Father,  it seems incredible that You should consider me worthy of Your immense love. I know it is not because I deserve it, but because I am Your child, adopted into Your family when I accepted the gift of life that Jesus won for me on the cross. So Lord, I want to live as one of Your children, discovering the love and freedom that comes from being in Your family, and helping those who don’t know You to experience that same love and freedom.

Show me today what You want me to do. Amen

The story of the events in the Garden of Eden serves

to illustrate the consequences of sin: Life is now hard

work.  We don’t have to look very far, however, to

see that it is much harder work for some than others.

Sometimes that is because certain people always

seem to choose the hardest possible path through life

while others see the simpler route, but often it is not

out of choice at all. So much depends upon where we

are born, our parents, our upbringing, the climate and

other people. But instead of looking at those who seem to be better off and feeling sorry for ourselves, Jesus invites us to see the possibilities that God holds out to us. Chief among these God given opportunities, is the invitation to be adopted into the family of God - to become no less than part of God’s eternal family. This incredible gift - bought with the price of Jesus’ own blood - carries with it an obligation to care for all the things that our heavenly Father cares for. And what He cares for most in His creation are the creatures that are made in His image; you, me, and everyone else on the earth. But how can we care for all that?

We can’t; nor are we called to care for everything, but if we all cared for those things that God asks us to care for, everything would be covered! And so it has to start right here and now with you and me.

As we ask God what we should care for He promises to let us know. Then, inviting Him to work in His power through us, we really can begin to change the world for good. It’s true! Pray it; live it.

Work, Unemployment, Retirement

Work is an integral part of life. We need to work in order to live. Even those who do no paid work are still able to contribute to the well-being of society in a million different ways.

Lord, I thank you for those who enable me to live in comfort, with food, shelter, and all I need. In gratitude I offer my life and skills for the benefit of all Your children throughout the world, that You may be seen in my life and work.

Children

Our childhood experiences can have a profound effect upon our adult lives, and on those whose lives touch our own. Dear Lord, I pray for the children of our land and for those who care for them and shape their future. I pray also for parents and guardians; for schools and teachers; for club leaders; for those who control the media world in which they live; for the abused and the abusers, and all who show them Jesus.

Homeless, Immigrants, Institutionalized

As well as the 100,000 children every year who are forced to live on the streets of our land, many families and adults are also treated as less than human. Lord, I pray for prisoners; for those in hospitals and mental institutions; for refugees and immigrants; for those caught up in spiraling debt and for those who simply cannot cope with life. Lord, may I love them as You do, and show them the compassion of Jesus Christ.

Government, Councils, Local Authorities

St Paul reminds us in Romans 13 to obey and include in our prayers all those who have authority over us. This doesn’t mean that we blindly do all they say when it contradicts God’s law, nor does it prevent us from trying to change the law for the better by getting involved.

Lord, give me wisdom to understand Your word and to know the best way to respond. I hold before you all in authority, especially .......

The Church, Christian Spiritual leaders

We live in an age of immense and rapid change and it can seem easier to simply follow the herd rather than seek God’s path. We need the prophetic word of God to guide us through the bewildering maze of life.

Lord, You spoke to the people of old when they turned to You; may Your Church hear Your voice today and speak Your word. I pray for all Christian leaders. And Lord, open my ears, too.

Carers in Community, Peacekeepers

It is said that true civilization exists when everyone cares for each other. However much we want it, we cannot expect it to happen on a global scale if it doesn’t happen in our families and communities. Lord, I pray for those in health care; for the police; for social workers and all whose job is to help, teach or rehabilitate. I pray also for those who shoulder the burden of other lives, voluntarily. Lord, give them strength.

Give thanks for the many ways God is at work, through:

- Governments

- the Church

- the UN

- Children

- Education

- Prayer

Remember today, those with heavy burdens in life:

- worry

- responsibility

- mistrust

- ignorance

- pain

- despair

and who do not  

 know God,s love.