Celtic 3 by Francis Cummings

When we are under extreme pressure, the Lord is our ever present help and refuge – but that does not mean that we will necessarily find it easy to feel His presence. May the pressures not hold us back from seeking Him – and from sharing what we are going through with at least one other person.

The prophet said,

‘In the shadow of His hand

He hid me.

He made me into a polished arrow,

and concealed me in His quiver.’

(Is. 49:2)

Lord Jesus, we shelter beneath the refuge of Your Almighty hand –

and find such sweetness there,

but sometimes it is hard to stand,

because it is so dark beneath Your hand.

Forgive us when we fail to understand

that You are using this narrowed time to prepare a polished arrow

for Your very special plans.

When the ability to sense Your presence fades,

help us proclaim that You are still the same,

for even if it is dark beneath Your wing,

You still want us to sing;

and all that we have known of You still applies

when You come in seeming disguise.

When You look back on those times of darkness, Lord,

when our pathway narrowed

and we were deeply harrowed;

may You rejoice that we did not give in to the bleakness;

for although the surface of our life was profoundly ruffled,

and Your presence strangely muffled,

deep down the water remained as still as ever.

Stir up in us the determination to hold fast

until the darkness parts and the danger is past.

Give us grace to ride each millrace,

until the waters slow and peace returns.

Grant us grace not to begrudge those days

when we must trudge across the sandy expanse –

for deserts end in Your fond embrace,

and the only way to gain the reward

is to take firm hold of Your pledge,

and to tear all obstacles to shreds.

But the Warped One flees not

before the uncommitted.

He keeps his claws embedded

in hearts too narrowly set

on their own affairs.

He only bows to those whose ambitions

range beyond their own immediate sphere of service –

and since he greatly fears

souls who refuse to compromise,

Lord, make us those whom both Heaven and hell acknowledge.

Lord Jesus,

in my spirit I am back in places where I have met with You.

I pray now for the joy of Your presence,

the comfort of Your touch

and the power of Your leading

on all whom I bring to You in prayer.

Let Your compassion come upon them now,

releasing souls from the deadweight of stifling tradition

and turning the predictable into living encounter

as the wind of Your Spirit blows through.

Arise my Love

Words and Music by Carol Sampson

Arise, my love

My beautiful one, come with me.

See the winter, the winter has passed.

The rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth.

The season of singing has come,

has come.

You are, you are my love.

You are the apple of my eye.

Oh my beauty - my beautiful one -

How I delight in you.

Nothing can change what I say.

My love is holding you safe.

Arise, my beautiful one.

Come away and be with me.

Show me your face so lovely.

Arise, my beautiful one.

Lift your voice and sing to me so i can hear your voice so sweetly.

Cos I, I love you.

I do.

Flowers appear on the earth.

The season of singing has come.

Arise, my beautiful one.

Come away and be with me.

Show me your face so lovely.

Arise, my beautiful one.

Lift your voice and sing to me so i can hear your voice so sweet.

Because I, I love you.

I do.

Music by Linda Louisa

This is an opportunity to bless specific people who you care for deeply using various Scriptures as your starting point. May these prayers and meditations inspire you to turn many other verses in the Psalms, Proverbs, Prophets and New Testament into living prayer.

May the Lord, who has begun a good work in you,

help you to work out your salvation with fear and trembling

and bring His work to completion in Christ Jesus.

(Phil:1:6, 2:12)

As you pass through the rushing waters

may they not overwhelm you.

May the Lord keep you from being burned in the fire

(Isaiah 43:2)

May the troubles you go through

achieve an exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

as you keep your eyes fixed not on what is seen

but on what is unseen.

(2 Cor. 4:17-18)

As you wait on the Lord, may your strength be renewed,

so that you can mount up on eagle’s wings,

run and not grow weary

walk and not grow faint.

(Is. 40:31)

May your heart be discerning and acquire knowledge.

(Pvbs 18:15)

May the Lord keep you from answering before you listen,

for that would be your folly and your shame.

(Pvbs. 15:13)

May you learn from your afflictions

(Ps. 119:67, 71)

and when you feel offended,

may you not bar the gates of your heart,

for walls are easy to build

but so much harder to dismantle.

(Pvbs. 18:19)

I pray that God will bless you and enlarge your border,

that His hand will be with you

and that He will keep you from evil

so it might not hurt you.

(1Chron 4v1).

May the Lord build His hedge around you,

and your house,

and all you have on every side.

(Job1v10).

May the Lord give you discretion and good judgement.

May He give you success in building the house of the Lord.

May you be strong and courageous

and neither afraid nor discouraged.

(1 Chron. 22:11-14)

May you have the tongue of one who is taught,

and speak a word in season to him who is weary.

May the Lord waken you morning by morning

to listen to His voice.

(Is. 50:4)

May your faith remain strong,

even in the face of great sifting.

(Luke 22:31-2).

May you know authority and power to trample upon scorpions,

and strength over all the powers that confront you.

(Luke 10:19)

May the Spirit of Truth guide you into all truth

and reveal the things that are God’s to you.

(John16)

May it always be your goal to please Him,

so that when you stand before the judgement seat,

you may receive the rewards that are due to you.

(2 Cor. 5:10)

As you contemplate the path of your life,

may the Lord guide your steps.

Through the fear of the Lord may you be kind to the needy, and

(Pvbs. 16:6, and 1 Sam. 2:9)

may He keep your spirit from being crushed

(Pvbs. 17:22, 18:14);

may your feet be beautiful as you walk in your destiny.

(Is.52:7)

and keep your heart at peace.

(Pvbs. 14:30)

This is a piece that celebrates first and foremost the glories of God's creation. He could have created one species of fern and tree, and that would have been an amazing feat - but instead He created thousands!

But this is also a poignant reflection on the extreme variety that people are of experiencing in these uncertain times - from those enjoying deep friendships and purpose in life to those whose life and relationships feel as though they are spinning out of control.

When we posted the draft of this, Soundcloud thought we were using a recording from one of the best ensembles of the world! Much praise to our wonderful musicians who were led by Thomas Herzog in this lovely rendering of Mozart's oboe quartet.

Likewise from those racing from appointment to appointment to those benumbed by boredom. Praise God, our wonderful Creator God still has ideas and solutions to make the most of every situation that we face.

Words and music - Carol Sampson

Jesus - You are the Way, You are the Living God

Jesus - You lead the way, and guide me by Your word

Jesus - You are the Truth, You are God revealed to man

Jesus - You are the Truth, You fulfil the Father's plan

Jesus - You are the Light, you overflow in me

Jesus - You are the Life, given so abundantly

Therefore God has exalted You to the highest place

So that every knee should bow and every tongue confess

That Jesus - You are the Lord. let every tongue proclaim

Jesus - You are the Lord, for ever more the same

Yes Jesus- You are the One Who died to set me free

Jesus - You are the One who makes my life complete.

Music by Francis Cummings

Samuel Johnson urged people “to keep their friendships in good repair.”

So here is an invitation to pray for the friends the Lord places on our hearts.

Lord, the love that is burning in my heart today

is so strong for the flagship friendships

that You have taken such care to shape.

As Your psalmist declared,

the saints in the land are the glorious ones in whom You delight,

So I lift these loved ones to You now.

SELAH

From time to time these God-given partnerships

dip from sight below the horizon,

but You are always seeking fresh ways

to bring about deeper union.

And just as officers on a warship’s bridge

know their chain of authority

within a combat zone,

so You give special authority

to those who worship

in love and trust before Your throne.

Let our prayers be wind and Spirit-blown –

dethroning hindering powers;

and may our e mails, texts and calls

have the stamp and seal of Heaven on them all.

The flow You direct between us is so precious, Lord.

Protect and preserve us

when heavy hurtful rocks are lobbed our way –

Let no careless words or misunderstanding

wreck the powerful vessel of our friendship;

no indifference or rivalry

shaft or scupper this sacred craft.

Rather let our awareness increase

to the point where we can sense when our friends are in distress.

Father, use our times together,

to release Your power and fervour;

for You delight to grant much favour

when two or three are gathered in Your love.

We promise to keep alert, and make the effort

to connect whenever You direct –

and then may abundant heavenly ointment

grace each one of these most precious appointments.

Music by Linda Louisa

1 Come down, O Love divine!

seek out this soul of mine

and visit it with your own ardour glowing;

O Comforter, draw near,

within my heart appear,

and kindle it, your holy flame bestowing.

2 There let it freely burn

till earthly passions turn

to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;

and let your glorious light

shine ever on my sight,

and make my pathway clear, by your illuming.

3 Let holy charity

my outward vesture be,

and lowliness become my inner clothing;

true lowliness of heart

which takes the humbler part,

and for its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

4 And so the yearning strong

with which the soul will long

shall far surpass the power of human telling;

for none can guess its grace

till we become the place

in which the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

Improvised music.

Jack Hayford put it well when he said,

“Where we are prepared to travail in prayer,

life comes forth,

and the kingdom of God extends its triumph,”

but the battle is intense, and the devil’s weapon is a magnifying glass!

He focuses it on a patch of dried out grass

and then ignites some smouldering fire in our lives,

affrighting souls that have not learnt to fight with visions dire –

or exciting simple souls with visions far too bright.

When the Lord inspires some new venture,

we can be sure the enemy will do his best to deter us.

He’ll either tell us that what we are attempting is misguided and impossible,

Or that we are the wrong people to be doing it;

And if that doesn’t work, he’ll suggest we’ve got the timing wrong!

Now there are times when we must hold some vision in our heart

until the Lord gives the specific commission to act on it:

but that’s very different from the enemy’s attempt to postpone it indefinitely.

Lord, You know exactly how we are wired;

and when some idea or initiative really is of You,

as opposed to some stray passing thought,

give us the determination

not to allow ourselves to be deterred,

earthing overly optimistic hopes

and shattering the fears

which that lethal magnifying glass

distorts and exaggerates.

Baptise our imagination

to embrace the very deepest truths –

May we never seek success to boost our power and fame,

but equally may we not hold back when You are giving clearance

to voice the things that You are showing us.

Lord, Help us make the most of every opportunity,

for whilst missed moments may never be reprieved

odd spare minutes can be gainfully employed.

Minister to the secretly bound who have grown so used to working their way around their restrictions, that they never quite fathom that it is the wounded bleeding Lamb of God, who knows every facet of their lives,

who is seeking this intense inner cleansing.

Where we have been guilty of frustrating the grace of God,

not only through overt sin and but also over indulgence,

whereby we are effectively treating You as our servant,

bring us rather to that place in prayer

where we explore what is on Your heart.

If Your kindness does not lead us to true repentance,

all we will be left with are regrets and remorse.

And since it is those who have been forgiven most who love best,

help us confess whatever we need to confess,

and then move on again;

For seeking You increases our aspiration

for fresh visitations of Your Holy Spirit among the nations.*

*The last two stanzas were inspired from the chapter A new kind of prayer meeting by Jack Hayford in Intercessory Prayer, edited by Leonard Le Sourd (Hodder, 1990)

Francis Cummings wrote this hauntingly beautiful song, with its vital reminder to keep looking to the Lord.

Show me your ways o Lord

Teach me to walk in your righteous paths

Turn my eyes from worthless things

Let me not be put to shame

My eyes are ever on You

because my hope is in You

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul

In You, O Lord, I put my trust

Remember not the sins of my youth

But lead me in the Way Everlasting.

Prayer for the Nations

Music by Linda Louisa Entwistle

Lord Jesus, the crowd cheered Your triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but You wept; for You knew that countless souls would lose their lives as the result of the nation rejecting the hour of her visitation.

Unaware of the centrality of Your desire to prepare them for eternity, the people quickly turned when Jesus failed to meet their immediate expectations.

How do we ourselves respond when You do not appear to meet our hopes and dreams?

Help us be willing to come to You on Your terms, not on ours – and so avoid falling into bitterness in a land where so few pay anything more than lip service to the King of Kings.

Lord, we remember how earnestly You worked to rescue Germany from the Nazi tyranny enabling her to take her place once more among the nations –

and how You helped America and South Africa emerge beyond the lure of the racist call.

We celebrate Your grace and truth that have achieved so much,

and ask for nations still skewed in the thrall of long held feuds,

to have the grace to move on from conflicts past;

fulfilling through forgiveness their God-given call.

Redemptive One, we offer you the weight of our own temptations to bitterness as an offering on behalf of wider issues – where severe deadlocks have gripped and divided, and situations risk being whisked into something infinitely combustible.

We give you the flashpoints around the world,

and pray, “Intervene by Your mercy and defuse”,

lest we ignore all safety limits,

and descend into another bout of senseless blood letting:

from the Archduke’s assassination,

through the killing fields and holocausts

to the lethal civil wars that ravage so many regions.

And as we pray, we ask that You will release us too

from the wilderness of time and energy

that every trace of bitterness represents.

Arise and show Your mercy and Your power

as we gather round Your throne to present our cry.

Lift the weak,

humble the proud,

unblock the stalled and deadlocked

as Your Spirit sends seismic shocks

to overturn wrong ways of thinking

and usher in the new.