No. 32

“Thank you, Lord that you hear our prayers.”
- Let God give you a hug before you finish.

Amen

Read your Bible (if you haven’t already).

Spend a minute or two simply finding ways to praise God because He is our God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We start by keeping a minute or two of silence, inviting God to be in our thoughts and prayers

Start here for daily prayers and follow the route for the day.
Read the notes on the back cover.

Discovering God through - the Bible

Abraham had no written account of God to work from - and yet he learnt to trust a God he couldn't see. No wonder his faith is commended. We have thousands of years of records in the Bible about people who have walked with God. We are blessed to have this wonderful resource. Question: How much do I value my Bible? How well do I know it? Am I learning from others who have known God, or am I too busy to bother?

Discovering God through - Nature

For many people in the industrial world life is an endless round of pressures: pressure to earn; pressure to spend; pressure to achieve, and to keep up with others. This is not God's intention. Life is a journey to be enjoyed in His company. Work is necessary, but God is the provider. Question: When did I last sit still and look at a flower? Or watch a bee, or a lamb playing, or clouds? Can I glimpse God through His creation?

Discovering God through - Science

For many of us, life would be difficult without all the resources of science. Where would we find a drink, or food, or clothes? Yet the study of science can lead to abuse also. Creation and destruction are two sides of human nature, both outside and inside ourselves. Question: How much of my life is creative? Do I use my talents to benefit others? When did I last look at the stars or a grain of sand and wonder?

Discovering God through - the Arts

When we are moved by a picture or stirred by a piece of music, we are experiencing something of the nature of God, for God could not give us something He does not possess. The joy of a beautiful sunset or a valley; the song of a bird -all there before we were born. God is the supreme artist. Question: When did I last paint a picture or sing or write creatively? How open am I to new forms of artistic expression?

Discovering God through - People

We are more than just bodies; we are living spirits too. We are born with a spirit of self preservation which can develop either selfishly -and die, or selflessly and live. In Jesus we see the perfect selflessness because all God's love dwelt in Him. Amazingly He offers His Spirit of life to all who are ready to turn to him in trust. Question: How much do I want to be like the selfless people I see around me, and like Jesus?

Discovering God through - Prayer

It is impossible to know anyone without spending time with them. Our prayer time is time with God, In any relationship, time listening is ten time more valuable than time talking, and so too with God. But hearing Him requires patience - and an open mind - for God is full of surprises! Question: When did I last hear God speak? How often do I listen? Are my requests more important than God's? How can I hear better?

Give thanks for the many ways God is at work, through:
- medicine
- schools
- families
- the Church
- science
- nature

Remember today, those who carry the burden of:
- disability
- shame
- persecution
- mental illness
- despair
- deafness
- not knowing

Lord Jesus, you showed in your life the wonderful heart of God. You never rushed, worried about things or set out to impress, yet you gave the world more than it could ever know. In life and death you showed us a glimpse of the overwhelming love of the Father that wants us, more than anything, to discover all He has to give. Father, I come to you now, in my sin and sorrow. Give me an understanding heart and obedient mind that I may walk with you; now and throughout eternity.

I used to live near a busy roundabout in Birmingham not far from the Clent hills, and every day thousands of cars would queue impatiently to get into the city and every evening the same cars would queue impatiently to get home. Near the roundabout was a bench where an old gentleman regularly used to sit. One day we got talking and he pointed to the cars. "I wonder how many of them ever take a stroll over the hills and watch the young lambs playing. It'd do 'em good." It got me thinking too.The next Saturday I took the

family up to the Clent hills and we followed the meandering paths all afternoon, watching the wildlife, the birds and the clouds. We played with a kite and simply sat. And I too wondered how many of those drivers I had seen in the week were spending time enjoying God's creation. Although I don't agree with it, the sentiment, 'you're closer to God in garden,' is understandable when so many people spend all their lives working to pay off huge overspends that give so little pleasure. And the reason I don't agree is simply because we are close to God whenever we are serving Him in love - it may be in a garden - or it may be in a war zone, or amongst the lost and unlovely of the world. We discover God as we seek Him (Seek and you shall find) stepping out in faith just as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Elijah,...... did.
But taking the right path requires that we choose carefully, and that means using all our resources intelligently. The Bible is incredibly important; and there is prayer, and seeing God reflected in His creation, and other people, and .... so much more. God is so good.