He Hears Us: God's Faithfulness

God 's Faith fulness

Contents Page Introduction �� 2 Prayers for Moving Forward �� 4 Prayers for Peace �� 8 Prayers for Joy ��12 Prayers for Seeking Purpose ��16 Prayers for Your Witness ��20 Prayers for Greater Faith ��24 Prayers for Contentment ��28 Prayers for Forgiving Others ��32 Prayers of Rejoicing ��36

Introduction For most of the world, normal life has been completely turned on its head as a result of the Coronavirus. The lockdowns and all the restrictions have left their mark on us socially, personally, financially, possibly physically and probably spiritually. In some ways, it has been a good opportunity to reset; to reassess our priorities and learn to appreciate small blessings. In other ways, it’s been a painful and difficult season of disruption, deprivation, isolation, frustration and grief. As things begin to ease back into some sort of normality, it seems like a good time to reflect on how we can move forward without losing the simplicity and fresh perspective we’ve gained. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from the people of Israel as they approached the relief of the Promised Land after forty years in the wilderness. While there are marked differences between their desert wilderness and our Coronavirus wilderness, there are still some similarities. We, like them, have had many basic comforts stripped away. And, all the time in the desert, they looked towards the Promised Land; while we have been looking forward to a return to some normality. There were two key instructions God gave His people in Deuteronomy 8 as they stood on the brink—as we do—of an exciting new normal, filled with possibilities and hope: “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way” (v. 2): It had been a long, hard journey, but God had provided water to drink and manna to eat. The Israelites' clothes hadn’t worn out and their feet had not blistered. It had been difficult; but God had provided for them literally every step of the way.

The same is true of our Coronavirus wilderness. As life opens back up, let us praise God for His faithfulness, the moments of His unexpected provision and the way He has held us close during this challenging season. “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God” (v. 11): The Israelites were about to enjoy a land of plenty; they would build houses, raise families and have an abundance of wealth, livestock and food. But would they remember that it was all from God, and live in thankfulness? In the desert, the Lord had caused water to pour out of a rock when the people were thirsty; an obvious and miraculous provision. It was a training ground for them to realise that all provision is from God, even if it appears in less miraculous ways. As we reclaim the ways of life we used to take for granted, let us remember that each one is a blessing from God. We experience them best, and please Him most, when we enjoy them with grateful recognition of God’s kindness. As the Israelites discovered, keeping God at the centre of our lives is hard. It is easy to forget the past and simply to live in the moment. That’s why we have put together this short collection of reflections, prayers and practical advice, to help you move on from the Coronavirus wilderness; to go forward rejoicing with renewed purpose, greater faith and with a contentment that is found in Christ alone, no matter what we may gain or lose. It is truly a blessing to be journeying with you. In Him, Your friends at Our Daily Bread Ministries

Prayers for Moving Forward We lived in a forest in the Lake District with a little flock of six ducks. There was nothing sweeter than sitting in the sun watching them swim in the pond then waddle around looking for a cosy spot for a nap. But there was one problem; ducks tend to wander. One day, they waddled up into the woods behind our house. A few minutes later we heard an awful commotion and saw five ducks scrambling down the banking squawking loudly. One had been taken by a hungry fox. To our amazement, later that day we saw those same five ducks heading back up into the woods. I ran outside and diverted them back to our garden. I realised I would have to do this again and again until we could make a secure fence. The problem wasn’t just the fox; it was also the ducks. They did not see the danger of going the wrong way. We would, therefore, have to take all the responsibility of keeping them safe from harm. There would never come a time when they would figure out which way to go for themselves. It’s a bit like that with us and God. We spend so much energy trying to hear Him, tying ourselves in knots trying to figure out exactly which way we should go; but He isn’t expecting us to figure it out. He doesn’t want us to stray; so He takes the responsibility to lead us. As the psalmist wrote: “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3). All we need to do is follow; trusting that He will not let us go into danger. If you’re standing at a crossroads, desperately trying to find God’s will, take the pressure off yourself! Jesus takes the full responsibility for leading you. Your only job is to listen and be willing to go wherever He leads. Debbi Fralick, Women’s Bible Conference speaker and writer for Our Daily Bread Ministries

Mighty God my Father,

You have been so faithful to me! I thank You and praise You that you never let me down. You have guarded and kept me during the difficult days of the pandemic. Once again, I look to You to as our world opens back up and life begins to return to normal. Guard and guide me through this next season. Help me to cultivate the new simplicity of life I’ve had to adopt during the lockdown; and maintain my gratefulness at life’s little blessings. Help me to shake off my habits of isolation, selfindulgence, and self-focus that have crept in; and get back to serving You and others in my church and community with renewed enthusiasm and faith. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Heavenly Father, Lord of all;

I bless You and thank You for sustaining me through the pain and frustrations of these last couple of years. As a new season begins, I offer myself up to You afresh. I look to You for guidance, vision, and renewed focus as things around me begin to open back up. I ask you to renew my focus and give me a fresh vision for my future. Help me to break free of any unhelpful limitations or mind-sets that would keep me from following You fully and reaching this world with Your truth. May You be honoured and glorified in this new season of my life. Amen.

Heavenly Father,

I admit that I have no idea where to go from here. Life has changed so much; dreams have been dashed and plans ruined. What should I do next? Where should I go? I have no answers. But I trust that You do. The way ahead seems murky and uncertain; please be the lamp for my feet so I can move forward, one step at a time, knowing that You will put me on the right paths at just the right time. I thank You that Your purposes are never derailed. Take my life and my direction; I surrender it all to You today. And I do so in hope. Amen 5

5 ways to move forward in your relationship with God

Give Him your whole life: Give yourself fully to the Lord. Give Him everything in your past, asking for His forgiveness for your sins, and healing for your wounds. Give Him your present life and circumstances; your body and mind, relationships, resources and work. Give Him your future; tell Him you want to fulfil His purpose for your life. Choose to trust that His plan is good!

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Get into your Bible: Make it a habit to spend time in God’s Word every day. Read it, memorise your favourite bits, meditate on it (chew it over in your mind) while you’re doing mundane tasks, and—most of all—obey it. Trust that everything God said is there for a reason; and He wants to speak to you through it! Talk to Him: Talk to God about everything. Tell Him your anxieties, your fears, your problems, and whatever else is on your mind. Thank Him for all the blessings and circumstances in your life. Make time to pray about the things and people you’re thinking about; and spend a little time quietly listening for Him to speak.

Bring your decisions to Him: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). No matter how clever we are, God knows more than we do; He can see the future and all the consequences of our decisions. And He wants to direct our lives down the best path.

Let God be the Judge: There is only one Judge . . . and it’s not us! One day, God will come and bring perfect justice in this broken world; He will hold everyone to account for all the things they have done. It is not our job to punish ourselves or other people when they do wrong things. We are commanded to forgive and to love—even our enemies.

HE GUIDES ME ALONG THE RIGHT PATHS

for his name’s sake. PSALM 23:3

Prayers for Peace In 2019, I attended a special ceremony in which the 40 Commando Royal Marines unit was presented with the Firmin Sword of Peace for a record fourth time. As part of the ceremony, the chaplain gave a short address. He said something like this, “This Sword of Peace has been awarded in recognition of your hurricane relief efforts when you brought peace and security to a devastated land. I commend you for your excellent work. But after today you will be called upon to bring peace again and again and again; because there is no lasting peace in this broken world. But one day, Jesus Christ is coming! And He will bring His Sword. He will use it to end the sin, injustice and brokenness of this world. And then there will be peace. My prayer is that each of you make peace with Jesus so that you may experience the peace that only He can bring; the everlasting peace that begins today for everyone whose conflict with God has ended.” Those powerful words illustrate both the sad instability of our world and the incredible peace that we can experience when we entrust our lives to Jesus. That same peace that Jesus will bring when He comes is the peace you and I can experience today; no matter what storms we are facing. We will have the deep peace that comes from knowing our inner war is over. God is in His rightful place in our lives and we now trust Him—even if we don’t understand what He’s doing. The truest peace is not necessarily the absence of a storm; it’s the settled inner security of knowing that we are held by the God who is sovereign over the storm. There may be chaos all around; but inside we are at rest. If you need peace today, ask yourself these two questions: Do I believe that God has all power over every circumstance in my life? And do I believe that God is on my side? Debbi Fralick, Women’s Bible Conference speaker and writer for Our Daily Bread Ministries

Dear Lord,

I come to You today asking for Your help and Your presence. I feel I cannot take any more of these challenges and frustrations. I give You my worries and my burdens. Take them, Lord. I ask instead for Your peace and love to fill my heart. Help me to turn to You and to stop depending on myself. Help me to stop worrying and to start trusting. Help me to wait on Your answers, because I know that they are good. Thank You, Lord, for Your patience and grace. Thank You for loving me so much more than I could ever imagine. Amen.

Heavenly Father,

I thank You for Your love that is beyond all I can think, ask or imagine. I praise You for Your tender mercies, which are new every morning. I rest in Your all-sufficient grace which You show me hour by hour; moment by moment. You know what overwhelms me in my life; You know when I feel anxious or afraid. And so I come to You now, to know Your love, mercy, and peace; and find the strength to stand tall today, because I belong to the risen King; the Lord Jesus. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Prince of Peace, our Mighty God!

My world is full of confusion, chaos, and fear; but You have promised to give me Your peace. Thank You that I do not need to try to fix or control all of the circumstances of my life—or the lives of those I love—but You give me the freedom to trust You to do what I cannot do. I give You all of my worries, my anxieties, my fears, and all of my troubling thoughts; I put them into Your strong, loving hands. And I ask You to give me peace beyond my understanding. Next time I try to take these worries back, please remind me of this prayer! Amen. 9

5 Verses When You Need Peace

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In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 10

PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE

I give you. JOHN 14:27

Prayers for Joy Frank Borman commanded the first space mission that circled the moon. He wasn’t impressed. The trip took two days each way. Frank got motion sickness and threw up. He said being weightless was cool—for thirty seconds. Then he got used to it. Up close he found the moon drab and pockmarked with craters. His crew took pictures of the grey wasteland, then they became bored. Frank went where no one had gone before. It wasn’t enough to satisfy him. If he quickly tired of an experience that was out of this world, perhaps we should lower our expectations for what we will experience in this one. The teacher of Ecclesiastes observed that no earthly experience delivers ultimate joy. “The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:8). We may feel moments of ecstasy, but our elation soon wears off and we seek the next thrill. Frank had one exhilarating moment, when he saw the earth rise from the darkness behind the moon. Like a blue and white swirled marble, our world sparkled in the sun’s light. Similarly, our truest joy comes from the Son shining on us. Jesus is our life, the only ultimate source of meaning, love and beauty. Our deepest joy and satisfaction isn’t found in this world—we can go all the way to the moon, yet still not go far enough. We need to look out of this world to the One who made it. Adapted from Our Daily Bread article “Never Enough” by Mike Wittmer

Sovereign, faithful Heavenly Father;

I thank you that joy is always available in You. Thank You that my circumstances do not have the power to rob the joy from my life. I don’t want to wallow in self-pity or despair; please help me to cooperate with You and choose joy over despondency, fear or anger. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and fix my eyes on Your power, Your goodness and Your love for me. Amen.

My Father in heaven,

gladden and refresh my spirit. Purify my heart and mind so that I may be at one with You. Even when I am beset by troubles and despair, guide me towards Your light and refuge. Thank You, Lord, for all of Your blessings in my life. Thank You for Your presence now, and for the promise of eternity in Your home. Please remind me of the many reasons why I should be joyful. Help me to discover the joy in each day and in the beauty of Your creation. As I go through each day, help me to touch each soul I encounter, and be thankful for every person in my life. Amen.

Heavenly Father,

I ask that Your strength might be my source of joy, just as Your Word promises. I am weighed down with so many cares, burning questions and inescapable worries. When joy seems so distant, lift me up with the knowledge that my every concern is in Your loving hands. Today, I make the choice to take hold of the joy You offer because I am held tight by my Saviour. What love that You should call me Your own! I thank You and praise You, and shall yet praise You as I see Your faithfulness and provision revealed once more. Amen

7 Things to Do When You Feel Low

Think of things to thank God for: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)

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Rest in the presence of your Good Shepherd: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Psalm 23:4) Trust in God’s plan, not your own: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for peace and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Stop carrying your burdens by yourself: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Ask God to hold your worries in His loving hands: “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Set your focus on Jesus, not your needs: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) Ask Jesus for His peace and strength: “In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

COME TO ME, ALL WHO LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,

and I will give you rest. MATTHEW 11:28

Prayers for Seeking Purpose George Müller founded the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol in 1854. It’s estimated that he cared for over 10,000 orphans during his life, and brought Christian education to more than 120,000 children. Crucially, George Müller was a man of prayer who regularly saw God meet the orphanage’s daily needs. Yet he also wrote of some prayers that had been unanswered after praying for “19 years and 6 months, without one day’s intermission.”1 George Müller often received immediate answers to his prayers; but he also knew how to endure times of silence. The key lay in knowing God’s “good purpose”. “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). But, what is God’s “good purpose”? This chapter in Philippians continues by revealing it. God wants us to become “blameless and pure,” people who shine “like stars” in this dark world (v. 15) as we “hold firmly to the word of life” (v. 16). In other words, God’s goal isn’t our comfort or temporary pleasure; it is our holiness. Let’s be clear: our happiness matters a great deal to Jesus. He is the One who offers us “life to the full” (John 10:10). But, as Oswald Chambers explained, “As Christians we are not here for our own purpose at all. We are here for the purpose of God, and the two are not the same.” Our purposes are often centred on achievements, comforts and the happiness of our loved ones. While these can all be very good things, the way to greater fulfilment is to know Him. That is our greatest purpose; to become more like Jesus and to be increasingly set apart from the ways of this world. In other words, to grow in holiness. Because Müller trusted God’s purposes and will above his own, he was able to write these painful, yet profound words after his wife’s death: “The last portion of Scripture which I read to my precious wife was this: ‘The Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly’ (Psalm 84:11). . . . I said to myself, with regard to the latter part, ‘no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly’—Therefore, if it is really good for me, my darling wife will be raised up again, sick as she is. God will restore her again. But if she is not restored again, then it would not be a good thing for me. And so my heart was at rest. I was satisfied with God.”2 The Autobiography of George Müller (page 296), 2 A Narrative of Some of the Lord’s Dealings with George Muller Written by Himself, Part 2 (page 745) 1

Dear Lord,

I pray that You would remind me that I am a part of building and expanding Your Kingdom. I am Your masterpiece, and You have prepared good works for me to walk in. I ask for a fresh vision of Your purpose for my life. Open my eyes, my ears, my heart and my mind to Your good purpose so that I can live it out and thrive in it. Remove anything from my life that hinders. Draw me closer to You as You bring me fresh revelation of Your purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Heavenly Father,

I thank You that You plans stand firm forever. Even though I have my own idea of how my life should look, I want Your ultimate purpose to prevail. I ask that You prompt me when I set out to make plans, so that I make them according to Your will, and not my own. I surrender everything to Your greater purposes. Please align my heart, ideas and will with Yours. Your ways are higher than mine and beyond my imagination—nothing is impossible with You. Lead me every step of the way. Amen.

Father,

I want to do something, to make something happen for Your glory. I want my life to be full of meaning and purpose. You have blessed me with skills, talents and interests, but I give them all to You. I can only bear Your fruit by Your Spirit and being rooted in Christ, the Vine. For me, to live is Christ. All I am and all I have is Yours, Lord. May Your will be done. Bear Your fruit in my life so that others might see how I live and glorify Your great name. Amen. 17

5 Things to Ask God for in Prayer (When You Don’t Know What You Need):

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To taste His goodness (Ephesians 1:3): “Lord, help me savour the riches I have in Christ, that I may be truly satisfied by You alone.”

To feel His love (Ephesians 1:4-5): “Lord, give me the power to comprehend Your love for me, so I can live it out to those around me.” To hear His prompting (Ephesians 1:11): “Lord, attune me to Your voice, that I may follow where You are leading and conform to Your good and perfect will.” To know God better (Ephesians 1:17): “Lord, give me spiritual wisdom and insight, so that I may keep growing in my knowledge of You.” To see Christ clearly (Ephesians 1:18-19): “Lord, help me fix my eyes on the cross, that I may grasp the blessings I have in You.”

I HAVE COME THAT THEY

may have life, have it to the full. AND

JOHN 10:10

Prayers for Your Witness The modern-day marathon is based on the story of a Greek messenger, Pheidippides. According to legend, in 490 bc he ran approximately twenty-five miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greeks’ victory against their formidable foe, the invading Persians. Today, people run marathons for charities or the personal satisfaction of an athletic achievement. Pheidippides had a incredibly motivating purpose behind his effort: each of his steps was run for the sheer joy of delivering good news to his kinsmen! Some five hundred years later, two women also ran to deliver good news—the most pivotal news in all of history. When Mary and Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb where Jesus had been placed after His crucifixion, they found it empty. An angel told them that Jesus had “risen from the dead” and to “go quickly and tell his disciples.” The women, “afraid yet filled with joy,” ran to tell the disciples what they’d discovered (Matthew 28:7-8). Our world, our communities, our neighbours and our loved ones are still reeling from the devastating impact of the Coronavirus. Now, more than ever, they want to hear some good news. And we have the very best. May we have the same joyful exuberance at the resurrection of Jesus, and may it invigorate us to share our hope and faith with others. We may not even need to ‘run’ further than next door to find someone who needs to know about our Saviour. He won the battle against death so we might live victoriously with Him forever! No disruption or chaos in this temporary world can ever change our eternal security. Adapted from Our Daily Bread article “Running to Tell” by Kirsten Holmberg

Dear Lord,

in these dark days we praise You that many in the world are seeking the truth like never before. As this world continues to be rocked on its foundations, they look for a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Lord Jesus, they look for You. May Your Spirit speak Your loving call into their hearts. May Your church be a beacon of light in the gloom of Coronavirus. Guide many souls into the eternal safety of Your kingdom in this season. And may Your name be lifted high as many new mouths proclaim praise for You, their King. For Your glory, Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ,

You taught us to love our neighbour, whoever they may be. You taught us to care for the needy, whatever their needs. You taught us to come alongside their hurting, and bear their burdens with them. In this time of anxiety, uncertainty and change, give us strength to comfort the fearful, compassion to tend the sick and presence of mind to reassure the isolated of our love and Your love. For Your name’s sake, Amen.

Loving Father, God of all;

You are the fountain of every blessing. Our journey through this life often leaves us dry, weary and thirsty for the Living Water that Jesus offers. We come to You asking that You would pour out Your Spirit afresh upon Your people. Unblock the wells of our hearts; may Your grace flow freely from our lives! Bring life and refreshment to us; and may we spread Your life to others around us. Give us love for the unlovely, peace with those with whom we struggle, and joy in place of gloom. Strengthen us with Your hope, and sustain us with renewed faith. Amen. 21

7 Verses on How to Share Your Faith

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In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15 Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:6

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:35

GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES

of all nations. MATTHEW 28:19

Prayers for Greater Faith Faith is like your phone signal; it’s not what you look at, but it’s what connects you. Faith connects us to the reality of God, even though we can’t see Him. Like having eyes in our soul, it sees beyond what is visible. Hebrews 11:1 gives this definition of faith: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith is confident assurance about the truths that we can’t see with our eyes; God’s power, faithfulness and goodness. It isn’t wishful thinking; just hoping something is true and deciding to believe it despite a lack of evidence. True faith is based on what God says about Himself—and us—in His word. Preachers often use the chair illustration; you exercise faith every time you sit in a chair. Based on what you know about chairs—your understanding of how they are built and your previous experience of their reliability—you expect them to hold your weight. Each time you thoughtlessly flop down in a chair, you prove your faith in them. But faith is only as good as its object. In other words, should you put your faith in an old, rickety chair with woodworm and a missing leg? Probably not; you’ll most likely end up on the floor! The object of your faith must be solid, reliable and worthy of your trust. So in a sense, we don’t really need more faith in God—we just need to know Him better. If we saw how truly solid, trustworthy and reliable He is, we would find it easier to have faith in Him. We all face times when it feels like the rug has been pulled out from under us, and we need to know whether we can truly throw our whole weight onto God. If that’s where you’re at right now, dig deep into God’s Word and get to know His character. He is faithful and He is good. He will hold your weight and carry you to safety. He truly can be trusted with every detail of your life!

Almighty God, our Rock and my Fortress! I thank You that my life is in Your loving, powerful hands. Sometimes I forget that and become anxious. Oh Lord, build in me, Your child, a solid and unshakable trust in Your goodness, Your power and Your willingness to help me. Help me to step off the treadmill of trying to sort everything out myself; I can’t, and I’m exhausted trying. I never could. Today I choose to put my faith in You because You are worthy of my trust. Amen. Loving Heavenly Father, sometimes all I can see are my circumstances; my troubles, my pains and my own weaknesses. My faith is small and my problems seem big; and I cannot see You at all. I desperately need faith! I need to see You; Your power, Your kindness and Your willingness to help me. I need to know that Your promises are for me to claim, not in my own power, but because of Jesus’ finished work. Please grant me faith to see the truth I cannot see with my earthly eyes. Give me heavenly eyes to see things from Your perspective. For Jesus’ sake, Amen. Mighty God,

in whose hands rest every element of creation, I put my faith in You again today. My timid faith feels fragile; but You promised that faith as small as a mustard seed is enough to move mountains. I take hold of that promise today. I know that it is not the size of my faith that makes the difference, but who I place it in. I put my faith in You, O Lord, because You are strong, You are good and You will carry me in my weakness. Help me in my unbelief, so that my hope rests in You alone. All I am is Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 25

6 Things the Bible Says About Faith:

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Faith sees what we don’t see: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is essential: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Faith comes through God’s Word: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Faith is a gift from God: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Faith must be lived out: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:15-17)

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Faith gives us victory: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

NOW FAITH IS

confidence in what we hope for assurance about what we do not see. AND

HEBREWS 11:1

Prayers for Contentment When Joni Eareckson Tada returned home after suffering a swimming accident that left her a quadriplegic, her life was vastly different. Now doorways were too narrow for her wheelchair and sinks were too high. Someone had to feed her, until she decided to relearn how to feed herself. Lifting the special spoon to her mouth from her arm splint the first time, she felt humiliated as she smeared apple sauce on her clothes. But she pressed on. As she says, “My secret was learning to lean on Jesus and say, ‘Oh God, help me with this!’” Joni says her confinement made her look at another captive—the apostle Paul, who was imprisoned in a Roman jail—and his letter to the Philippians. Joni strives for what Paul achieved: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). Note that Paul had to learn to be at peace; he wasn’t naturally peaceful. How did he find contentment? Through trusting in Christ: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (v. 13). Paul learnt to accept whatever came his way and to receive with thanks whatever help fellow Christians could give. And most importantly, he recognised that God was supplying all he needed (see vv. 12-19). We have all faced many different and additional challenges over the last year or so. Perhaps it feels like there are many problems still to negotiate. We may be tempted to think we’ll be content once all these things have been resolved. But that’s not what Paul learnt. He discovered contentment in the good times and the bad. True contentment doesn’t depend on our circumstances, but on Christ. Whatever we’re facing right now, we all can look to Jesus moment by moment for help, strength and peace. He will help us to hold back from snapping at our loved ones; He will give us the courage to do the next hard thing. Look to Him and find contentment. Adapted from Our Daily Bread article “The Secret of Contentment” by Amy Boucher Pye

Oh Lord, You are my Shepherd.

Your Word promises that with You, I need never be in want. Yet so often I struggle to be content; forgetting that You have graciously provided me with every spiritual blessing in Christ and everything I need for life and godliness. Fill me with the joy and satisfaction of knowing Your steadfast love. Help me learn to be content in any situation like Paul, and to reject the idolatry that dwells beneath the surface of my coveting. Amen.

Almighty God,

when things don’t work out the way I want or expect, help me to learn contentment. In the plenty and the little, You are with me and Your hand holds me. Nothing can separate me from Your love; may that be the source of my joy and happiness, no matter what I have or don’t have. Thank You for providing just what I need, at just the right time, even if it isn’t what I expect. Amen.

Heavenly Father,

this past year has been burdensome and hard for so many. Contentment has perhaps never seemed so unattainable. May the things I have learned about Your presence and faithfulness during this season of lockdowns and restrictions stay with me and help spur me on to find peace simply in Your presence. While the world has changed, You have not. You are always the same, so my confidence in You need not be shaken. I place all my hope in You once more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

7 Simple Ways to Find Peace of Mind

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Make use of the morning: “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalm 143:8) Carry a truth from God’s Word with you each day: “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist.” (Ephesians 6:14)

Follow social media that brings God praise: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) Listen to a worship song: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16) Entrust your feelings and weaknesses to Jesus: “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) Tell Jesus what stresses you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Thank God for a gift He has given you: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

GOD WILL MEET

all your needs riches of his glory ACCORDING TO THE

IN CHRIST JESUS. PHILIPPIANS 4:19

Prayers for Forgiving Others The following prayer was found crumpled among the remains of the Ravensbrück concentration camp where Nazis killed nearly 50,000 women: “O Lord, remember not only the men and women of goodwill, but also those of ill will. But do not remember the suffering they have inflicted upon us. Remember the [good things that have come] thanks to this suffering—our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, the courage, the generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of this. And when they come to judgement, let all [these fruits] be their forgiveness.” I can’t imagine the fear and pain inflicted on the woman who wrote this prayer. I can’t imagine what kind of incredible love and forgiveness was needed for her to write these words. She did the unthinkable: she asked God to forgive the people who hated, imprisoned, tortured and probably killed her. This prayer echoes Jesus’ prayer. After being falsely accused, hated, beaten and humiliated, Jesus was “crucified . . . along with [two] criminals” (Luke 23:33-34). Hanging from a rough-hewn cross—His body torn to bloody pieces as He gasped for breath—I would expect Jesus to judge the people who put Him there. Yet Jesus’ prayer went against every human instinct: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”. When we forgive, we lay down the wrongs others have done to us, but not so they are forgotten. We lay them down so that God can pick them up and carry them for us. Our pain is important. It matters a great deal to God. That is why Jesus came to pay for all sin in His death—because it all matters; it must all be paid for. So when we forgive someone, we’re saying we’re going to leave the issue between them and God. Let’s never forget this truth: if they choose to put their full trust in Jesus, He pays for all their sin too. The forgiveness Jesus offers seems impossible, but He offers it to us. As we start to really appreciate the forgiveness He gives us, we will find the forgiveness we need to show becomes a little less impossible. Adapted from Our Daily Bread article “Impossible Forgiveness” by Winn Collier

Gracious Father in Heaven,

You have forgiven me for so many things; and I am truly grateful. But I find it so hard to forgive others when they hurt me. I need Your grace, Your mercy and Your love to flow through my life to others; especially those who have wronged me. I have no right to keep hold of pains and offences after You’ve forgiven me for so much; but I cannot do it in my own strength. Help me as I choose to let go and release these offences and wounds into Your hands. I know that You will put all things right. Amen.

Merciful God, my Saviour;

there are people I need to forgive and release today. I don’t feel like forgiving, but I do so in obedience to You. I choose to forgive. I choose to release. I choose to give up my desire to hurt, punish or defame the one who hurt me. You are the only Judge, not me. I release them into Your judgement; I know You will be perfectly just and fair. Whatever debt they owe me, they must now settle with You; I release them to You. I forgive them freely and fully, as You forgave me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God of all love and mercy,

You know my inner injuries others have caused; and how much I am struggling with anger and disappointment. And You know all too well the harm these feelings are doing to me. Give me the courage to stand in the shoes of the one who has injured me. Remind me that forgiveness is the only way to find freedom from the pain and to experience Your healing. Provide the grace for me to extend forgiveness as an action of strength and hope, not weakness. Forgiveness is the miraculous work of Your Spirit. I submit myself to You now; do this work in my heart, I pray. Amen. 33

5 Bible Verses About Forgiving Others

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Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

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And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22

FORGIVE AS

the Lord forgave you. COLOSSIANS 3:13

Prayers of Rejoicing I was taking yet another walk by myself on yet another day during the COVID-19 lockdown when words written on a driveway caught my attention. Choose joy. Write down here what you’re thankful for. A container of chalk sat nearby. Among others, these answers had been scribbled down by passers-by: food, a home, my dad and mum, my dog, sweets, and God’s love. The driveway was filled with words of gratitude. Filled with words of gratitude. The unknown writer of Psalm 33 had a heart like that. In this psalm, he thanks God for His character and “unfailing love,” His majesty in creation and His blessing on His people (Psalm 33: 4–12). He praises God for His knowledge, His care and His power (vv. 13–19). The psalmist saw that the earth was full of God’s goodness, and he reminded his fellow Israelites: “He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (vv. 20–21). Charles Spurgeon wrote about these verses: “Our soul, our life, must hang upon God; we are to trust him . . . with all we have and are.” After a season that has given us reasons to despair, God has never stopped giving us reasons to have a heart like the psalmist’s that’s filled with gratitude. May we trust Him, give Him the praise He deserves and “shout for joy” (v. 3). Let’s choose joy today; God has given us every reason to! What are you shouting for joy about at the moment? Why not Read Psalm 33 to help get you started. Adapted from Our Daily Bread article “Choose Joy” by Anne Cetas

Wonderful Father,

we thank You for all of the blessings You have poured into our lives! Thank You for giving us life, and sustaining us up to today. We thank You for the health we enjoy; even though others have healthier bodies than us, what we have is a blessing. Thank You for those we love; family, friends, neighbours and those without whom our lives would be poorer. We thank You for our homes, our resources and the food on our table. And most of all, thank You that You have not left us without hope. Thank You for Jesus; for His salvation and His daily blessings. May others come to know and love Him. Amen.

Triumphant Father,

thank You for intervening in my life and allowing me to have a personal relationship with You. Thank You for Your personal and intimate love for me today and forever. With my whole heart and with all that is within me, I bless Your Holy name. It is You, Father, who crowns me with love and tender mercies. You fill my life with Your goodness! I will sing to You the praises due Your name and tell everyone about Your mercies which are new every morning. May I live a life of true joy as I see You at work around me today! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Father,

I rejoice that this is the day You have made! I delight myself in You, Lord, and all Your works. Thank You for loving me and singing over me with songs of deliverance and salvation. The psalms in Your Word fill my heart with joy and thankfulness. My every prayer is in Your ear, my every need is in Your mind, my every provision is in Your hands. What more could I ask for? I am overflowing with gladness in Your Spirit! I praise the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen. 37

When Should We Rejoice? When we remember the good things God has done for us: “He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot–come, let us rejoice in him.” (Psalm 66:6) When God does something amazing in our lives: “In that day they will say, ‘Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.’” (Isaiah 25:9) When everything is going completely wrong: “Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18) When people reject us because of our faith in Christ: “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.” (Luke 6:232-23) When others rejoice: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) Always: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN:

rejoice! PHILIPPIANS 4:4

Prayer List ��

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HE HEARS US

God 's Faithfulness

Normal life has been completely turned on its head as a result of the Coronavirus. The lockdowns and all the restrictions have left their mark on us socially, personally, financially, possibly physically and probably spiritually. In some ways, it has been a good opportunity to reset; to reassess our priorities and learn to appreciate small blessings. In other ways, it’s been a painful and difficult season of disruption, deprivation, isolation and grief. As things begin to ease back into some sort of normality, it seems like a good time to reflect on how we can move forward with God at the very centre of our vision, hope and purpose. This collection of reflections, prayers and practical advice will help you move forward with rejoicing, renewed purpose, greater faith and a contentment that is found in Christ alone, no matter what we may gain or lose.

For information on our resources, visit ourdailybread.org. Alternatively, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices. Germany: Our Daily Bread Ministries e.V., Schulstraße 42, 79540 Lörrach ~ deutsch@odb.org ~ +49 (0) 7621 9511135 Ireland: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 64 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 XC62 ~ ireland@odb.org ~ +353 (01) 676 7315 UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9ES ~ europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149 Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.

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