PRAYER FOR LENT (Day 34)

Luke 22:39-62

Lord,

How important it is to follow you to the garden of reprieve, to the place of rest and relationship. I don’t go there often enough. I have too much work, too many demands and an overwhelming plethora of deadlines to go to the garden. But I need the garden and I’m taking time now to be with you there. The fact is, everything else is pointless if the one thing needful – sitting in your company and drawing strength from being with you – is neglected. You said, “Only one thing is needed. [You] have chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from [you].” (Luke 10:42)

You call me to prayer, teaching me it is the secret to avoiding temptation. Lord, the tempter is strong. The temptations are appealing. Only focusing on something higher, Someone more attractive, will deliver me from the enticements around me.

The temptation to deny you is the most dreadful of all temptations. And it can happen so quickly; it comes subtly, sometimes unknown, unseen, unrecognized for what it is.

Until it’s too late.

Lord, I’ve denied you and betrayed you.

Forgive me.

Cleanse me.

Restore me.

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PRAYER FOR LENT (Day 33)

Mark 14:32 - 72

All you ask Lord is that we watch and pray. It’s not much. But it seems like a lot. We are lulled into sleep and distraction. We have the best intentions but sadly we don’t have the motivation to deliver.

The alternatives are less desirable. Failing to be diligent we could be guilty of betrayal or irrational behaviour. These are no better than even another action – desertion.

Then we cower in fear and follow at a distance. No lie is too big or compromise to hard when it comes to protecting ourselves.

How far will I go for you? Never mind the easy stuff like going to the ends of the earth. Will I even cross the street for you? Will I endure misunderstanding and abuse for you?

Will I die for you?

Watch and pray.

Follow.

Stand and be counted.

Die.

Watch and pray seems so easy now.

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PRAYER FOR LENT (Day 32)

John 18:1-18

Lord, I can feel it in the air. The political arena is set. The time had arrived. Now begins the final hours to your most glorious moment – the redemption of the world.

But it is not without its challenges, pain and suffering; betrayal, hatred, misunderstanding, good but misguided intentions.

To the question if Peter was “one of them” – one of your followers – he answers, “I am not”.

Are there ways that I say, “I am not”? or will I say, “I most certainly am”!

Peter stood near the fire to keep warm but I doubt there was much warmth. How does one ever experience warmth after being with you and then without you?

There are people today wanting warmth but not finding it. Help us all to realise that we have to step out from among the crowds and get closer to you if we’re to have warmth. Standing at a distance and pretending we never knew you won’t comfort us. It’s a chilling proposition.

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