28 January 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Thursday 28
January 2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalm
71
This
psalmist is an older person who has had a life of connection with God. The psalm is of praise and a plea for
deliverance from personal enemies. The psalmist promises to use music to
proclaim God and praise God.
Jeremiah 10: 1 – 16
Jeremiah
tells Israel that the Lord wants them to not follow the ways of other nations
or be caught worrying about the movement of stars and planets etc. The other
nations’ customs are worthless since they are based on idol worship – idols
made from wood or stone or metal. Only God created the heavens and the earth.
All the other gods will perish.
The
people involved in making idols are senseless and shamed by their construction.
God,
the Lord Almighty, makes all things, including Israel.
Luke 1: 39 – 56
Mary hurries to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth in the hill
country. When Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting the baby in her womb leaps and
Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth blesses Mary and her child
and asks why she is so favoured that the mother of her Lord should visit her.
Elizabeth blesses Mary for believing what the Lord says will be accomplished.
Mary then utters the Magnificat glorifying and rejoicing in God
who raises a humble servant to a state of blessedness. God does great things
and is Holy. God’s mercy extends across generations of those who honour God.
God does mighty deeds. God scatters the proud and lifts up the humble, fills
the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty. God helps and is
merciful to Israel.
Mary stays for about three months or until Elizabeth’s baby is
born.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Daily task Gladstone Qld L Osburn |
Thursday 28
January 2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalm
119: 65 – 88
In this
section the psalmist says that in the past he had gone astray, then was
punished and humbled. These events led to study of the law and following God.
Now, others are being arrogant, flout the law and attack him. The psalmist asks
for deliverance and promises to keep the faith and be steadfast.
Genesis 16
Sarai, Abram’s wife understands that offspring are needed and so
offers Abram her Egyptian maidservant Hagar. Hagar becomes a wife to Abram and
conceives. Competition begins between the two women. Sarai mistreats Hagar who
runs away. The angel of the Lord finds her, tells her to return and submit to
Sarai and that Hagar’s descendants will be too numerous to count. The child she
will have is to be named Ishmael and his life will be full of strife. Hagar
names the Lord “You are the God who sees me” and then says, “I have now seen
the God who sees me”.
Hagar delivers the child who is named Ishmael.
James 3: 13 – 4: 10
If
we are wise that wisdom will be obvious in our deeds done in humility. But if
we harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition we must not boast about it.
The
wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, peace loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy, impartial and sincere. When we sow in peace we harvest in
righteousness.
James
outlines the challenges of being godly and living in the world. Conflict and
harm come because we want something and cannot have it. We have either not
asked for it or we ask wrongly because we are going to use it for ourselves –
our own wants and not God’s purposes.
James
likens this to adultery – we are cheating on God. God yearns jealously for the
spirit he made that dwells in us and he gives us grace when we are humble, not
arrogant and not seeking our own cravings. So seek God, be humble, repent and
evil will flee. Don’t judge others.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Path Alpine National Park Vic L Osburn |
Holy Lord creator of everything seen
and unseen, be with us at the end of this day. Sit with us and help us calmly
review our day. Help us see the times we brought our concerns and worries to
you. Help us see the times we chose wisely with peace, impartiality and
sincerity putting the needs of others first so that all the steps we took today
that sought you will be reinforced and we will be strengthened through your
grace and mercy to continue on your path tomorrow through Jesus Christ our Lord
and Saviour. Amen.
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