundance, even life in Eternity. Help me to savour the Saviour, to "taste and see that the Lord is good" as King David did
Thank You that You care for me so much, that You love me so much. Help me to enjoy life with You, even when times are tough, to know that: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me". Help me to trust You, my Good Shepherd. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
The Lord's my shepherd I'll not want
You comfort me
Wednesday 2nd July
Heavenly Father, it has been in my head again that "There's no place like home". It's a thought that often comes to me and I know I have prayed about this a number of times. There are so many times I think about Heaven, that there is a yearning in my heart to be home
Even though I love my family and the home we share together, with the kids and the grandchildren visiting so often, there is still this hankering in me that there is more than this, that I am supposed to be somewhere else. Jesus said: "The Kingdom of God is at hand" or "The Kingdom of God has come near". We were made to live in a paradise, a garden of Eden, where we would walk with You and spend our lives in freedom; freedom for fear and pain and sickness and death. That is what my heart longs for!
The world we live in is a world full of grief that makes joy seem impossible sometimes. In order to protect ourselves, to numb ourselves we go looking in so many different places. We enter into shallow relationships to try to find love, but real love is found in You, in the love that Jesus showed
Lord Jesus, in a few moments You changed people's lives. You are still doing this today! When we feel lost, far from home, wishing everything was different, we can turn You. You hear the cries of people in distress. You long to put Your arms around people who have tried everything and failed, time and again saying, "Never again!" until the next time. Only You can change our heart. Only You can fulfill the longing for home by bring home to us. You tell us: "The Kingdom of God is in you"
Lord fill my heart with Your love so I always feel at home and everything I need is within me. Jane just gave me this quote: "To better the future we must disturb the present". Help me to seek You, today, and bring about the change I need and long for. Thank You
Amen
Songs for today:
Change my heart Oh God
Create in me a clean heart
Change this heart
Even if
Who You say I am
Tuesday 1st July
Heavenly Father, I like today, because it is the first day of a new month. I get to turn over a new page on four calendars! My National Trust calendar, which today has a photograph of 'Worms Head, Rhossili Bay, Gower, Wales’; my 'Thought for the Day' calendar, which today reads: "God chose you and drew you to His side. He called you and equipped you for His work. He blessed you and gifted you to build his Kingdom. As you step out today, know that you are prayed for - and very loved." I turn over my 'Family Pictures' calendar, with photos of four of my five grandchildren and a daughter-in-law; and finally my calendar full of my wife's paintings. Each of them gives me great pleasure, but I guess in different degree
I hear You speak to me through the 'Thought for the Day' which reminds me that You chose me and You see me, that I am Your child, that You love me and You want me to be living my life with You by my side, ready to do Your will and help to build Your Kingdom
My family photos calendar reminds of how greatly I am blessed and how much joy each of my grandchildren gives me, each one unique and such fun. They remind me of the diversity of Your creation and I know how much You love them too
My wife's paintings remind of how we are blessed with such creativity and skills and how we can pour out our feelings into artistic works
My 'National Trust' calendar reminds me of the wonder and beauty of Your creation; the cliffs, the water in the bay reflecting the orange sky of the dawn
Lord Jesus, help me to appreciate the many reminders of Your goodness, and to reflect Your love and glory in my life today
Amen
Songs for today:
Show me dear Lord
You see me
I am loved
Monday 30th June
Heavenly Father, with You nothing is impossible, because You are always doing something. I know that You created the world I live in; when You did it remains a mystery to me; how You did is also beyond my understanding, other than You spoke it into existence
Scientists tell me it was millions of years ago, but I am not sure they can measure time against eternity. How much power it takes to create a star is beyond my comprehension, and You have created millions, yet You are aware of me because You created me too. I am always in Your thoughts, even from before I was created You knew me
You told the prophet Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations". I guess You have a different plan for everyone. You ask some rhetorical questions: "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?" The answer is "No," because: "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us"
Before I was born I was in Your mind, my ‘blueprint’ was laid out before You. And since the day of my birth You have kept me in Your mind, thinking of me, caring for me. I know You have plans for me, 'plans to prosper me and not harm me, plans to give me hope and a future'. I know You are always working for my good, so, help me to find what You have planned. I know it will be better than anything I have in mind
Thank You Jesus for helping me to see the love the Father has for me, the depths of His love shown through You
Amen
Songs for today:
Always
Up to something
I set you apart
I know the plans I have for you
all songs (usually with lyrics) and talks courtesy of YouTube
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