Day 73 - Giving thanks for God’s gifts

As we come into the beginning of a new month, and as we feel the seasons continue to change, and the world around us open up to the prospects of all God has in store, shall we spend some time giving thanks for his gifts, and praying for guidance for what lies ahead.

Loving Lord, we want to say thank you for all that you do for us and all that you give us. We look around and see the sunshine, and the rain, the plants growing, the flowers blooming and everything seems right with the world. We thank you for all of creation and ask that we can be good stewards of all you have provided us with, never leaving things to go to ruin, or being wasteful of the many resources you have given us.

At this time of year with our gardens fully awake and the countryside around us seeming to shout new life, it is easy to believe all is indeed right in the world. But Lord we know that there are people suffering today. We pray for those we know and those we will never meet, who are in pain, physical, emotional and spiritual, near and far. For those who had so much and have lost it and those who never had much to start with and now have even less. We pray for all those who try to help, for charities and agencies who work with those suffering because of poverty and illness all around the world.

We remember too those who live in fear. We pray for those who live in war zones, who are afraid of the noise of the guns and the bombs, those who live with the threat of terrorist action and those who fear the unknown and what the future may hold. We pray too for the peacemakers, for those who put themselves in places of danger to rescue those who have been injured from under rubble and off battlegrounds. We pray your protection over them.

We pray for those facing new challenges. We pray for the students on the CIPT FD Course as they strive to learn more about you and discover how you want them to serve. We pray too for those students who are called to ministerial and other types of service within your churches around the CF and beyond. Bless them greatly Lord and guide them so that all they do will be of your leading and bring glory to your name. Uphold them when they face times of challenge and give them your strength to keep on following your path for them.

We pray too for our young people who will be taking GCSE, A-levels and other examinations in the month ahead. Lord, we ask that you steady their nerves, help them to do their best and let them be assured of your love for them, whatever the results. Guide them, Lord, into a future where they will know you and be confident as they transition into all you have planned for them.

Finally, Lord we would pray for ourselves. We ask that you will be with each one of us as we set off into this new month. We pray that we will be able to listen for your voice and go where you lead. Help us, each one, to be light and salt wherever you have put us and may we always live for and serve you in all we do.

For it is In Jesus’ name we pray all our prayers, spoken and unspoken. Amen

Catherine Booton