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Dear Fellow Pray-er,
Prayer Diary for the period Thursday 15th May – Wednesday 2nd July 2025.
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds.” We continue in Deuteronomy with those words - and what a reminder it is to us all to take into our hearts and minds all that we can learn about how to live through regular reading of our Bibles. I would also point out the encouragement to “rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to.” (Deut 12:18) Now that is certainly not always easy, but a good habit to get into.
A commentary I read states: "Deuteronomy is one of the greatest books of the Old Testament. Its significance on the domestic and personal religion of all ages has not been surpassed by any other book in the Bible. It is quoted over eighty times in the New Testament to which the early Christians made frequent reference." We would do well to: “Fix these words of mine in our hearts and minds.”
Moses’ words, as we reach the end of Deuteronomy, are very clear, especially when compared to a lot of politicians today. Which do you want? Life or death? God’s way or your way? We can still choose today but are we courageous enough to stand and acknowledge the name of the Lord?
Moses goes on to announce Joshua as their future leader and predicts that “In days to come, disaster will fall upon you (the Israelites) because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and provoke him to anger.” Finally, the Lord says to Moses on Mount Nebo as Moses surveys the whole of the Promised Land: “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” So, when he met with Jesus and Elijah it was at last time for him to stand in the Promised Land! Then, the death of Moses at the great age of 120 still, we are told, with all his faculties intact!
We now turn to the Book of Job. "Job" means "hated" or "much persecuted." No one knows for sure who wrote Job.
The introduction tells us a little of who he is, then we read of two disasters that befall him. After which he is still able to exclaim “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” O how we need to be able to exclaim that when we are faced with setbacks in our lives! We continue to read a lament in which Job expresses his agony followed by three cycles of speeches in which Job's friends dialogued with him about his condition. Keep your eye open for the wonderful passage included in Handel’s Messiah and rejoice as you read it. In the next set of readings, we will hear also from a fourth friend and then God!
Turning to the New Testament readings - “Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph 5:15 &16). So writes Paul as we continue through the Book of Ephesians. We do well to follow his advice. Paul continues with advice for wives and husbands and for children and parents. These days it all seems, perhaps, a little over the top, however this is part of God’s plan as to how we should live and so be able to enjoy all the days he has given us. And then finally the full armour of God. Do we pray each day that we will be spiritually covered in our lives. We do not hesitate to put on our clothes before we go out, but do we put on our heavenly armour as we start each day? I came upon this piece which gives insight into why we need to do this. (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/tempted-and-unarmed) Finally, his final greetings. I wonder, if we took that bit of extra time when emailing each other what difference it would make if we included an encouraging word at the start and/or end to our emails?
Peter’s Epistle starts us off by reminding us that we are “strangers in the world.” The particular group of Christians to whom this epistle went first lived in the northern Roman provinces of Asia Minor (modern western Turkey), north of the Taurus Mountains. Asia Minor held the third largest concentration of Diaspora Jews after Babylon and Egypt. A couple of thoughts occurred to me in rereading this – Peter’s instructions to wives and husband’s links back to Paul writing to the Ephesians and secondly the necessity for humility quoting from Proverbs “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” And how much I need God’s grace in me to give me that spirit of humility. Also, there is a reminder as to why we need to put on the full armour, as mentioned above, for “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
The next Book - 1 John has been summarised in one sentence as: “Fellowship with God is the essence of eternal life." I found it challenging to read: “15 Do not love the world or anything in the world.” I do often find it hard to consistently rely on God for………everything……!
Finally, the Book of Romans. It has been described as the first great work of Christian theology." William Tyndale, the great English reformer and translator, referred to Romans as "the principle and most excellent part of the New Testament." Two things then: firstly, Andrew Ollerton’s book titled: “Romans A letter that makes sense of life.” A very worthwhile, helpful read. (https://www.andrewollerton.com/books-publications/romans-a-letter-that-makes-sense-of-life). And secondly read and reread Romans 8:38 & 39.
With our love,
Peter & Sylvia