Prayer Diary 2nd – 8th February
Monday
Yesterday the church celebrated the ‘Presentation of Christ in the Temple’, which you can read about in Luke chapter 2 verses 22 – 39. (The period for purification in Jewish law was 40 days, so strictly the day is the 40th day after Christmas, which makes it 2nd February in our modern calendar). Simeon and Anna had been waiting and praying for a very long time for the promise that they would see Christ before they died.
Pray today for all those who are waiting … for a loved one … for a home … for the fulfilment of a promise … to see Jesus.
Tuesday
Simeon and Anna both gave thanks to God for his great gift of Jesus Christ – ‘a light of revelation to the gentiles and the glory of God’s people’.
Give thanks today for all the great gifts God has given you.
Wednesday
Anna, particularly, is recorded as ‘speaking about the child to all who were looking forward’.
Pray today for God to put the right words into your mouth to talk about Jesus
to all those you bump into in your daily life.
Help us, Lord, to bring the light and glory of Jesus to life.
Thursday
‘When Joseph and Mary had done everything required … they returned home to Nazareth’
Help us, Lord, to recognise that our calling is not necessarily in the far-flung places of the world, much as they may need our help, but here in our home village.
Friday
Say sorry to God for all the times we have been impatient
and not waited for him or others;
for the times we have not trusted him to fulfil his promises;
for the times when we have failed to speak his word to others;
for the times we have been so wrapped up in our own concerns that we have failed to see his light.
Saturday
Today pray for the weak and vulnerable in our world – the poor, the hungry, the diseased, the dying. Pray for the frightened, the lonely, the hurt, the depressed.
May our concern bring strength to all in need, and inspire us and them to look forward to the time when your kingdom will come and your will be done.
Sunday
Lord, we thank you for Simeon and Anna and all those in subsequent generations who have heard your voice and responded in faith. We thank you for those we have known whose discipleship has been an inspiration to us, those who offer an example of what it means to live and walk in faith.
Lord, help us to hear your call, and in faith to respond.