The ascended Lord. The waiting church

On standing firm Search me, O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my thoughts. Psalm 139:23   Read Luke 12:8—12 Perhaps I have been able to close the front door tonight and get out my prayer book and be quite secure against any challenge that would tempt me to deny my faith…

The ascended Lord. The waiting church

A future with hope The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in From this time on and forevermore. Psalm 121:8   Read Jeremiah 29:11—14 These words have a reassuring ring in my ears, ‘a future with hope,’ ‘I will hear you,’ ‘I will let you find me,’ ‘I will restore your fortunes,’…

The ascended Lord. The waiting church

When the advocate comes The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And his ears are open to their cry. Psalm 34:15   Read John 15:26—16:4 Tonight I am told by my Lord that I am to take to myself the help given by the Holy Spirit. In a quite unabashed way I am…

The ascended Lord. The praying church

Prayer for fellow Christians Will he not with him Also give us everything else? Romans 8:32   Read Ephesians 1:15—23 Tonight as I come to engage in my poor evening prayers I am given a lesson in prayer by the great apostle. I should look again over this passage. As I do this I should…

The ascended Lord. The praying church

All the fullness of God For you, O Lord, make me glad by your work; At the works of your hands I sing for joy. Psalm 92:4   Read Colossians 1:18—23 I think tonight of my local church. Jesus is the head of it. It is his. He won it for himself. I think of…

The ascension of our Lord

Prepared for witness The Lord has made known his victory; He has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. Psalm 98:2   Read Mark 16:14—20 Footnotes in my Bible indicate that these verses may have been added later to the Gospel and therefore put into Jesus’ mouth. But if so, I know from…

Easter season: The praying church

He intercedes for us Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Psalm 24:3   Read John 17:13—17 Even as I gather my thoughts at the end of the day I turn to remember — I cannot fully picture this — that the Lord ever lives to…

Easter season: The praying church

The prayer of the righteous How very good and pleasant it is When kindred live together in unity! Psalm 133:1   Read James 5:13—18 There’s a lot to take into my prayer life from these few verses. Some I can do alone in a prayer time such as this. I can pray in my suffering.…

Easter season: The praying church

Speaking to the mountain From life’s first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny. Keith Getty & Stewart Townend   Read Mark 11:22—26 I come to the end of the day. Is there any mountain that rears up before me? That will block my path to sleep? That overwhelms? That I can only pretend…

Easter season: The praying church

In his name At night his song is with me, A prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42:8   Read John 16:23—30 My attempts at asking in prayer have not always led to receiving, yet Jesus persistently and stubbornly, no only here, assures me that I will.[1] As I listen to the word…