Avon Dassett with Fenny Compton, Burton Dassett, Farnborough, Gaydon with Chadshunt
"God wants us to spend time with him in prayer"
The Bible says, “Don’t worry about anything;
instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need,
and thank him for all he has done.”
God wants us to spend time with him in prayer.
We like the “don’t worry about anything” part of that verse, and the “tell God what you need”
but we often neglect the “pray about everything” part.
Life can be hard and there are not always answers. Sometimes we don’t know what to pray or maybe we just can’t pray. It’s comforting to realise that prayer didn’t come naturally to the disciples. “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’...” and he taught them the prayer we call The Lord’s Prayer.
Activities of the day want our immediate attention and pull us in many directions. Have you ever thought or said ‘I find it hard enough to do the essentials so how can I be expected to find time to pray?’ Jesus may have felt this way but he found time to pray alone, with others, for others, for thanks, and for us because he could do nothing without God, and neither can we. It is important to spend time in prayer.
Can I challenge you this week to pray? Imagine what changes could be ushered in through your prayers!
Is there a community dilemma? Pray about it.
Is there a person that rubs you the wrong way? Pray for them.
Is someone under some pressure that is trickling down to you? Pray.
Is there someone or something that worries you. Pray.
But don’t forget to say ‘thank you’ for all he has done. Pray.
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” but he likes to communicate with you through prayer. Go ahead. Reach out to him in prayer today.
PRAYER - a conversation between two people
YOU and GOD
Some people find it hard to pray and find it easier to use established prayers such as the Lords Prayer or to follow service prays such as Morning or Evening Prayer. These leaflets suggests a few other ways of praying that some people find useful.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Dassett Magna Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit:
fill the hearts of your faithful people
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Strengthen your church here in Dassett Magna:
deepen our faith and pour out your love, through us, on our communities.
We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
St Botolph Prayer
Enable me, O Lord,
to give you the place and honour in my life I ought to give you;
to see your goodness with me day by day
that my heart may be filled with gratitude.
May thy Holy Spirit inspire me and set my heart on fire,
as I seek to bear witness to your love and power
and may the risen Lord go before me in every pathway of my life
now and always. Amen.
At times of Anxiety and fear
Heavenly Father,
the world feels strange right now.
The news is full of stories about Coronavirus.
Some people are worried that they might get ill.
Others are anxious for their family and friends.
When fear makes it hard to breathe,
and anxiety seems to be the order of the day,
slow us down, keep us calm
and give us your comfort Lord;
help us to reach out with our hearts,
when we can't touch with our hands;
help us to be socially connected,
when we have to be socially distant;
help us to love as perfectly as we can,
knowing that "perfect love casts out all fear."
Help us to turn to you in our uncertainty and fear.
Amen.
