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Psalm 143:5

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Contents
1 Introduction from Micha Jazz

2 Churchworks Wellbeing conference Give, to share

3 EDWJ breaking chains of destructive beliefs God’s Word
4 A chat with... Corin Pullin
Our Bible reading notes are read by hundreds of thousands
5 The Impact of Chaplaincy of Christians around the world, drawing them closer to Jesus
every day. Yet there are thousands of people in the UK who do not
6 - 34 Devotional readings know Jesus and the hope that he brings.

35 - 38 Prayer Track Following Jesus’ example, as children of God we’re made to bring the
Kingdom through love and service. So, our mission is to distribute free
39 - 70 Devotional readings
Bible reading notes, to thousands of people on the margins of society;
prisoners, refugees, the homeless, those struggling financially, victims
of domestic abuse, the sick, the vulnerable, the lonely and the isolated
delivering revelation, comfort and encouragement, bringing hope and
Copyright © Waverley Abbey Trust 2023. Published by Waverley Abbey Trust.
transforming lives.
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the hands of at least one person, maybe introducing God to them for the
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Join the EDWJ community by visiting facebook.com/edwjpage of these notes.
Unshakeable

“ I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
Psalm 143:5.
“
Mental health Awareness week runs from Monday 15 – Sunday 21 May this
year. Its primary theme is anxiety. Visit our helpful online resources* for
personal or group reflection as well as Waverley’s Insight into Anxiety, part of
a series of insightful books on issues surrounding personal Wellbeing. Your
EDWJ reflections address this theme throughout May, whilst in June Andy
Peck encourages us with his reflections on the topics of the Prodigal Son,
relationships and more.

At Waverley Abbey College we have worked tirelessly for over thirty-five

years to educate on the impact of mental health, intertwining our educational
approach with spiritual understanding and growth. We have also developed
what are internationally recognised Higher Education degrees in Counselling.
Indeed, there are currently hundreds of former students who work on the
frontline, providing the practical support and encouragement counselling
brings. Today, working in partnership with Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries,
we continue to invest in fresh resources to respond to the increasing challenge
personal mental health presents throughout our society. You can find out more
about how Sanctuary can help churches at sanctuarymentalhealth.org. We
are delighted that Sanctuary Ambassador Reverend John Swinton, Professor
in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care at the University of Aberdeen, has
contributed to our notes for 15–21 May. He has also published widely on issues
of mental health, dementia, disability theology, spirituality and healthcare.

If you want to respond to the challenge within your community as a spiritual

first responder, consider our online Contemporary Chaplaincy Course (with
two study options available) or our Diploma in Counselling. You can discover
more in an online webinar or through our online virtual Open Day. Visit
waverleyabbeycollege.ac.uk to find out more.

The Prophet Jonah, like many of us, experienced a real crisis in his life
(Jonah 2:5-7). Let’s ponder his words as we continue to learn how to live Every
Day with Jesus: “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and
my prayer rose to you.”

Every blessing, Dr Micha Jazz – Head of Waverley Abbey Ministries

*wvly.org/dol

Churchworks for Wellbeing
Conference
Our country is facing a mental health crisis. It is a crisis that predates the
pandemic, but there is no doubt that the pandemic and the cost of living
crisis have exacerbated its impacts dramatically.  addiction, shame, anger, anxiety, despair. In many ways, those destructive beliefs
As with so much of the church’s ministry, the often quiet, yet deeply
effective work that long predated the pandemic was thrown into the
spotlight when communities most needed it. As we hear more and more
about the mental health crisis, the work that churches are already doing
is once again in the spotlight, and is inspiring others to consider how they
can respond.   resources, introducing Christ and the salvation he brings.
Inspired by Jesus’ own ministry, we have been called to respond to human
need by loving service. And where statutory services are at breaking point,
the role that churches can and must play has never been clearer.  
On 18 May 2023, the ChurchWorks Commission, in partnership with
Waverley Abbey College, is inviting you to join us for our Wellbeing
Conference. Participants will be encouraged and equipped practically to
explore how they can contribute to the wellbeing of their congregations and
communities. The conference will be an opportunity to make connections,
learn from existing initiatives and have space to hear from God about how
the church can effectively respond to the mental health crisis.
We would love for you to join us on 18 May. 
The Right Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham
To find out more and to book please visit
wvly.org/churchworks-conference
Every Day with
Breaking the chains of destructive beliefs
For 20 years Waverley Abbey Trust has sent FREE copies of Every Day with Jesus
to prisons. Why? As Christians we know that often it is more than physical bars that
imprison us. Sin, guilt, fear, anger can all lock our heart and soul away. But Jesus
seeks out the lost and lonely.
‘The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.’ (Psalm 69:33)
There are over 81,000 prisoners in the UK. The root cause of many crimes are
can be accentuated in prison, where a person is isolated, behind bars, and with
limited support from family or friends.
Breaking the chains!
With the generous donations received from loyal Every Day with Jesus readers, we
are able to work closely with prison Chaplains, to develop a range of appropriate
A chaplain at one London prison reported that free copies of Every Day with Jesus
are “eagerly awaited by many prisoners.” In response to a donation of Insight books
on Anger, Shame and Self-Acceptance, the chaplain said, “you have no idea how
well these types of books are received.”
A recent government report highlighted the illiteracy of many prisoners, stating:
‘We have been particularly worried about the number of prisoners who are simply
unable to read.’ As a result, we published bible reading notes in a comic style with
activities and bitesize pieces of wisdom.
‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness’ (2 Timothy 3:16)
We’re so grateful for the generous support of our faithful donors, helping to break
the chains.
To donate to this work visit wvly.org/donate
or call 01252 784700.
A chat with...
Corin Pulling UK Director of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries
Corin is the Director of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries, a charity set up to
equip churches to become safe places for people struggling with mental health
challenges. We had a chat with Corin to find out more about his faith.
Please can you describe your approach to reading the Bible?
I’ve become part of a group exploring reflective approaches to scripture and this
has been one of the greatest gifts since the challenges of lockdown. When it comes
to the Bible, we’ve got so much to choose from, and God is ever-present and willing
to speak. Meeting with a group of encouragers who are curious about their own
journey sparks life in me.
Would you say that you encounter Jesus every day? What does a Jesus
encounter look like for you?
Lately I’ve been thinking about how he shows up in moments of re-enchantment.
Life became very challenging in lockdown, so I’m still finding myself grateful for
the moments of delight that appear unexpectedly. The world is full of them, even
amidst times of suffering. The ability to see and celebrate those things are Jesus-
infused moments for me.
How does reading Scripture, or engaging with Jesus daily impact your mental
health?
I realise that there are good reasons to believe I’m loved, and equally good reasons
to treat myself gently when I forget that when my mind is busy and anxious. I’ve
found reprimanding myself to be self-defeating. I often hear God saying “You’re ok,
you know?’ When I hear those words, I put my hand on my heart and say ‘I know’ or
‘help me to believe that today.’
How does your faith impact your role as Director of Sanctuary?
On one level, starting a charity in lockdown was a step into vulnerability I’d never
known. So there’s a need to trust God. Yet the experience of the pandemic showed
us all that our mental health can be impacted when we don’t have what we need.
Often those of us who are living with a mental health challenge are lacking access
to enough of what we need be it support, meaning & purpose, or things that give us
life and express our gifts. Our churches can be where we fully get to be who we are.
Thank you Corin for sharing your spiritual life with us.
The Impact of Chaplaincy
Church historians may reflect that in the U.K the 2020’s was the decade when
chaplaincy was the primary area of impact of the church upon society.
Few people would automatically look to the church as a source of comfort or
support, to journey with them during a challenging season in their lives, or to
stand with them as they seek to make sense of a world that just seems to lurch
from one crisis to another.
Yet a chaplain can be right there beside them - in the workplace, the hospital,
the prison, the court, the High Street, the bus station, the railway platform.
Even on social media with chaplains providing care to real people in the virtual
environment.
Chaplaincy is as unique as the person God called each Christian to be, confident
in their own identity in Christ and the message of hope that He has placed within
them to carry to others, with a servant heart that demonstrates the incarnational
presence of Christ with gentleness and respect.
As a facilitator on the Waverley Contemporary Chaplaincy course I hear first-
hand of the impact of chaplains, and therefore of Christ, on the lives of many in
diverse spheres. From supporting those facing the challenges of ill health to
being a friend to the lonely and isolated, the chaplain is the church outside the
walls of the building.
My own experience is that at the darkest times in life people ask the deepest
questions. The chaplain is ideally placed to respond to those questions and to
provide care as they seek to explore those tough seasons of life.
The Waverley Contemporary Chaplaincy Course will provide a foundation of
learning as you step out into chaplaincy or seek to develop your chaplaincy skills.
To learn more about the Waverley Contemporary Chaplaincy course visit
wvly.org/contemporary-chaplaincy
MONDAY 1 MAY Pressure
2 Corinthians 4:7–12
‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.’ (vv8–9)
P P
ressure makes its impact on all of us. A great metaphor is a car
tyre. Four rubber rings filled with air keep us from disaster over
various terrains at differing speeds. A tyre has inflated air pressure
pushing outward to maintain its shape. It also experiences the external
pressure exerted by the road surface pushing back and impacting
that shape and the tyre’s performance. Paul, a well-travelled, good-
news tyre who experienced every type of road surface, knows well
the necessity and reality of resilience; the ability to weather and then
bounce back from stressful life experiences.
A worn tyre is likely to burst with possible fatal effect. Therefore,
we need to attend to our wellbeing. Are there minor flaws within the
tyre wall of our life which, under pressure, will cause us to crash out
of the race? Just as we check the condition and pressure of our car
tyres, so it’s good to pay attention to our wellbeing if we are to live
every day with Jesus consistently and effectively. Over this month of
May we’ll look at living with pressure as disciples of Christ. It’s not that
we won’t experience the challenges of pressure in our lives. Rather
it’s about keeping ourselves on God’s way of salvation and service,
and completing our mortal journey effectively. As with driving, if we
anticipate the challenges and the conditions we are driving through,
the more likely we are to reach our destination safely.
Scripture to consider: Jonah 1:1–12; Num. 11:4–17; Mark 4:1–20; Jas. 1:12–15
An action to take: Are there ways you use to check how well you’re dealing
with pressure? What tools do you use, and are they working for you?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to recognise that I live under pressure and to
learn from You how to run the race to which I have been called. Amen.’
Gaslighting TUESDAY 2 MAY
1 Peter 1:1–4
‘Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect,
exiles, scattered ... who have been chosen according
to the foreknowledge of God…’ (vv1–2a)
eter, former fisherman and Christian disciple, encourages the
Christian Church suffering their first violent persecution under Roman
emperor Nero. This was brutal, a source of great fear amongst the
early Christian communities. Scattered throughout what is today Turkey,
these disciples found themselves the unwitting scapegoats for Nero’s
personal plans for grandeur. Persecution has accompanied Christians
throughout history. It’s one consequence of the challenge of serving
God. It plays on our instinctive human anxiety about appearing different.
Uncomfortable feelings of anxiety, envy, insecurity and so on are redirected
towards some other social group. We see it today in the way unemployment
is blamed on immigrants. As pressure builds up within society there is a
need to discharge social angst, and a target group is effectively blamed.
Consequently, those doing the blaming find solidarity and consolation in
the fictitious solution they’ve invented to calm their fears.
Scapegoating, or gaslighting as it’s more fashionably called today, is
as old as the Garden of Eden. Adam, caught in a lie, points at both God
and his partner, Eve, for the harm that he has caused (Gen. 3:12). So
gaslighting emerges with the Fall, and women have been forced to fight
back against Adam’s shaming of his equal partner throughout history.
Gaslighting techniques include denying something when there’s proof
and telling blatant lies to cause someone to question their reality.* It’s
one major cause of today’s mental health crisis.
Scripture to consider: 1 Kgs. 18:1–18; Neh. 5:1–13; Luke 7:36–50; 2 Cor. 4:1–6
An action to take: Do you transfer your own feelings of shame by blaming
someone else? Bring yourself and your shame to God and find wholeness to
replace your hollowness.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, may I take responsibility for myself and not shame
others to escape taking personal responsibility. Amen.’
*
edwj.org/mj23-2may
WEDNESDAY 3 MAY Living Hope
1 Peter 1:3–5
‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In
his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into
an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.’ (vv3–4a)
K W
eeping hope alive when hard pressed is difficult for everyone.
Here Peter encourages Christians to do so, even in the face of
real hostility. There is no consensus on what constitutes life as
a ‘living hope’. It is a process rather than a state. We see this as we
change physically and psychologically with age. Life is the ability to grow,
metabolise (the chemical action required to stay alive), adapt, reproduce,
and mature. What’s true of our mortal life is equally important, and
mirrored, in our spiritual life. Hope therefore is not some precept we must
maintain by force of will but an ever-emerging truth that nurtures and
nourishes our ability and capacity to love and serve God and ourselves.
Hope provides us with a positive expectation that things will improve.
However, it’s a desire without certainty, only sustained by a confident
belief in its realisation. It’s a desire with high expectations but very little
surety. Without hope our present troubles become unbearable. With
hope, they may not change, but we’re able to maintain an expectation
that they can improve, and we’ll survive. Hope is the critical element in
maintaining Christian faith. In part this is a gift from God. It is also the
fruit of the encouragement and support of family and friends. Learning
to live in the hope of God’s ability to comfort and carry us through all
of life’s events is critical in maintaining a living – that is, maturing –
Christian faith. Hope is the yeast that causes the bread of life to rise
and offer sustenance.
Scripture to consider: Exod. 16:1–36; 1 Kgs 17:8–16; Luke 13:18–21; Gal. 5:1–12
An action to take: Is the hope in your heart alive or in danger of faltering and
failing? It is in holding to God’s promises that you will discover the yeast to
raise your hope in God.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, when blindsided by life and consumed with
disappointment and fear, may I cling to Your promise and maintain my living
hope. Amen.’
Integrity THURSDAY 4 MAY
Job 2:1–10
‘His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity?
Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish
woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.’ (vv9–10)
e read Bible stories with the benefit of hindsight and life’s
uncertainties appear easier when bravely experienced by some
historic hero. Job, facing the loss of all he loved most followed
by a brutal illness, pioneered a path of living hope through suffering
that helps us with our pain today. For everyone facing loss and chronic
illness owe Job a debt of gratitude. Whilst he fought to maintain faith in
God’s faithfulness, his witness was interpreted as a stubborn refusal to
face reality by friend and surviving family alike. Their failure of faith was
projected onto Job. If only he’d give up and acknowledge his sinfulness
as the source of his suffering, everyone’s world could go back to normal.
Sadly, bad things happen to good people. It’s not our life
circumstances that God’s interested in, it’s our response to those
circumstances. We’re invited to complain about such circumstances to
ease feelings of pressure and despair, yet we’re invited to seek God in
such struggles. Our ability to locate and then love God in our troubles
offers hope to those observing our battles. This is our witness to a
watching world. Even in the valley of death God accompanies us. It
doesn’t look pleasant, in fact it’s hell on earth, but good news! Jesus
visited hell, filling it with His glory before ascending back into heaven
(1 Pet. 3:18–22). Hindsight can fictionalise the experience of those
recorded in Scripture. We, like them, are invited to find God’s presence
and reality in the bad as well as the good.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 23:1–6; Hab. 3:16–19; Matt. 9:20–22; 2 Tim. 2:1–13
An action to take: Maintaining faith when suffering is tough, but there is
encouragement in the Bible and in the testimony of Christians throughout
history. Keep going and let’s be true friends, not critics, for those who are
suffering.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to find You when I most need You, and
nurture my mustard seed of faith. Amen.’
FRIDAY 5 MAY Trust
Psalm 37:1–7
‘Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and
enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he
will give you the desires of your heart.’ (vv3–4)
I
t’s difficult being honest about our heart desires. King David gazed
at Bathsheba bathing and lust awoke in his heart and forcefully
drove his decision taking (2 Sam. 11:2–5). The lesson’s clear! We
are never best placed to evaluate the desires inflaming our hearts.
This provides a foundational principle as we live every day with Jesus.
Pursuing heart desires without fixed reference points leads to disaster,
as it did for David (2 Sam. 12:16–19).
The psalmist offers a threefold approach. First, continue to trust
God despite the available evidence and our tumultuous emotions.
Second, remain where we are with God rather than seeking to find
our own solutions. God will sustain us even in an apparent wasteland
with no visible means of escape. In fact, escape is never our ambition.
This remains trust in God’s provision, however ludicrous to human
understanding. Third, we are to continue to delight in God from whom
every blessing flows, and whose timetable is never the same as the one
we’d prefer. We may push back against this teaching, yet, in doing so
we’re choosing to disagree with God’s call to discipleship. Trust comes
at a price; the surrender of ourselves entirely to His leading in His own
good time. Such a season of trial often births a heart desire that more
accurately captures our deepest longings. Now, no longer silenced
by our selfishness, a new seed germinates, one rich with kingdom
fruitfulness for our own benefit as well as for that of others.
Scripture to consider: Gen. 39:19–23; Jer. 17:5–10; John 15:1–8; Acts 16:22–34
An action to take: How can you incorporate the three navigational aids of
trust, stability, and worship whilst caught up in life’s pressures and mentally
and emotionally stretched?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, may I choose to work with You and learn to live by
Your Word rather than my own self-styled endeavours. Amen.’
Coronation SATURDAY 6 MAY
1 Samuel 16:1–13
‘Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” So
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of
his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came
powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.’ (vv12b–13)
T
oday the world will observe King Charles III’s coronation in
Westminster Abbey in a thousand-year-old ceremony. Charles will
be anointed and acclaimed King by the gathered assembly with
the words, ‘God save the King!’ It’s essential that the King’s authority
is both declared and accepted by his subjects. Whilst the word ‘king’
is of uncertain origin, it was quickly associated with the leader of
the people.* So today Charles’ official title is King Charles III, by the
Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the
Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith’. The most important wording
here is ‘by the Grace of God’.
God selects and anoints kings. We may have opinions, yet Paul
calls upon us to pray for those who exercise all forms of government
over us. We pray so that, ‘…we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all
godliness and holiness’ (1 Tim. 2:1–3). At a time when we have seen war
in Europe, and the massive destabilisation and inhumanity it causes,
together with a financial crisis casting many into poverty, we are to
return to our knees and pray for good governance throughout our
constitutional monarchy. Peace can never be taken for granted, and our
most significant contribution to our national life is to pray for the hearts
and minds of those who govern us. Today we join with others and make
our prayerful declaration, ‘God save the King!’
Scripture to consider: 1 Sam. 4:1–7; Isa. 9:1–7; Rom. 13:1–7; 1 Pet. 2:11–25
An action to take: As servants of God, each one of us is invited to serve God.
One response is to pray for those who exercise governance. Today, pray
specifically for King Charles III.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, please place Your hand upon King Charles III and
guide him in his responsibilities and role as constitutional monarch. Amen.’
* edwj.org/mj23-6may
SUNDAY 7 MAY Trials
1 Peter 1:6–9
‘Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even
though you do not see him now, you believe in him and
are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…’(v8)
O
ne consistent challenge in the Christian life is the impossibility
of proving God through empirical method, something based on
verifiable evidence drawn from observation rather than theory.
Christian confidence is established through faith, which Scripture
describes as, ‘confidence in what we hope for and assurance about
what we do not see’ (Heb. 11:1). The Bible reminds us that, ‘without
faith it is impossible to please God’ (Heb. 11:6). We discover that on
our brightest days and in our darkest moments, our faith maintains
confidence in God’s promises.
Experiences teach us through doing, seeing, and feeling. They are
personally subjective, not easily explained to someone else who can
only rationally attempt to interpret someone explaining their experience.
We seldom deny another’s experience, even when we don’t share or
understand it. We take it on trust. When we become uncertain in our faith
(at some point, doubt looms large in every disciple’s faith journey) we are
invited to acknowledge God’s promises even though they appear absent
in our present and unattainable in our future. The Bible describes this
human condition as stillness, remaining non-reactive whilst choosing
hope. We are to rest where God has us, knowing that only God can
deliver us. Peter here encourages persecuted Christians. Post-biblical
history is also full of stories of women and men of faith who’ve been
tested to the utmost.* Reading stories of faith-filled men and women can
encourage us in our practice of how to live every day with Jesus.
Scripture to consider: Isa. 30:15–18; Psa. 33:4–22; Matt. 8:5–13; Heb. 11:13–40
An action to take: Are you willing to learn how and when to enter God’s
stillness which alone offers respite from life’s storms? A stillness that
demonstrates trust in God’s promises.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to discover ways to remain still when trouble
seeks to destabilise and destroy me. Amen.’
* edwj.org/mj23-7may
Stillness MONDAY 8 MAY
Psalm 46:8–11
‘He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the
bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted
among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”’ (vv9–10)
I
t’s difficult to own the fact that our personal contribution to world
affairs is minimal. We collaborate with God under His direction, but
our influence, whilst important, is negligible. Many seek to quantify
the importance of their mortal life in its significance, but for disciples
its importance lies in our attentiveness to God. There is little point in
fretting over the state of the world, for this lies within God’s gift, the
One who makes ‘wars to cease’ whilst inviting us to. ‘Be still and know’
(Ps. 46). Jesus points out that what is impossible for humanity remains
possible for God (Matt. 19:26). Letting go of our desire for personal
recognition is one of the first challenges to entering the stillness where
we both encounter God and discover our true self.
Martha, for all the hospitality she offered to Jesus, was wounded
when He focussed his attention on Mary. She it was who sat in stillness
with eyes only for God. Martha’s busyness was at the expense of sitting
at Jesus’ feet and fully engaging with Him. The challenge of distraction,
when Jesus is displaced by our own ‘helpful’ ideas and the demands
of realising them, robs us of encounter with God and learning to live
in humble submission like Mary. Jesus reminds Martha that just one
thing is needed to live the Christian life, by pointing to her sister Mary.
Human activity can never accomplish the work of God. However,
activity that is birthed by the Spirit through obedience offers the
conduit along which God’s grace travels.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 37:1–9; Hos. 12:1–6; Luke 10:38–42; Jas 5:7–12
An action to take: What distracts you from sitting at the feet of Jesus? Why do
you feel the pressure to be active in doing God’s work? Be still and let the
Spirit empower you afresh.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, give me the patience and understanding for sitting
quietly at Jesus’ feet and giving Him my undivided attention. Amen.’
TUESDAY 9 MAY Humility
James 4:4–10
‘But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture
says: “God opposes the proud but shows favour to
the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist
the devil, and he will flee from you.’ (vv6–7)
T I
he virtue of humility is seldom the objective of anyone’s character
development programme today. In our age of celebrity culture,
most prefer the lens of life to promote their personal worthiness,
and humanity’s contemporary mantra is, ‘I’m noticed, therefore I am’.
Whilst we might enjoy a modicum of success, we can take ourselves
too seriously, failing to appreciate our true standing in God’s world.
Humility’s heart is best expressed by John the Baptist when he
declared his life purpose was to decrease so that the presence of Jesus
might increase (John 3:30). True humility acknowledges that we are
part of something far larger than ourselves.
The heartbeat of that something larger is God who, having spoken
everything into existence, continues now to hold all things together. Only
a fool assumes they’re self-sufficient. Wisdom recognises that, despite
our wonderful gifts, our life is enhanced through the gifts of others.
Community affords benefits we cannot secure on our own and creation
itself points towards God, the source of all existence (Rom. 1:20). We
struggle when we seek to make our own impact on life. We succeed
when we recognise our primary need is to submit to God. Obedience
alone, hard won through our many struggles, or resisting the devil, is the
only way in which we can realise our full potential in God. The challenge
is made harder by living in a culture infatuated with self-realisation.
Indeed, discipleship is itself in danger of being repurposed as an
exercise in self-actualisation, where we increase at Christ’s expense.
Scripture to consider: Mic. 6:6–8; Prov. 11:1–8; Matt. 11:25–30; Phil. 2:1–11
An action to take: What obstacles do you identify in your life that prevent you
from complete obedience to God? What would help you overcome these
obstacles?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to submit to You when facing choices and
resist insisting upon doing things my way. Amen.’
Presence WEDNESDAY 10 MAY
Genesis 32:22–30
‘So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till
daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower
him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip
was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.’(vv24–25)
t is only when God is present that anything of significance can
take place. We may declare God is everywhere present, but the
question remains, is God present with us in the here and now?
Life’s a perpetual distraction from our personal encounter with God.
In our responsibilities and frivolous pursuits, we’re invited to choose
the degree to which God is present with us. Too often prayer appears
the frustrating distraction from what we feel we want to do with our
time. Yet, time spent away from God is time lost. It is in learning how we
might encounter God’s presence in every situation, from the mundane
to the profound, that ensures we are holding onto God’s presence in
our present. Every moment is pregnant with possible new life. Will we
birth these divine opportunities?
We often speak of wrestling with God, yet it is God who wrestles
Jacob. God instigates the conflict, one in which Jacob is tested and
through which, after a long and duplicitous life, he finally discovers
who he is; no longer Jacob, but Israel, or one with whom God contends.
Our growth in God demands that God pushes us. He is the potter
who grapples with the clay to create the perfect product. How will we
respond within the conflicts, whatever form they take? How much do we
want to press beyond the masks we choose to wear to ourselves, others,
and to God, to discover who we have been created to be? Not self-
actualisation but divine revelation forged through life’s many struggles.
Scripture to consider: Gen. 17:1–22; Job 42:1–6; Matt. 26:36–46; John 1:35–42
An action to take: Where and when does God contend with you? What have
you learnt from such struggles about who God has created you to be?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, in my struggles through life I pray that I discern the
face of God. Amen.’
THURSDAY 11 MAY Watching
Proverbs 4:20–27
‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows
from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far
from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead…’ (vv23–25a)
W
atching demands paying attention to what’s happening around
us, together with the influences at play within. The first are
visible to others with many varied interpretations (as Job
endured his friends’ unsought advice). The latter are privy to us alone
unless we choose to share them. Even then such feelings are hard
to convey in language that communicates precisely why, what, and
how we are feeling. Everything we say passes through the filters of
our listener, with meaning being filtered in and out according to their
life understanding and experience. When living as primary carer for
eighteen years I had to learn both a new language to describe my
feelings and find a vocabulary to describe the unfamiliar inner world
that unexpectedly engulfed me.
Feelings that we fail to grasp or manage will derail our life and express
themselves with words that demolish our stability and confidence in a
crisis of meaning and understanding. However, watching also carries
a sense of anticipation; we are waiting for something. It may be an
optimistic hope that everything will work out OK in the end. Or it may be
better built on a narrative that enjoys clear insights into human suffering
whilst retaining an understanding that such troubles fit into a much
larger story. This is the Bible narrative’s role. Joseph tells his brothers he
forgives them because he has understood by this point, ‘You intended to
harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being
done, the saving of many lives.’
Scripture to consider: Gen. 50:14–21; Job 13:1–19; Acts 14:21–25;
1 Pet. 1:13–21
An action to take: The Bible provides a very clear narrative informing us how
best to navigate life. Do you take time to read Scripture and let it guide your
life’s path?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, thank You for Your Word. May I use it as my primary
source for wisdom in living my life today. Amen.’
Collaboration FRIDAY 12 MAY
1 Peter 2:1–3
‘Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit,
hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.’ (v1)
G
od invites us to join in collaborating with grace. Many are taught
that grace means, ‘God’s riches at Christ’s expense’. The treasury
of heaven opened to us through Jesus’ Passion. Christ becomes our
foundational principle upon which we build our life, always engaging in
collaboration where we discover the best and worst of ourselves. Grace
invites us to resist the bad and choose the good, or God. Collaborate
literally means to work with. There is someone we work alongside, in this
case God, and it requires personal effort. Here Paul places his emphasis
on the heavy lifting required of us in pursuit of holiness.
The word holy is hard to define outside its historical Christian
meaning of ‘consecrated’ or ‘set apart’. However, it’s related to the
concept of health and wholeness. God’s intention is that through life
we are to emerge into the very best expression of ourselves. That
expression is imprinted within us, our spiritual DNA if you like, and ours
is the responsibility to collaborate with God in realising our wholeness
– physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual. These four elements
determine our character and our outward impact in the world. During
the Seder meal at Passover, the Jews drink four cups of wine, the first
celebrates coming out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, the
second from the yoke of slavery, the third promises redemption, and
the fourth becoming one with God (Ex. 6:6–7). Like the Israelites, our
journey demands we collaborate with God to find our fullest expression
of freedom in Christ.
Scripture to consider: Exod. 6:8–12; Isa. 58:1–5; Col. 3:1–17; 1 Thess. 4:1–12
An action to take: How often do you pray to God to change aspects of your
character and behaviour but fail to invest time, energy, and sacrifice in
collaborating with God to make this a reality? Good health begins with taking
personal responsibility for how we live.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to learn the art of collaboration so that I might
become the fullest expression of Your life on earth. Amen.’
SATURDAY 13 MAY Spiritual Houses
1 Peter 2:4–6
‘You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual
house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.’ (v5)
T T
here are two critical ways we are instructed in our Christian
faith. Both are aspects of the spiritual house that God is building.
Every house is separated into different rooms. Jesus teaches His
disciples that when we pray, we are to go into our room, shut the door
(Matt. 6:6). Personal prayer is private, a space of interaction between
a person and God. This is often a place of struggle because our active
minds find it hard to rest and be still before the presence of God.
Therefore, I have a space devoted to prayer in our house to minimise
distractions and remind me I’m there to pray. However, we are also
temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19–20) and as such we are mobile
prayer rooms able to pause and pray anywhere by silencing ourselves
and entering God’s presence.
Peter reminds us of the second way in which we are instructed by
God, through active fellowship. As bricks who will reveal the presence
of God in the world, we are built together. This means the bricks
around us exert pressure on us, as we will on them. This pressure
can sometimes irritate us, yet without each other we can never give
full expression to God’s reality. There is a personal and corporate
expression to our life with God. Few details are given about the
character and nature of either space, but we need both to grow up into
maturity in Christ. Find your place in the building of God’s house as well
as developing your own spiritual house.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 5:1–4 & 19:12–14; Acts 4:23–31; Col. 1:24–29
An action to take: Discover ways to pray at home and on the move, and ensure
you are building alongside other disciples so that you establish a strong
spiritual house in your heart.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be forever pleasing in Your sight. Amen.’
Acknowledgement SUNDAY 14 MAY
Jonah 1:7–16
‘“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied,
“and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that
this great storm has come upon you.”’(v12)
he pressure of concealment is a heavy burden to carry. Our
decision making is private unless we choose to reveal it. Adam
hid from God and discovered nowhere lies outside God’s gaze.
Past mistakes, deceptions, and untruths depend upon our carefully
managed efforts to keep them hidden. Yet they’re never hidden from
God. Jonah imagines he can run from God, yet circumstances teach
him that God is with him even on the run. When we conceal things for
our comfort or advantage, the consequences will be felt by others. The
sailors fight against the storm without success and eventually Jonah
acknowledges he is the source of their problems. It is worth noting
their first instinct is to afford him protection, but nothing can withstand
the purpose of God.
Acknowledgement frees us from carrying secrets and empowers us
to address the consequences now, rather than running scared of the
day they find the light of day. We can lay down our inner burden and
enjoy a fresh start, even if it requires that we make amends or redirect
our life’s course. God encourages us to confess to Him regularly,
but sometimes such confessions amount to little more than sharing
a secret with ourselves. There is a benefit to sharing with others by
acknowledging the ways in which we instinctively seek to protect
ourselves from pain. Avoidance only increases the shame and fear we
carry within. The fact that we are known completely by God helps us to
live with others, unapologetic for our ‘warts and all’.
Scripture to consider: Prov. 28:9–14; Jonah 2:1–9; Jas 5:13–20; 1 John 1:5–10
An action to take: In many ways we’re discouraged from honesty fearing we
will appear vulnerable. However, honesty and authenticity go hand in hand,
so learn to be honest with God, yourself, and others.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, may I find the courage to be honest with You and
myself, also learn to be transparent with those I trust and love. Amen.’
 The following week has been written by Sanctuary Ambassador Rev. Dr. John Swinton
MONDAY 15 MAY To Care Is To Be Human
Genesis 2:7–15
‘The Lord God took the man and put him in the
Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.’ (v15)
I T
n the book of Genesis, we are given a wonderful vision of God
creating everything that we know. He makes the moon, the
mountains, the seas, the animals, the birds, the fish. God imagines a
world of diversity and beauty and creates it out of love and for love. The
highpoint of creation is the formation of Adam and Eve, the first two
people whom God loved.
It is interesting to note that there are two creation stories in Genesis.
In Genesis 1, Adam is given dominion over the world. He is told to
crush it, and hold it in its place. This account speaks of power, control,
and overcoming the wildness of creation. But in the second account
of creation we find a different, gentler story. In Genesis 2, God places
Adam in the Garden of Eden to work it and to take care of it. It’s a
beautiful command: to care and tend for the earth. There is something
very important here. God creates the world out of love and asks
humans to care for it. Human beings are called to care for the world
and to care for one another. Caring and being cared for is built into the
fabric of creation.
If you are someone who has come to a time in your life when you
need to receive care, there is no shame in that. God has created us to
receive care. It’s what humans do. You do not lose your dignity, your
worth, or your personhood. You simply come to notice an aspect of
what it means to be human that we sometimes overlook. Rejoice in
caring and rejoice in being cared for.
Scripture to consider: Deut. 5:12; John 13:3–15; Phil. 2:1–4; 1 John 4:7–12
An action to take: Give someone a call today and tell them that you care for
them. Help them to feel loved.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to care more deeply and to accept the care
that others offer to me with gratitude and wonder. Amen.’
The Prodigal Son TUESDAY 16 MAY
Luke 15:11–32
‘But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him
and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son,
threw his arms around him and kissed him.’ (v20)
he story of the prodigal son illustrates the foolishness of the son
who thinks he knows best, and the grace of the father who waits
patiently for him to return. I imagine many of us can identify with
this story. We have all been in that distant country. We have all thought
we knew better than God only to discover that God knows what God is
talking about!
Sometimes we think about this story as relating to a season of our
lives. We go through dry patches in our spirituality, and then we return
to the luscious fields of God’s unending love. That of course can be
true. But there are some days when we seem to move constantly from
the distant country to the love of God and back again. As our mood
changes, as we allow our negative thoughts to pierce through the veil
of faith, we find ourselves constantly oscillating between safety and
danger, peacefulness and anxiety, hopelessness and hope. That can be
a very difficult way to live.
The story of the prodigal son reminds us that there is a still, patient
centre point to our lives. We may struggle to attain consistency in
our feelings, but God always remains watchful, patiently waiting to
welcome us home. Even when we feel that we are ‘a long way off’, we
are assured that God still longs for us and always has compassion
for us. That was the son’s surprise: he felt that he had abandoned his
father, and that he had to do something in order to return. But he didn’t
have to do anything. He was waiting for him. God always waits for us.
Why? Because nothing can separate us from the love of God. The son
discovered that. So must we.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 33; Isa. 33:2–6; Eph. 2:1–10; Titus 3:3–8
An action to take: Take some time to thank God for being patient with you.
A prayer to make: ‘Jesus, I am fragile and I often wander into the far country.
When I stray, remind me that You are there with me, even if it takes a little
time for me to get back. Amen.’
WEDNESDAY 17 MAY A Strange Journey
Isaiah 49
‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have
no compassion on the child she has borne? Though
she may forget, I will not forget you!’ (v15)
L ‘S
iving with dementia is not easy. It is a mixture of happiness and
joy, sadness and grief, impossibility and new possibilities. As one
person with dementia put it: ‘It’s more of a journey than a clear path.
Journeys are a bit messier than pathways!’ A journey is something
we embark upon willingly or otherwise as we move from one place
to another. Journeys are unpredictable, unique, person-centred,
and always open to surprises. Along the way we meet people and
encounter situations, some of which are helpful, others of which are
not. Each encounter, every step, changes the direction and the feel of
our journey. Some encounters can even change the meaning of our
journey. Sometimes the destination, like the road before us, can be
pretty unclear. Sometimes the journey of people living with dementia
and their supporters is closer to the winter journey of a displaced
refugee than an organised summer hike! Nevertheless, the key thing
about a journey is that we are always heading towards somewhere and
something; not nowhere and nothing. Destination matters.
Thinking of dementia as a journey keeps our eyes on the necessity
to have in mind precisely what kind of destination we might desire.
Sometimes we think that the endpoint of the journey of dementia is
simply death. But that is a mistake. The endpoint of the journey of
dementia is to live well now and in the future. Living well with dementia
can be difficult. We need guides for our journey and people around us
who will help us to live well in difficult circumstances. There is always a
space for hope and that hope might be you.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 103:13–17; Isa. 41:8–10; 1 Cor. 13:8–13; Heb. 6:10
An action to take: Watch some of the videos here and reflect on how you
might begin to think faithfully about dementia: edwj.org/mj23-17may
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, we may forget many things in life, but You never forget
us. Help us to remember that in times of struggle. Amen.’
Nothing Can Separate Us THURSDAY 18 MAY
from God’s Love
Romans 8:31–39
‘I am convinced that [nothing] will be able to
separate us from the love of God…’ (v38–39)
ometimes I feel that I just can’t go on. I feel alone, lost, empty,
abandoned. It’s painful.’ I wasn’t sure how to reply to Jane
when she said this. I had to think: where do you find hope when
everything seems to be hopeless? There is no easy answer to such a
question. Nevertheless, the apostle Paul does give us a vital starting
point. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
This deep truth is the beginning of hope. No matter where we have
been, no matter what we have done, God is always with us. It is certainly
true that sometimes God feels far away. The psalmist sums up this
feeling of being disconnected from God when he groans: ‘Darkness is my
closest friend’ (Ps. 88:18). All of us, in different ways, know this feeling.
Indeed, even Jesus our Lord and our Saviour experienced feelings of
deep disconnection when He cried: ‘My God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?’ (Matt. 27:46). But it is important to notice that neither the
psalmist nor Jesus are expressing doubt. They just feel disconnected
from God because of the pain and suffering they are enduring.
We also might feel disconnected from God, but God is always with
us. When we feel disconnected from God, we mustn’t feel ashamed
and others must not shame us. Jesus has felt the pain of separation,
and He is with us when we feel separated from God. Even in the
darkness Jesus walks with us. He understands. Today you may feel lost,
but be assured, Jesus is with you. He will carry you through.
Scripture to consider: Gen. 16; Ps. 139:7–12; John 11:17–43; 1 Pet. 5:7
An action to take: Think about the times God has felt close or distant. Use
the words ‘nothing can separate me from God’ as a peaceful prayer that
accompanies your reflections.
A prayer to make: ‘Jesus, sometimes I can’t feel Your presence. Help me to
hold on until I can once again find You and love You. Help me to trust You
even in the darkness. Amen.’
FRIDAY 19 MAY The Power of Small Things
Matthew 13
‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…’ (v31)
M W
other Teresa once observed: ‘We are not called to do
extraordinary things; we are called to do ordinary things with
extraordinary love.’ This is the way of the heart. In the midst of
a culture that prioritises intellect over friendship, independence over
community, and success over love, the suggestion that our calling is
to small things can seem odd. Yet when we think about it, we often
encounter our most meaningful moments in the small things.
A few years ago, I was in Atlanta attending the Summer Institute for
Disability Theology. The Institute meets every year and reflects on the
question: What does it mean to be profoundly disabled, to be beautiful
and made fully in the image of God just as you are, without having to
change a thing? It brings together people who live with physical and
intellectual disabilities, theologians, philosophers, and carers. It’s one
of my favourite spaces because it helps me to feel what it means to be
included without boundaries. One afternoon I was walking along the
hotel corridor when a woman whom I knew passed me in a wheelchair.
She called me over. ‘John, I owe you something,’ she said. ‘What’s
that?’ I said, ‘Money, I hope!’ She laughed, and then she began to cry.
I stood with her in silence. Eventually she said, ‘Three years ago at
the disability conference in Chicago I was feeling like taking my own
life. Indeed, I was on my way to do it when I met you. You smiled at
me. I decided not to.’ You don’t have to do much to be kind. There is a
tremendous power in small gestures. A smile can save a life; a look can
shift a soul.
Scripture to consider: Lev. 19:9–10,14,32–34; Mark 12:41–44; 1 Cor. 1:26–31
An action to take: Make a conscious attempt to be kind and thoughtful to
someone today.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, You are a God of the small things and the big things.
Help me to be kind, thoughtful, and Christlike in everything I do. Amen.’
Finding Peace SATURDAY 20 MAY
Psalm 94
‘When anxiety was great within me, your
consolation brought me joy.’ (v19)
e live in anxious times. Perhaps it began with the 2007 financial
crash when we suddenly realised that it is possible to lose
everything we have in an instant. Or perhaps our anxiety began
to rise due to COVID-19 and the growing realisation that we are not
as strong, independent, and in control as we thought we were. When
something as small as a virus can wreak such havoc, we are forced
to rethink our priorities and appreciate the moments that we have
together. And then came war. Of course, war has been raging in
many parts of the world for years. But the war in Ukraine seems to be
uncomfortably close to home.
Every day in the news we see war, pain, suffering, sadness. Many of the
ways in which we had learned to understand and cope with stress and
insecurity have let us down. It’s easy to feel hopeless and permanently
anxious. And yet, in the midst of all of this, Jesus reassures us that He
will never leave us nor forsake us. God is love, and God’s love endures
forever. Recognising the presence of such love will not protect us from
the horrors of the world, nor will it stop us being anxious. But it does offer
us hope and new possibilities even in the midst of our struggles.
We are not called to be winners in the battles of this world. God will
win. We are called to be faithful to the things that God has given us to
do: to struggle for justice, to struggle with the powers of this world, to
struggle for love, to struggle with our own insecurities, to struggle with
Jesus in the messiness of this world. There may be much darkness
now, but daylight is coming.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 23 and 56; Heb. 13:5–8; 2 Thess. 2:13–17
An action to take: Write down the things that are making you anxious just now
and present them as an offering to God.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, I may be anxious now, but I am not without hope. Help
me to struggle with You until the day that You return and peace will reign.
Amen.’
SUNDAY 21 MAY Connection and Belonging
John 15
‘Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I
learned from my Father I have made known to you.’ (v15)
A F
ll of us long for friendship. We long to be loved, cared for, and
helped to realise that we matter. It must have been amazing for the
disciples to hear Jesus’ words: ‘I no longer call you servants, now I
call you friends.’ When these words were spoken, something profound
happened in their lives. Suddenly their status in the world was changed
from being simply followers, to being friends of Jesus. Friends of God.
What a wonderful gift! And that gift is still available today.
One way in which we could describe the Church is that we are a
community of the friends of God. Of course, we don’t always live up
to our God-given status as friends of Jesus. During the pandemic,
when we were only allowed out for an hour’s worth of exercise every
day, I met one of my neighbours for the first time. Mary was in her
eighties and rarely left her house. She said something to me that I
will never forget: ‘They are talking about social distancing. It feels like
people have been socially distancing from me for years! It has taken
a pandemic for people to start to notice me and knock on my door to
see that I’m OK.’ I felt convicted. I claimed to be a friend of Jesus, but I
wasn’t acting like one.
Jesus’ friendships were always for the marginalised, the outcast,
the sinner, the lonely, the Marys of this world. To be a friend of Jesus
requires that we (all of us together) reach out in Christlike friendship
to those who are ignored and forgotten by society. In a world that
craves friendship and love, the question that must guide our lives is
deceptively simple: What would Jesus do?
Scripture to consider: Exod. 33:7–11; Isa. 58; 1 Cor. 12:12–27; Jas 2:23
An action to take: Take some time today to think about people in your
neighbourhood who need the friendship of Jesus. Offer it to them.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, thank You for friendship. Help us to honour the
status of being friends of Jesus and work with You to bring love, hope, and
friendship to our neighbours. Amen.’
Respect MONDAY 22 MAY
1 Peter 2:13–17
‘For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the
ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use
your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.’ (vv15–16)
reedoms are frequently demanded throughout society, but what
is freedom? Most understand it as the opportunity to exercise our
will. The question arises, can one person’s will be pursued at the
expense of another’s? Without constraint to freedom, we invite tyranny.
History is littered with examples. Whilst God promises us the desires of
our heart (Psa. 37:4), desires motivated from self-interest give us cause
for regret. God respects our free will and invites us to make choices.
Yet, there’s no guarantee such choices will be beneficial to us or
society without regard for God’s constraints, which ensure wellbeing at
a personal and social level.
Peter declares, ‘do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil’,
and we know evil is anything that opposes itself to God. Our freewill
choices all too easily direct us away from God out of self-interest.
Self is itself opposed to God for we are invited to surrender entirely to
God’s will. In inviting us to love God and neighbour as the two essential
core principles for Christian living, no action that proves detrimental
to my neighbour can be sanctioned as godly. How then are we to live?
Simply by choosing to live by God’s Word and entrusting outcomes that
will appear disadvantageous to our welfare into God’s hands. Self-
surrender demands death to self, as Paul reminds us, ‘The life I now
live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me’ (Gal. 2:20).
Scripture to consider: Ezek. 24:15–27; Luke 9:18–26; Eph. 4:17–32; Col. 3:1–17
An action to take: Today as human rights compete against each other; how do
you take decisions in exercising your freedom? Do you consider yourself a
faithful slave of Christ?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to take up my cross daily and follow You in
every eventuality of my life. Amen.’
TUESDAY 23 MAY Freedom
Galatians 5:1–6
‘You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from
Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we
eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.’ (vv4–5)
G
od invites us to get to know Him as our friend. Many of us live with
constant anxiety that the choices we make may not please God.
We live with an uncertainty about the nature of our friendship with
Him. All friendships develop over time. We discover through experience
– getting things right and wrong – how friendships grow and fail. Too
often the narrative of what went wrong in a relationship has a far
greater impact in shaping us than those things that went well. This can
harden our hearts, lead to self-centredness and a preference for rules
by which to establish and navigate our relationships.
Jesus reveals there are no rules apart from loving God and
neighbour. When we seek to justify ourselves against a benchmark of
rules it’s a sure indication that we’ve taken our eyes off Jesus. Refusal
to sin is not because sin is wrong, for sin is usually highly attractive.
We refuse to sin because with our gaze fixed on Christ, we weather the
storm of acute temptation and choose God over personal indulgence
and immediate gratification. We sacrifice our self in preference to
loving God. Discipleship is learning to attend to the Holy Spirit in our
lives. The precise temptations that pressure us are unique for every
individual. But the same Spirit leads each of us through our wilderness
encounter with the Devil (temptation) teaching us to recognise, then
choose our true destiny in God. Every disciple’s journey is unique, just
as we are each a unique expression of God on earth.
Scripture to consider: Judg. 16:1–22; 1 Kgs 16:29–33; 1 Cor. 6:12–20 & 10:23–33
An action to take: Do you have the courage to go in search of God and live by
paying attention to what God says to you and grow in your unique friendship
with Him?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, teach me to pay close attention to You as together we
establish a life changing friendship together. Amen.’
Mood Music WEDNESDAY 24 MAY
1 Peter 3:8–12
‘Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary,
repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that
you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and
see good days must keep their tongue from evil...”’ (vv9–10a)
T
here are seasons when we experience one setback after another.
Our patience is tested and our trust in God challenged. Trust can
either wither and fail when put to the test, or we can choose to
keep faith until there is some undeniable evidence that trust has been
broken. With God this is more challenging since God is not constrained
by the laws that govern our humanity. We all too quickly believe the
worst and not the best. We anticipate disaster in difficult times rather
than nurture an optimistic outlook. Indeed, our temperament too often
sets the tone and allows our feelings to dictate our response. Who
hasn’t lived to regret statements made in haste when hurt?
Choosing to keep trust with God when our desires remain unmet,
and disaster threatens, proves difficult for everyone. With rising prices,
global destabilisation, and our resulting inner fears, it takes courage
to keep faith with God. We must turn to the encouragement we find
in fellowship with others in the same boat and the testimony of those
who have gone before us, whose stories are found in the Bible and in
the Church’s history. Nothing can effectively prepare us for life, we
meet success and adversity, anticipated and unanticipated, and only
at the moment of impact can we discover the courage, or the frame of
mind to cope, as well as the resilience to turn apparent disaster into
opportunity. Faith is crafted from the raw material of life experience.
We can find ways to turn crisis into our launching pad for growth.
Scripture to consider: Job 1:8–22; Hab. 3:16–19; Eph. 3:7–21; Jas 1:2–8
An action to take: One really good book that has helped many in crisis is,
Bouncing Forward by Michaela Haas, PhD (Enliven Books, 2015).*
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, like a muscle, develop my resilience through each and
every storm in life I face. Amen.’
* edwj.org/mj23-17may
THURSDAY 25 MAY God’s Will
1 Peter 4:1–7
‘As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for
evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.’ (v2)
W
hat is God’s will? A question that can easily be misunderstood.
For example, ‘Deus vult’ (‘God wills it’) was first chanted during
the First Crusade in 1096 as a rallying cry, but on reflection
the Crusades do not present a positive expression of God’s will.*
Clearly the entire Bible sets out what pleases God, addressing both
unseen attitudes and visible actions. However, individual readers must
consider prayerfully how best they are to live out their understanding.
One reason we’re encouraged to gather regularly as Christians is so
that we might engage in conversations about how best to serve God
through our lives in this world (Heb. 10:24–25).
We experience great pressure from others about what our Christian
discipleship is meant to look like. Yielding to such pressures may make
us feel uncomfortable, for they fail to reflect our own certainties and
doubts. There’s no practical handbook on how to live as a disciple.
As society changes, reflecting God’s intentions in our context is also
subject to constant review and adjustments. Social history reveals
significant changes in human behaviour within our own lifetimes. The
Christian life is never static, forged into final form with nothing more
demanded than obedient repetition. Rather, it’s a dynamic, organic
life source offering us hope within the overwhelming and changing
demands life places upon us. The Creator has not stopped creating
and invites us to be His co-creators on earth with him. I’m reminded of
Youth for Christ’s motto, ‘Geared to the times, anchored to the Rock’.**
Scripture to consider: Job 38; Psa. 135:3–7; 1 Cor. 8:5–13; Heb. 2:1–4,14–18
An action to take: Discipleship is a process of maturing spiritually; it is the
journey of spiritual formation. Where are you on your journey, and how is
God guiding you?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me carefully to read Scripture and learn how
best to express its truth in the context in which I live. Amen.’
*Gesta Francorum edwj.org/mj23-18may
** edwj.org/mj23-18may
Worship FRIDAY 26 MAY
Exodus 5:1–5
‘Afterwards Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This
is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so
that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.’”’ (v1)
D
evotion means both to worship and to serve. Moses presents
God’s demand to Pharoah that the Israelites be permitted to go to
worship God. Pharoah refuses but neither he nor Moses and the
Israelites are aware of the consequences. Today we can limit worship
to gathering together to sing. We have recognised worship leaders,
usually musicians. Yet, worship is much more and reveals the degree
to which we choose to serve God regardless of the, often unknown,
consequences. Moses’ request creates tougher working conditions for
the Israelites. Indeed, their exodus journey leads into the wilderness
and the discovery that service, or worship, demands sacrifice.
Intention, action, and perseverance interact in true worship.
Our intention is always glorifying God (Ps. 19). This can only be
achieved through obedience, which means to listen and to hear.
Worship is hearing God and acting on what we hear, and Moses
demonstrates how challenging this can be (Exod. 3–4). Yet, he obeys
God and returns to Egypt as God’s answer to the Israelites’ prayers
for help. Initially agreeing to Moses’ proposal (Exod. 4:29–31), they
‘believed and worshipped’ as a sign of their obedience (Exod. 4:31)
without knowing what such an act of worship would require of them.
When we set out on the path of discipleship we agree to walk at God’s
pace in service of God’s objectives. No longer slaves to realise a
tyrant’s ambitions, but always servants to God’s purpose. This will test
our patience and ability to persist through every eventuality.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 51:15–17; Isa. 58:6–14; 1 Cor. 10:1–13; 1 Thess. 2:1–16
An action to take: Examine your life and reflect on how well you accept God’s
intention, build on that as the basis for your life’s journey, and endure the
tests of life experience.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, I believe but help me with my unbelief, often the result
of fear when I find my life is uncomfortable and uncertain. Amen.’
SATURDAY 27 MAY Value
Matthew 13:44–46
‘When he found one of great value, he went away and
sold everything he had and bought it.’ (vv46)
O D
scar Wilde wrote, ‘Nowadays people know the price of everything
and the value of nothing.’ People are too materialistic to recognise
something’s true value.* Writing at the height of ‘The Age of
Materialism’, Wilde challenged the belief that nothing can exist beyond
matter, something tangible rather than spiritual. Disciples living in the
aftershock of a material age sustained through consumerism are in
danger of placing meaning and confidence in material reality alone.
What cannot be handled, measured, or empirically demonstrated is
non-existent. Yet, Jesus commended the merchant for going in search
of the unseen. We might argue that the pearl is material once found,
and worth a lot of money providing the merchant with expensive
material comforts in return for his risk.
But the pearl is a metaphor for Christ, reminding us that the intangible
has a reality worthy of the seeker’s endeavours. The inner yearning we
have for a greater encounter with God faces powerful pressures from
a world constructed on the foundations of materialism and quantifying
success, even significance, in the accumulation of wealth. Scripture
reminds us we leave this world as we entered it, empty handed (Eccl.
5:15). As Martin Luther King Jr. suggests, ‘The ultimate measure of a
man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience,
but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Nothing
worthwhile is easy. Your ability to overcome unfavourable situations
will provide you with time to demonstrate your true strength and
determination for success.’**
Scripture to consider: Deut. 4:21–31; Jer. 29:4–14; Matt. 6:25–34; Jas 4:1–10
An action to take: Like the merchant, are you prepared to forsake all else and
go in pursuit of Jesus, the Pearl of great price? What first steps will you take?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, I choose to go in search of fresh encounters with You
every day. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear in my pressured life. Amen.’
*The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890)
**Strength to Love (1963)
Devotion SUNDAY 28 MAY
1 Chronicles 22:19
‘Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your
God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the Lord God.’ (v19)
evotion is an action. It requires movement towards its object.
Where once the Temple stood in Jerusalem and housed the
presence of God, today we are ourselves each a temple of God’s
presence (1 Cor. 6:19–20). The temple now moves with us for we are
God’s tabernacle. Whilst God’s Spirit dwells within us, it remains
our purpose and responsibility to seek God. Always present, we are
too often distracted from recognising His presence with us. Just as
we mature physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are to mature
spiritually. If our testimony gets stuck at the point where we first
consciously acknowledged God, we shall never discover the full riches
of God’s grace (Eph. 2:6–7).
Our own internal fracture born of life experience will pressure us to
look within ourselves and to present to the world who in our eyes we
might assume society expects us to be. This failure to turn our eyes
away from ourselves and look only to Jesus will leave us self-conscious
and defined by self-comparison with others. Then there’s the external
pressures created by all forms of media. If these become the focus of
our attention, they can only feed unreal ambition and desire which lead
us away from God. We carry God’s Spirit within us, but we must make
the conscious decision to direct our gaze in His direction alone and
trust in who He moulds us into and where and when He chooses to
lead us in our life.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 121 & 130; 2 Cor. 13:1–11; Phil. 4:1–9
An action to take: Where are your eyes focussed? On how you appear to
others? On your personal ambitions and desires? Or on the Lord and His
purpose in and through your life?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, have mercy on me as I face the challenge of moving
deeper into Your love whilst always tempted by the fruit of this world’s
deceptive riches. Amen.’
MONDAY 29 MAY Get Building Prayer Track
WELCOME TO PRAYER TRACK, offering you key prayer points each week to
Haggai 1:2–6 help you join hundreds of others in praying for the world, our Christian family
‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled worldwide and issues closer to home.
houses, while this house remains a ruin?’ (v4)
T
here is a church in Newport, Isle of Wight which was built by the 1 May – 7 May THE ROYAL FAMILY
direction of a man who read these verses and took them to heart. “For kings and all who are in high
He had just finished work on his own home and came across these positions, that we may lead a peaceful
and quiet life, godly and dignified in every
verses in Haggai and realised his church needed updating. In fact, the
way.” 1 Timothy 2:2
church ended up with a new building in a different location in town.
The message of this prophecy is about priorities. It was given when the • The Royal Family have had a turbulent
few years. Pray for reconciliation. Pray
people of God had returned to the land of Judah but not given sufficient
that rifts will be overcome and that hurt
attention to rebuilding the temple that had been destroyed by the feelings will be healed.
Babylonians who sent the bulk of the people into exile.
There is a clear application to local church communities who • Thank God for the historic, durable and
have premises, but if your church chooses to use a local school or
ongoing service of the Royal Family to
support charitable causes and progress
community hall, the application works. The two primary places we diplomacy.
discover our priorities are the diary and the bank balance: how you
spend your time and your treasure. God asks that you dedicate both
• As we approach the coronation of King
Charles III, pray blessings over his reign
fully to Him. ahead and bless the Queen Consort in
Now some get confused: this won’t mean that all your time and her role.
treasure will go on ‘church stuff’. That would be to fall for the myth of • Pray for King Charles III as he upholds
the sacred-secular divide. It is all to be for God, but does your treasure the position of Defender of the Faith,
have you or do you have treasure? Whether we use the Old Testament and Supreme Governor of the Church
practise of 10% or select a regular amount from our giving from our of England. Pray for his faith and his
spiritual health.
income is a matter for each of us to discern. These verses encourage
us to make sure that we get our priorities right, like an Isle of Wight
WEEKEND
elder many years ago!
Father God – thank you for the
celebrations this week as we enjoy
the coronation of the King Charles
III. We pray that our nation will come
together not only for this weekend,
Scripture to consider: 2 Sam. 23:13–17; Mal. 3:8–12; 1 Cor. 16:1–4; 2 Cor. 8:1–14 but for his entire reign. May it be a
reign of stability, peace and progress.
An action to take: Have a look at your bank balance and diary and imagine you Amen.
were trying to assess whether your faith matters. What would you conclude?
A prayer to make: ‘Teach me, Lord, how to leave everything with you and enjoy
the peace that comes from a life lived for your glory. Amen.’
MAY – JUN 2023
8 May – 14 May  ENTAL HEALTH
M
MONTH
“Come to me, all you who are weary
and burdened, and I will give you
rest.” Matthew 11:28
• As we focus on Mental Health Month in
May, pray that God would draw close
to the broken-hearted. Pray for those
whose mental health is ailing at the
moment.
• Many of us will know someone who is
struggling. Pray for God to give us the
right words to say to a person who is
suffering and pray for opportunities to
have healing conversations.
• For those in the grip of their struggles,
pray that they will make a step towards
breakthrough this month - whether that’s
a chat with a friend, a renewed mindset,
or seeing a counsellor for the first time.
• For some people, a short course can
help them understand their feelings.
Pray that Waverley Abbey College’s
online short courses will be a blessing
for somebody who needs guidance in
their struggles at the moment.
WEEKEND
Heavenly Father – As we focus
on Mental Health Awareness this
month, we pray for an increase in
understanding and empathy for
mental health issues in society and
within the Church. We pray that those
suffering will find respite and a path
 to full healing, and we pray for those
supporting them to be filled with
patience, love, hope and kindness.
Amen.
15 May – 21 May EXAM SEASON
“Now may the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in
every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:16
• Students across the country are
preparing for exams. Ask God to defend
students from anxiety and unhealthy
levels of stress at this time.
• Pray for success that exceeds
expectations for the students sitting
exams.
• Pray that these exams will open up
new paths, and they will be a means for
students to find their calling.
• Pray peacefulness and clarity over the
students during their exam sittings.
• We lift up all the students at Waverley
Abbey College, and pray that the
consolidation of their learning will take
them into fulfilling faith-filled roles.
WEEKEND
Lord Jesus – draw close to all the
students during exam season. May
they know that their identity is in you,
and not in results. And give them
clarity and focus to do their best and
journey with you to the next stage of
their careers. Amen.
22 May – 28 May FOOD BANKS
“For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I
was a stranger and you welcomed me”
Matthew 25:35
• While the numbers of people relying on
food banks increases, pray for energy for
the teams of people who run food banks
in your local area.
• Pray for a change in circumstances for
the people that need to use food banks.
Pray financial blessings over them.
• Pray that all those who receive Every
Day with Jesus at the food bank will
experience spiritual refreshment through
the daily readings. Pray that people will
encounter Jesus for the first time.
• Thank God for the volunteers who serve
in food banks and for the donations
received.
• Pray blessings over the food that is
prepared from food banks.
WEEKEND
Abba, Father – Thank you for the
provision of food banks, and for the
generosity of the people who run
them and donate. We pray for a world
of greater equality in which nobody
is reliant on food banks. Until we get
there, we pray that you will keep the
workers enthusiastic about helping
others and we pray that many people
will be blessed by the donations. Amen
29 May – 4 June  OUNTRIES IN
C love for them this week.
CONFLICT
“We are afflicted in every way, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; persecuted, but not forsaken”
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
• UKRAINE: Pray that Russian troops
would retreat from Ukraine and that the
fighting and tensions will cease.
• IRAN: Pray for diplomatic efforts to
succeed in Iran and bring an end to
the unrest, and executions of their own
people. Pray for the safety of the people
who continue to protest.
• MYANMAR: Pray for humanitarian
assistance to reach all the people who
have been displaced since the coup in
February 2021.
• AFGHANISTAN: Pray for the women
and girls affected by the Taliban regime.
Pray that they will not lose hope in their
education and their role in society.
• Lift up all the people around the world
affected by conflict. Pray for the safety
of refugees who have had to flee their
homeland. Pray for healing for people
who have suffered so much.
WEEKEND
Lord Almighty – We pray for an end
to wars. We pray that instigators of
war will repent. Give new hearts to
people set on violence. May the fruits
of the spirit abound in the lives of
leaders with power, so that war is no
longer an option. Amen.
5 June – 11 June GOVERNMENT
“For the one in authority is God’s servant,
for your good” Romans 13:4
• Pray that policy-makers will be guided by • to bring to mind ways you can show your
Thank God for your family and ask God
God’s voice as they make decisions and
draft new policy.
• Pray for the Government’s negotiations
with public service workers. Pray that
frustrations around pay and working
conditions can be resolved satisfactorily.
• Lift up those Christians in Government.
Pray that they will be able to live out
their faith in their work and influence
Government for good.
• Pray for students on the Leadership
courses at Waverley Abbey College.
Pray that their studies will help them to
integrate their faith into their vocations.
Some of these students will work in
politics and we pray that their leadership
style will be notably Christ-like.
WEEKEND
Father God – We pray for our leaders
and pray that they will be guided by
Your hand in their decisions. Please
give them divine insight into how to
run the country and how to deal with
diplomatic relations. Amen.
12 June – 18 June FAMILIES
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not
envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 
• Lift up those families struggling with
finances at the moment. Pray for a
breakthrough in their situation and
pray that the parents will not be over-
burdened with stress.
• As Father’s Day approaches, each of us
will have different experiences of Father
figures. Pray that we all feel a greater
awareness of the loving Father heart of
God this week.
• Family life is not always plain sailing. Pray
for stability in any fault lines that have
emerged in family bonds and pray that
courage and love will weld them together.
WEEKEND
Abba, Father – As we turn to Father’s
Day this Sunday, we thank you for the
father figures in our lives. But most of
all we seek to strengthen our bond
with You, Heavenly Father whose love
is unconditional and unfailing. Amen.
 19 June – 25 June INTERNATIONAL
FOCUS
“I have said these things to you, that in
me you may have peace. In the world you
will have tribulation. But take heart; I have
overcome the world.” John 16:33
In this international focus, we lift up
those countries most affected by climate
change. Pray for worldwide interventions
to help combat the effects of climate
change.
• Bangladesh: As sea levels rise, many
coastal communities in Bangladesh are
at serious risk of devastating floods. Pray
for a change in rising sea levels and pray
for the people already displaced from
Bangladesh.
• Haiti: has lost 98% of its forests, making
the country even more vulnerable to
complex emergencies. Pray for radical
replanting and a return of forestry in the
country.
• Chad: With increasing temperatures,
90% of Lake Chad has disappeared over
the last 50 years. Pray for a miraculous
rebalancing of Chad’s climate that’s
vulnerable to both drought and flooding.
• Kenya: Droughts have caused crops to
fail in Kenya. Pray that rain will be more
regular and that the soil will return to
fertile conditions.
WEEKEND
Lord Almighty – we pray for collective
action against climate change. We
pray for countries worldwide to act
waverleyabbeytrust.org For inspiration on how to develop a life of prayer why not
download our free Pathway Into Prayer resource:
Tel: 01252 784700
Email: info@waverleyabbey.org wvly.org/pdf-resources
collaboratively to reduce the effects
of greenhouse gases and CO2
emissions. Guide world leaders in this
monumental effort. Amen.
26 June – 2 July PRISONS
“The Lord hears the needy and does not
despise his captive people.” Psalm 69:33
• Many prisoners have received free
copies of Every Day with Jesus and
Topz. Pray that they will get to know
Jesus through the pages of these Bible
notes.
• Pray for the chaplains who work in
prisons. Pray that prisoners will see
Jesus through their interactions with
chaplains, and be restored.
• Thank God for the stories that arose
during Prison Week. Stories were filled
with gratitude, love, renewal and a new
awareness that they are loved by God.
• Pray for the prison guards. It’s often a
difficult job. Pray that there is respect
and understanding between guards and
prisoners and that the authority of the
guards is protected.
WEEKEND
Lord God – We remember those
people in prison and pray for their
spiritual lives. We pray that they
will meet You in new ways, through
Scripture, through chaplains or
through hearing Your voice. Bring
Your love into their lives. Amen.
Begin to Work TUESDAY 30 MAY
Haggai 1:13–15
‘They came and began to work on the house of
the Lord Almighty, their God...’ (v 14b)
W
hat is the very first spiritual gift mentioned in the Bible?
We might think prophecy or teaching or maybe performing
miracles? You may not think of Bezalel, who is given the gift of
craftsmanship to build the tabernacle! It is of course vitally important
that word-based gifts are utilised in the Church but, in the prophecy of
Haggai, the word to rebuild the temple had already been given.
The people needed to be prepared to execute the command. We
read how the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua and the
whole people to come to work on the House the Lord. And this is true
of so much of Christian ministry. Take a look at many of the activities in
your local church. For a start, someone has to clean the building so that
attendees are not distracted by dirt or litter or dirty crockery. Someone
has ensured that the items in the church function so that you can hear
who speaks and sings and the technology enables any audio-visual
communication to be smooth. If food is involved, someone has cooked
it or bought it and put it on display, and any crockery used will no doubt
need to be washed up. You won’t often have a warm fuzzy feeling when
you engage in such activities, but they are a vital part of the ministry. If
this is your work, sense God’s smile on you and, if this isn’t your work,
make sure you value those whose work behind the scenes to enable so
much good to happen.
Scripture to consider: Exod. 31:1–10; Neh. 3:1–32; Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Thess. 2:7–12
An action to take: Are there things that need doing in the church that you
could assist with and volunteer for?
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, God, for those who make a church happen
behind the scenes. May they feel valued by us and know that they are loved
by You. Amen.’
WEDNESDAY 31 MAY Looking the Right Way
John 3:14–17
‘Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so
the Son of Man must be lifted up...’ (v14)
T W
hroughout the 1980s, Rollen Stewart travelled 60,000 miles a
year as a full-time spectator, living out of his car, and using TV’s
obsession with sport to promote his faith. In doing so, he made
John 3:16 a fixture of professional sporting events. He would hoist
a sign or sport a T-shirt showing the lettering ‘John 3:16’. If it was a
football game, he would try to find a seat behind the goalposts. For
basketball and baseball, behind the backboard or home plate, and in
golf, behind the tee of the leading players. A portable, battery-operated
television showed him where the camera was pointing.
We cannot know whether this bore fruit, but few would question
his choice of verse, for it is the best known in the whole Bible. Many
have called it ‘the gospel in a nutshell’, and it is a pleasing summary,
including as it does God’s love for humanity, what He does and why
it’s necessary.
But Stewart, and any reading the verse, need to see its context.
Earlier verses see the cross in the light of a serpent raised in the Old
Testament. All who look at the serpent would live, and so we have the
cross today as a symbol of God the Son lifted in shame, but also in
victory. One hymn picks up on this and includes the line, ‘there is life for
a look at the crucified one’. You don’t need to sit an exam, accomplish
some great physical feat. You just need to respond in the way God
requires to what He has himself provided for you today. Look to the
cross of Jesus.
Scripture to consider: Num. 21:1–9; Isa. 52:13–15; Luke 23:26–49;
1 Pet. 2:18–25
An action to take: Take a fresh look today at Jesus, raised on a cross of shame
by wicked men, but now raised by God to glory, ever reigning for you and me.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, for the simplicity of the response You
require from us: to simply believe in Jesus that we can know life in Him.
Amen.’
Living Eternally THURSDAY 1 JUNE
John 3:14–17
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ (v16)
hen it comes to this famous verse, perhaps the major
misunderstanding comes with those two words ‘eternal life’.
These have typically been understood to be life after death, but
in the Gospel of John it refers to the life of God experienced in the here
and now which we enter into through faith in Jesus, and this is a life that
will go beyond the grave.
Eternal living is for today, and by faith we can enjoy our days with
God. It won’t be complete fullness of life in God until we die of course,
but we can seek His goodness now to flood our every moment.
It has been said that Christianity is not so much about getting us into
heaven as getting heaven into us.
Jesus would later give us a definition of ‘eternal life’ recorded in
John 17:3. It is about knowing God personally. When we have that kind
of interactive relationship, it is so much more wonderful than the sense
that ‘it’s all going to be OK one day’. We can know God in the here and
now. There is nothing to wait for. Doesn’t that brighten up what you
have planned?
Scripture to consider: Ps. 16 & 23; John 17:1–3; Col. 3:1–4
An action to take: Start seeing all times of your day as ‘God time’, in addition to
any set aside for the Bible and prayer.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, it is amazing that You promise eternal living today.
Help me to live in the good of that. Amen.’
FRIDAY 2 JUNE Not Perishing
John 3:14–17
‘…that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.’ (v16b)
T V
he best-known verse in the Bible includes, of course, a word that
is much contested and which many do not wish to consider. The
flipside to eternal life is of course to perish.
Traditionally, this has been understood as ‘going to hell’, seen as an
eternal place of pain for those who will not believe. It is also possible to
understand this in the sense that a tyre might perish and be no longer
fit for purpose. Those who refuse to believe do not fulfil all that God
intends for them and become effectively useless, however much they
think they may accomplish.
‘Perish’ might also refer to the end time ‘death’, meaning they cease
to exist at all. However, we understand the word, it is not a good
outcome. We may not wish to consider such things, but God is warning
us that there are two outcomes. His love was such that He sent His
beloved Son so that the better outcome might be ours. You were made
for God and for purpose and can enjoy all that He has for you as you
live your time. This saves you from a life that can become so short
sighted that it is unable to see the glory that could be enjoyed and the
adventure with God by our sides.
Scripture to consider: Isa. 14:12–27; Ezek. 33:10–20; 2 Pet. 2:13–22;
Rev. 22:12–21
An action to take: List the ways in which a day you have spent recently was
better because you knew God.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that I am not condemned to a useless
existence, wondering what my life is about, but can know the joy of eternal
life today. Amen.’
Here to Save SATURDAY 3 JUNE
John 3:15–17
‘For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn
the world, but to save the world through him.’ (v17)
erse 16 of John chapter 3 is so famous that we can easily forget
the verse which follows. But verse 17 underlines for many
sceptical about the Christian faith what God is really like.
Many assume God is indeed keen to ‘condemn’, but John is clear
that the opposite is true. Yes, we are faced with the challenge of our
sinful humanity which requires judgement and condemnation. But
the whole of Scripture outlines God’s redeeming plan which centres
on the coming of Jesus. Peter had listened to his Master and reminds
his readers: ‘He [God] is patient with you not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9b). But this
‘will’ is not something God enforces, and here we see the divine
mystery of God allowing humans to choose their own way. As C.S.
Lewis said: ‘If we don’t say “Your will be done”, then finally God says
to us “your will be done”’.
So, we have some work to do in helping those who are confused
about who God is and what He is like. Our role is to share the love,
goodness and grace of God, and His willingness to be our friends and
lead us in abundant living.
Scripture to consider: Exod. 15:1–18; 2 Sam. 22:1–20; Luke 4:14–21;
1 John 3:1–10
An action to take: Think of the times when you have assumed that God was
looking to condemn you or others. Replace that thought with the truth of
John 3:17.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, for Your good purposes for me and all
humanity. Amen.’
SUNDAY 4 JUNE Stay Connected
John 15:1–5
‘If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much
fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.’ (v5b)
V Y
ines were, of course, very common within Israel, and it is possible
that Jesus chose this metaphor because the disciples were
passing by a vine as they were leaving the upper room (see 14:31).
Jesus calls Himself ‘the true vine’, contrasted with the people of God
in the Old Testament who were seen as ‘a vine’ (see Isa. 5:1–7). Sadly,
God did not find in His people the fruit that He sought, hence Jesus
being the ‘true one’.
Jesus tells His disciples that they are to be branches within this vine.
The metaphor of being branches within Christ and growing in Christ is
clear. Just as a grape will naturally grow from a healthy vine, so Jesus’
followers can know fruit from their secure connection. Indeed, Jesus
makes it clear that there is no alternative if we are to bear fruit that
pleases the Father: ‘apart from me you can do nothing’.
The fruit is not defined, and most suggest that it includes all the
outcomes that flow from our prayers. If you are a Christian, you can
expect to see fruit. Your prayers are heard by God. They are in His
‘pending tray’ as you read this. They may result in ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘wait’.
He is pleased to bless you and see His ways known in and through you,
and for you to know joy in seeing your prayers answered.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 1; Isa. 5:1–7; Gal. 5:22–26; 2 Pet. 1:5–11
An action to take: Write down your prayers and review them each week to see
what God does.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that I can partner with You to see good
things happen in Your name. Amen.’
Remaining in the Vine MONDAY 5 JUNE
John 15: 5–17
‘If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I
have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.’ (v10)
ou may have heard the idea of ‘marginal gains’, often used when
it comes to sporting endeavour, where a 1% improvement over a
competitor can bring success. Christians too are looking for the
‘secret’ that will help them stay on track.
The secret (if there is one) is our connection to Jesus, which allows
fruit to grow. Jesus speaks of ‘remaining in’ His love by obeying His
commands, and this seems to be the way we show our connection.
We can push the metaphor too far. Disobedience doesn’t disconnect
us from Him, unless in extreme cases where we might deny the faith
completely. It is vital that we remain in the vine if we are to be fruitful
ourselves. Jesus is clear that without Him we can do nothing. We might
like to believe that our own efforts can do quite a lot. But Jesus isn’t
impressed.
It is hard to obey Jesus’ commands if we don’t know what they are!
Regular reading of Scripture and meditating on it will enable you to be
fruitful in His service. Why would you not want to be as fruitful as you
can be? None of us is perfect in what we do for God, but as we lean
on Him and look to Him for our salvation, we will make those marginal
gains.
Scripture to consider: Deut. 32:44–47; Ps. 119:1–16; John 10:22–30;
1 John 5:1–12
An action to take: Consider a regular Bible reading programme in addition to
this one. Is there someone in your life who would value doing life Every Day
with Jesus? Send them a free copy at edwj.org
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that Your Word guides my way day by day.
Amen.’
TUESDAY 6 JUNE Whatever!
John 15:14–17
‘…so that you may go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so
that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’ (v16b)
T T
he words in verse 16 of our passage for today are some of the most
extraordinary words in the whole of the New Testament! They
are abused by many who think they offer carte blanche to claim
whatever we like. The key phrase to note is ‘in my name’. A son may be
given access to his dad’s business account to transact family business.
As long as it’s ‘in the name of the business’ he can draw on the account
with the dad’s approval. It’s not for frivolous spending or personal
whims, but to ensure that Dad’s work is profitable.
The disciple of Jesus is given access to the riches of heaven.
Through prayer we can draw upon the account and see God’s kingdom
grow.
There is no formula for seeing prayers answered and knowing what
is ‘in His name’ and what isn’t. Many have thought: ‘God is bound to
do that’ only to be disappointed. This is not a magical incantation but a
confidence that Jesus is able to intervene into our world. He may have
a bigger and higher purpose in not granting what we ask, or may be
delaying for maximum benefit!
But these disciples were about to lose their Master and would recall
these words as they faced seemingly insurmountable problems. You
too can take comfort that, whatever you face, Jesus is able. Are you
prepared to trust Him to work things out?
Scripture to consider: 2 Chr. 7:11–22; Isa. 64:1–12; Luke 11:5–13; Jas 1:2–7
An action to take: What is it that you need to ask God for today?
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that You involve me in Your work and that
my requests matter to You Amen.’
Under Pressure? WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE
2 Corinthians 1:8–11
‘We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability
to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.’ (v8)
he second letter to the Corinthians is one of Paul’s most personal
letters. He will later outline why the church could trust him as
an apostle. But at the very start he shares how tough he has
found Christian ministry and says that he and his companions were
overwhelmed and despaired of life itself. One commentary puts it like
this: ‘We were weighed down beyond what is credible, even beyond
what any natural strength could support.’*
Remember this is the same apostle who encourages us to ‘rejoice
always, and give thanks in all circumstances’. But here he admits that
there are times when it would seem he doesn’t want to keep going. Life
can sometimes be very, very tough. At such times we might feel that we
are letting the side down by not being able to be as cheery as we would
like. I have a friend who had a severe period of burnout who now takes
an anti-depressant every day. He is still trusting in God and believes in
God’s provision through medication. Don’t be fooled by some Christian
groups who claim that any mental health issue as a result of a lack of
faith. Of course, in some cases it may be that an individual could use
some faith building, but we think nothing of using medical assistance
for an injury to a limb and so needn’t worry if we need medication for an
issue connected to our mind. If you are under pressure today, it’s OK.
God’s people always have been and you will come through it.
Scripture to consider: 1 Kgs 19:1–8; Ps. 42:1–11; Matt. 11:28–30;
Mark 14:34–36
An action to take: Is your soul downcast? Turn to God in prayer, and seek
counselling or medical help if required. Visit www.waverleyabbeycollege.
ac.uk/find-a-counsellor to find help in this area.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to lean on the knowledge of Your faithfulness,
even when I struggle to see it. Amen.’
*Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, 2 Corinthians 1:8.
THURSDAY 8 JUNE Deserter?
Acts 15:30–41
‘Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with
them,   but Paul did not think it wise to take him,
because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had
not continued with them in the work.’ (vv37–38)
T
he apostle Paul had many who worked with him, but it wasn’t
always smooth, and Luke records how Paul was convinced that
John Mark was a liability because he hadn’t stayed with them
on a previous trip. The text talks of a ‘sharp disagreement’ which
caused them to part company. The word used implies ‘a provocation
which literally jabs (cuts) someone so they must respond’! Such is the
disagreement that Paul and Barnabas did not travel together again.
Barnabas takes his cousin John Mark and Paul takes Silas.
It is important to note that the book of Acts is descriptive and not
prescriptive. Just because something happened in Acts does not
mean that God is pleased with it! It may be that you have had a sharp
disagreement with someone in your church fellowship or network of
friends. It is always sad when this happens and if you can repair things
you need to do so. But this is not always possible, as Paul and Barnabas
found. It was some years before there was a resolution. Paul later
mentions that John Mark was with him (Col. 4:10), suggesting that he
was ‘back on the team’.
We will never get on with absolutely everyone and, providing we
always put out the welcome mat in our minds and hearts, we need to be
able to press ahead, moving on from relationships that haven’t worked
and knowing that God can bless these other people as He can bless
us. And in John Mark’s case, he would go on to write one of the four
Gospels. So, if you have to part ways, don’t write the person off too soon!
Scripture to consider: 2 Kgs 5:15–27; John 13:18–30: 2 Tim. 4:9–18
An action to take: If you have had a painful disagreement, attempt to resolve
it. If you can’t, move on!
A prayer to make: ‘Help me to know how best to tackle disagreements that
come up. Amen.’
Which Is It? FRIDAY 9 JUNE
Proverbs 26:4–5
‘Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you
yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to
his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.’ (vv4–5)
T
here are some people who think that there are contradictions
in the Bible. There do appear to be some, but often one or both
passages that seem to contradict are being interpreted wrongly.
One of the most obvious apparent contradictions is verses 4 and 5
of Proverbs 26. You will notice that the verses seem to say the exact
opposite: the start of verse 4 contradicts the one following!
The answer to this conundrum is simple. The Book of Proverbs
was never intended to be a list of commands or a list of things
that will necessarily always happen. They are a collection of wise
sayings which outline what will generally be true. The compiler of the
Proverbs, probably Solomon, is not so foolish as to miss the apparent
contradiction. But he has placed verses 4 and 5 together to underline
that there will be occasions where verse 4 is the best course of action
and other occasions where verse 5 is the approach to take.
People who try to read the whole Bible as a list of rules will fall foul.
Of course some parts are direct commands which we follow to the
letter; other parts need to be read in the light of the New Testament
and the coming of Jesus, which makes some commands obsolete or in
need of adjustment. And for many parts of Scripture, we need to look
to God to give us wisdom to discern how to respond. Scripture reading,
as life itself, requires the work of the Spirit to help us navigate. And this
goes for answering fools!
Scripture to consider: 1 Sam. 25:1–44; Ps. 14; John 13:18–30
An action to take: Next time you are unsure how to respond to a foolish
comment, ask for God’s help in a quick prayer.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, for Your daily presence as I seek to live
wisely. Help me to seek Your direction today. Amen.’
SATURDAY 10 JUNE A Good Start
Proverbs 22:6
‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even
when they are old they will not turn from it.’ (v6)
T T
he understanding that Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings
and not a series of laws is especially important when we come to
interpreting today’s verse. This verse has sadly been a source of
great dismay for many Christians who assume that if their child strays
away from God, especially later in life, then it must be due to the start
they gave them. It is always sad when a child moves away from the faith
they had embraced in their youth, but especially if the parent or carer
is facing the burden of thinking that they did something wrong. But
once again, if we understand Proverbs correctly we won’t reach this
erroneous conclusion.
The verse says that we are wise to try to train our children in the
Christian faith and that generally this training will stay with them. But, of
course, there are no guarantees, and some of the finest Bible teachers
and pastors have known their children drifting away from the faith. If
this applies to us, we can pray to God, safe in the knowledge that the
departure is not necessarily because of something we have done. And
even if we have made mistakes, thankfully these can be forgiven, and
God will certainly not hold them against us, but in His grace and mercy
will respond and be at work for good. Don’t despair; keep loving and
praying and caring, and see what God will do.
Scripture to consider: 1 Sam. 8:1–3; Prov. 1:8–19; Luke 2:41–52; Eph. 6:1–4
An action to take: If you have children or parents who are alive, message them
to say that you are thinking of them and love them.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that families are important to You.
Whatever my experience, help me to cherish the good parts. Amen.’
Popular Parable SUNDAY 11 JUNE
Luke 15:11–32
‘You are always with me, and everything I have is yours.’ (v31b)
his is one of the best-known parables but is typically given an
inaccurate name! It is true that ‘The Prodigal Son’ title does cover
some elements of the story. The son calls for his inheritance
to be given to him by his father, wastes it and returns home keen to
make amends, only to be wonderfully restored to his position as son.
The context is Jesus’ welcome to tax collectors and sinners in verse
1, and the way He is criticised for this by the religious leaders of the
day. In Jesus’ parable, the younger son represents the tax collectors
and sinners, who are welcomed into God’s kingdom. The eldest son
represents the religious leaders. The eldest son is clearly angry that
his brother is given such an easy time and remonstrates with his father.
Perhaps the key line in the whole parable is the father’s comment
‘everything I have is yours!’
The eldest son had been slaving away as if he was a hired hand,
not enjoying being a son and so is angry that’s this brother is enjoying
the benefits of sonship. The Pharisees must have realised that Jesus
was speaking of their own ungenerous attitude to those entering the
kingdom.
And whilst we know the outcome for the younger son, the fate of the
eldest son is left hanging. We do not know if he was reconciled to the
Father. If you sense you have moved into ‘hired hand’ mode, maybe it’s
time to remember that all the Father has is yours, and live as a rich son
of the King of kings.
Scripture to consider: Isa. 61:1–3; Mic. 6:1–8; Matt. 21:28–32; Luke 14:15–24
An action to take: Is there someone whom you think is beyond being in the
kingdom? Pray for them.
A prayer to make: ‘Help me, Lord, not to be hard hearted towards those I don’t
think deserve your grace. Amen.’
MONDAY 12 JUNE DIY Christianity?
Luke 15:11–32
‘But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of
yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ (v32)
T
he story of the two sons is such a powerful one. Many begin to see
that the ‘DIY Christianity’ they follow is so distant from what Jesus
teaches.
It is possible for us to put together a faith that is high on rules and
regulations but fails to grasp the wonder of the welcome the Father
gives us into His family as adopted children. We can be like the older son
as we think about our relationship to our Father God. After all, society
tells us that you don’t get something for nothing, and so instinctively
we presume that the Christian faith means that we have to work to gain
God’s approval. This is how many Christians seem to operate.
But grace is the opposite to this. It welcomes us into the love and
goodness of God without our needing to earn it. As forgiven children
we delight in our service for God and regard it as a privilege. So, the
forgiven child of God may work just as hard as the one who fails to
understand the grace available, but they do so with a completely
different motive, and with an energy God provides. You do not have
to do anything today to make God like you. You can relax because the
pressure is off. But, in the light of that wonderful fact, how would you
want to respond?
Scripture to consider: Ps. 32; Dan. 9:15–19; Rom. 4:1–8; Titus 3:3–8
An action to take: Do something today to celebrate the fact that your salvation
is absolutely free.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that I am in Your family and I am here to
stay for ever. Amen.’
It is for Freedom TUESDAY 13 JUNE
Galatians 5:1–6
‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and
do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.’ (v1)
F
reedom is very much a positive word for many. A child looks
forward to the holidays because they will be free from school. A
teenager may look forward to university days because they will be
free from home. Those in challenging relationships may look forward to
when those relationships come to an end and they can be free at last!
But there’s a difference between freedom from and freedom to.
The same child who is free from school may not feel free to enjoy the
holiday. The student freed from home may not have sufficient maturity
to cope with the freedom that they now enjoy in university years. And
the person free from a challenging relationship may not have done the
internal work to make another relationship possible for them.
When the apostle says that it is for freedom the Christ to set us free,
he has in mind many aspects of freedom. In this letter he is saying that
we are free from the law in as much as Christ has kept the law for us so
that we do not need to feel the guilt of our weakness. But this freedom
from the law is not a licence to do what we want. We are freed to live for
Christ as we experience God’s Spirit and seek to live with Him, and to
know the fruits of the Spirit displayed within our lives. So we will avoid
legalism on the one hand and licence on the other, and look to be led by
the Spirit into the ways of God. That is true freedom.
Scripture to consider: Deut. 15:1–11; Ps. 115; Luke 8:26–39; Rom. 8:1–4
An action to take: Have a think about how free you really are. What can you do
and what constraints do you experience?
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that I am freed to live for You. Help me to
live in the good of that freedom. Amen.’
WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE Working or Resting?
Philippians 2:12–13
‘Work out your salvation with fear and trembling…’ (v12)
T T
here are definitely two kinds of Christian. There are those
who have a very high trust in the sovereignty of God and His
work in their lives. There are those who have a strong sense of
responsibility to do things to please God. Verses 12 and 13 of our
passage today encourage us to make sure we don’t go too far one or
the other, but ensure that the two ideas are balanced.
Verse 13 reads: ‘for it is God who works in you to will and to act in
order to fulfil his good purpose.’ Working out our salvation does of
course imply us getting involved. But God doesn’t ask us to work for
our salvation.
If we focussed just on our efforts, we would be disappointed, for no
amount of willpower can affect the changes that Jesus is looking for,
hence the mention of God’s work. We shouldn’t act without God, and
He won’t act without us! As John put it: ‘We love because He first loved
us’ (1 John 4:19).
The initiative comes from God, but He looks for a response. He is
the divine lover, wooing us into His arms, and so today we have the
opportunity to be active in our faith, knowing that God is right there
with us, prospering every good effort in His name.
Scripture to consider: Judg. 3:1–4; Ezek. 18:1–13; 2 Cor. 4:3–6; 1 John 4:13–21
An action to take: If you are working too hard: relax and pray. If the opposite is
true, start doing more!
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that my growth doesn’t depend on me, but
neither am I unimportant in the process. Amen.’
Perfection THURSDAY 15 JUNE
Hebrews 10:11–14
‘For by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever
those who are being made holy.’ (v14)
he New Testament really does have some astonishing verses,
and this one is right up there with the best. The writer to the
Hebrews is contrasting the sacrifice of Jesus with the sacrifices
prescribed within the old covenant. He is pointing out how Christ’s
sacrifice is superior, writing to those tempted to return to Judaism (the
Old Testament faith). Those who put their trust and confidence in Jesus
are made perfect for ever. If that is where you are putting your trust,
that includes you. But if you are quite rightly aware that you’re not going
to be perfect any time soon, the end of the verse reminds us of God’s
ongoing work within us.
There are some amazing implications here. As someone being made
perfect, you are on a different track to those for whom death is the
future. Your sins: past, present and future are forgiven. Being made
holy will mean transformation within, so that you are less inclined to be
dragged away by your old nature and can focus instead on the new life
you enjoy in Jesus. You will discover new things that need to change,
so you will do so, but your forgiveness is secure. God puts your sins as
far as the east is from the west, and He remembers them no more. Yes,
this is an amazing verse!
Scripture to consider: Jer. 31:31–34; Ezek. 36:24–38; Rom. 5:1–8; Rev. 7:9–17
An action to take: Stop beating yourself up. The sacrifice has been made. Live
in the good of Jesus’ full and final sacrifice.
A prayer to make: ‘I am bowled over by the depth of Your love and mercy to me
through Jesus. Thank You. Amen.’
FRIDAY 16 JUNE Better Diet
Daniel 1:11–16
‘At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better
nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.’ (v15)
I
t would seem that Daniel was a first-class honours kind of guy. For
this reason, he had been deported from Israel and taken thousands
of miles away to Babylon to serve in the king’s palace for a three-
year training course. We now know, of course, that Daniel would have
had considerable influence in his role in Babylon. But at this point in
time he is young and had done little in life, and so standing against the
accepted diet must have taken considerable courage, especially when
he was challenged and expressed confidence that a vegetable-based
diet, which would not contravene his dietary rules as a Jew, would be
successful. Vegetarians of course love this passage of Scripture! But
whatever the merits of vegetarianism, the simple point is that there are
times when we need to be prepared to stand for what we believe.
One Christian leader has said that if we have enemies as Christians
it maybe because we are prepared to stand up for something. We are
foolish to create enemies for their own sake, but not everyone will
appreciate our choices. Maybe in the old days this was paying for
private phone calls from the office when no one else did! Now it might
be how we pay tradesmen who we suspect are asking for cash to avoid
paying tax. You will work out the best way, and God will honour you. In
some cases, as with Daniel, this may even mean looking healthier than
others!
Scripture to consider: Judg. 6:25–32; Jer. 36:11–32; Rom. 14:1–9;
1 Cor. 16:10–18
An action to take: Determine to do the right thing whenever you are faced with
a situation that could compromise your faith.
A prayer to make: ‘Give me the courage, Lord, to stand for You and help me to
trust You for the outcome. Amen.’
Spared from the Lions SATURDAY 17 JUNE
Daniel 6:16–22
‘My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They
have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor
have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.’ (v22)
D
oing the right thing can become a habit not always appreciated
by others. The young man who refused to defile himself with
the king’s food is now an experienced civil servant within the
king’s palace, possibly in his early eighties! Indeed, by chapter 6
verse 3 we find the king plans to set him over the whole kingdom. His
competence causes jealousy, and plans are made to bring him death.
By making the decree that no one should be worshipped except King
Darius, it is known that, of course, Daniel would remain faithful in his
worship of God and face the punishment of being thrown to the lions.
It seems it never occurs to Daniel to do anything different. It is said
that our habits define our character. And we all know the wonderful
outcome of this story and the amazing influence that Daniel had within
the pagan Babylonian nation, whose king becomes convinced of the
goodness of God.
Sadly, there is no formula that can be followed whereby our
faithfulness leads directly to kingdom advancement! However, there
are plenty of examples of when Christian virtue has challenged the
enemies of Christ, especially in nations where the Christian faith is not
tolerated or valued. Following Christ does mean dying daily to our own
preferences, and the apostle Paul reminds us that ‘anyone who seeks
to live a godly life will be persecuted’ (2 Tim. 3:12). God will not leave us
alone in these situations. He will draw near, giving us courage to do the
right thing and the grace to deal with the consequences.
Scripture to consider: 2 Sam. 12:1–6; Prov. 3:1–4; 2 Tim. 2:8–13; 3 John 1–8
An action to take: Look to cultivate the habits that will help when the going is
tough so that you can be faithful to stand if you need to.
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, as You helped Daniel, please draw near to me as I take
a stand for you in the situations in which You have placed me. Amen.’
SUNDAY 18 JUNE Always There
Psalm 139:1–6
‘You know when I sit and when I rise; you
perceive my thoughts from afar.’ (v2)
I
n the early years of childhood, there is considerable comfort
received by a child who knows their parent is watching over them.
Indeed, the child will often make sure that the parent is watching
something they are proud of, such as kicking a football, playing a game,
or dancing. As a child gets older, the intrusive eye of a parent becomes
rather less welcome! They might prefer to hide, especially when they
know or suspect their actions would not be approved of.
The psalmist’s understanding of God’s knowledge of him is a delight
and joy. He knows that there is nothing he does which evades God’s
searching eye.
It might be that these verses are a comfort to you should you feel
alone or unappreciated. Those in this kind of situation would typically
be surprised that God is even giving them a second thought.
Of course, with some such verses there comes a challenge. We
might prefer to think that God cannot see what we’re up to. This whole
psalm is intended to express to us the encouragement of the all-
knowing, all-seeing God who is for us, is with us, who cares about us
and has His eye is upon us. So, know that God is with you in your tough
times, your boring times, your exciting times and your productive times.
Talk to Him and listen to what He has to say to you.
Scripture to consider: Gen. 28:10–22; 2 Kgs 6:8–23; John 17:20–26;
2 Tim. 4:14–18
An action to take: Remind yourself of God’s presence with you. Use a sticky
note in your home or a reminder on your phone.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You that You are with me and know about me today.
Thank You that I matter to You. Amen.’
Light and Dark MONDAY 19 JUNE
Psalm 139:7–12
‘If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the
light become night around me,” even the darkness
will not be dark to you…’ (vv11–12a)
W
e can be utterly secure in knowing God’s presence with us. We
can be at one with the psalmist when he talks of God being near,
watching over and caring for us. And then something happens
and it’s as if a storm cloud has gathered over us and is showering
its ugly contents! The psalmist clearly had a moment when he felt
this way. Perhaps he was feeling low and far away from God. Some
speculate that, as a musician, the psalmist may have known the ups
and downs that sometimes come with a creative disposition. The
psalmist has to remind himself who God is: ‘I know that darkness is as
light to him’.
God knows what He is doing through the tough times that we
face. He will be with us in them, even if He doesn’t take them away
immediately, or ever. When we go through tough times – perhaps
you are even now – it is time to remind ourselves of God’s love and
faithfulness, even if in the short run we feel very distant from Him. We
need to not trust our feelings and not take our doubts seriously. And
if this is especially tough at night, remember that blood sugar is low,
and everything seems worse at this time. Remind yourself that God is
with and you and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel, even if it
seems dark at the moment. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Scripture to consider: Job 10:1–22; Isa. 9:1–7; John 8:12–20; 1 John 1:5–10
An action to take: Memorise the words ‘darkness is as light to you’ and remind
yourself of this if and when darkness comes, whatever the source.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, God, that You are light and one day You will
dispel the darkness forever. Amen.’
TUESDAY 20 JUNE Intended for Good
Psalm 139:13–15
‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me
together in my mother’s womb.’ (v13)
T S
hinking about the human ability to terminate life in the womb has
made today’s passage especially poignant. Of course, there are
difficult questions surrounding medical ethics. These debates
require careful thought and pastoral understanding. However, nothing
can mask the wonder of these verses, which speak of God’s intimate
involvement in life’s beginnings.
The verses are true whether your birth was planned by two
committed parents, whether it was unexpected, or even if you were
conceived in a situation where one parent did not give consent.
Also, understanding the science of conception shouldn’t cause us
to ignore the Holy Spirit’s work. We must be absolutely clear that God
intended for you to be on earth. As Acts 17:26 says: ‘From one man he
made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he
marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their
lands.’ You are not an accident or an afterthought but part of God’s
good and perfect purpose, and you are invited to partner with Him and
the glorious purposes He has for His world. If you received an invitation
that said you were selected for a special mission for which only you
were capable, you would be thrilled. Well, you are alive and God
intended this day for you, and has plans and purposes for you. So, it’s
time to live life to the full. Go on.
Scripture to consider: Jer. 20:14–18; Ps. 127; Luke 1:67–79; Gal. 1:11–24
An action to take: Today is a good day to thank God that you’re alive, for your
birth and your life in Him.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, for giving me life, and for all the rich
possibilities I have in You. Amen.’
Home on Time WEDNESDAY 21 JUNE
Psalm 139:16–18
‘All the days ordained for me were written in your
book before one of them came to be.’ (v16b)
ome Christians use a plan for reading through the Scriptures in a
year (the New Testament and Psalms twice and the Old Testament
once). This method was devised by the Scottish pastor Robert
Murray McCheyne, who ministered largely in Dundee, Scotland. A
glance at his biography will tell you that although this method is his
most famed contribution to many Christians lives, he wrote sixteen
other publications and five hymns. But the biography will also tell you
that he died at the tender age of 31.
No doubt there will be people you know of whose passing might have
seemed premature. But the psalmist is clear that all the days ordained
for us are in God’s book before one of them came to be (v16). This is a
time for resting in God’s sovereignty, knowing that time allotted down
here, whether nine years or ninety-nine, will be a fraction of eternity.
Our times are in God’s hands, and though we may be puzzled that
some seem to be allotted more time than others, our job is to live
each day that God gives us for His glory and leave the length of our
lives whether short or long to Him. And, if we are able to take up
McCheyne’s approach to reading the Bible, so much the better!
Scripture to consider: 2 Kgs 20:1–11; Eccles. 3:1–14; John 12:20–36 & 21:20–25
An action to take: Abandon any assumptions about how long or short your life
will be, and live every day with Jesus!
A prayer to make: ‘I am looking forward to life forever with You, but for now I
entrust each day to You. Amen.’
THURSDAY 22 JUNE A Response to Anger
Luke 9:51–55
‘When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do
you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” ’ (v54)
A S
t the start of chapter 9, Jesus gives the disciples power and
authority to drive out demons, to cure diseases and to proclaim
the kingdom of God. Things have been going very well. But when
they go to a Samaritan village, things are not so smooth – the disciples
are not welcomed. James and John, nicknamed ‘sons of Thunder’, ask
Jesus if He wishes them to call fire down from heaven to destroy the
village! Can you imagine your local church involved in door-to-door
work, not getting a good response and returning to the church saying
that the answer must be to wipe out the neighbourhood! It seems to
be a genuine question and, such is their experience of the power of
God, they seem to think that such a thing is possible! It is perhaps no
surprise that Jesus rebuked them and sent them to another village.
The whole thing may seem pretty ridiculous to us, but before we
are quick to judge we perhaps need to reflect on our attitude to those
who seem far from God. We can feel anger at what we perceive to be
sinful behaviour on the part of others, and even if we don’t wish to call
down the fire of heaven upon people, we might be quite pleased if God
punished them a little! At such times we need a reminder that God did
not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the
world through Him. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
– including us – and the people who annoy us by God’s grace can know
Him too.
Scripture to consider: Gen. 19:21–29; Num. 11:1–3; Matt. 7:1–3; Heb. 12:18–24
An action to take: When you next feel anger at sin, pray for those caught up
in it.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that Your grace extends to me and to all
those who make me angry. Amen.’
On Cloud Nine? FRIDAY 23 JUNE
Colossians 3:1–4
‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.’ (v1)
tatus changes can make us feel very different about life. You may
recall your first days as a parent or in a new role in a company or
perhaps serving in a local church. You are the same person as
you always have been, but now your role or label means that certain
things are expected of you, and you expect certain things of yourself.
The Christian has been given a new status in Christ, and Paul reminds
the Colossians that they have been raised with Christ. He is using the
imagery of death and new life symbolised through water baptism. As
those raised with Christ, we set our hearts on things above, where
Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
We may have heard the phrase, ‘I am OK, under the circumstances.’
A good friend of mine would jokingly reply: ‘What are you doing under
there?!’ Our position is as one ‘raised with Christ’ and so our focus
needs to be where He is, at the right hand of God and as such in the
most powerful position in the universe.
There will be plenty of times when you may feel that others have
diminished you or put you down or minimised your value. But deep
within you can know that your resurrection status and connection
to Jesus changes everything about how you view your day and the
challenges that you face. This is a great truth to take into a new day.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 93; Isa. 40:25–31; Eph. 4:17–24; 1 Pet. 1:13–21
An action to take: Set your mind on things above where Christ is seated at the
right hand of God!
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You for my position as raised with Christ. Help me
today to live in the good of that. Amen.’
SATURDAY 24 JUNE Purposeful Living
Genesis 1:26–27
‘So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of
God he created them; male and female he created them.’ (v27)
L
ook around your room you will no doubt see various appliances
that are designed to make our lives function more smoothly. The
purpose of the gadget is clear and, although when new you may
require some instruction in how to operate it, very quickly you get into
the habit. If there are other human beings in your house, what are they
there for?! Joking aside, humans also have a purpose, not as gadgets
to make life easy, but as image-bearers created by God for a particular
role.
Our passage today outlines how God intends us to live. Scholars
disagree over exactly what being made in the image of God
might mean, but it is clear that we resemble God in our essential
characteristics. We are relational, physical, emotional, volitional,
rational and spiritual beings. An understanding of this is a healthy basis
for seeing who we are and understanding why things go wrong. The
Waverley Integrative Framework* is based on this thinking and has
been an enormous help to many in assessing their purpose under God
and why areas of life have gone awry.
God intended you to partner with Him in spreading His love and
goodness in the world. Although humanity marred its relationship with
God, Jesus came to restore our humanity and enable us to enjoy God’s
purpose once again. Are you in line with that purpose?
Scripture to consider: Gen. 9:1–7; Ps. 8; Col. 3:5–17; 1 Pet. 1:13–25
An action to take: Think about your last few days. Did you see yourself as
partnering with God to make a difference?
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that I have a special purpose as Your child.
Help me to partner with You in Your plans for the world. Amen.’
* To learn more about this visit www.waverleyabbeycollege.ac.uk/waverley-integrative-framework
Your Job SUNDAY 25 JUNE
Genesis 1:26–28
‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue
it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and
over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ (v28)
T
here has been plenty of controversy concerning the first chapter of
Genesis, normally surrounding whether God created the universe
in six days or whether days are indicative of a longer span of time
or whether this is simply a poetic device to describe God as Creator
over and against other alternative ways of understanding creation.
But what is often not considered is that even at this stage there are
things that God does and things that human beings do. However God
created the world, it is clear that He is the initiator. But when it comes
to other elements of this creation, He involves human beings. Adam
is given the job of naming the animals for example in chapter 2, and it
seems that creation requires some work. If Adam and his descendants
are to subdue the earth then it would seem that there is still work to
do, which God delighted to give. It is correct that we look for God to
work in all things but this is not at odds with also playing our part and
seeing good things happen. There is a good deal of freedom that God
gives humanity in relationship with Him, and that freedom has been
enjoyed by many, especially those who understand their true purpose
as followers of Jesus.
So, it is just possible that you are asking God to do something when
He is in fact asking you to get on with it! Prayer is a good thing, but
it can sometimes be an excuse for inaction. It’s worth checking your
heart and mind as you consider what your next step should be.
Scripture to consider: Gen. 2:15–25; Deut. 8:11–20; Eph. 4:25–28;
2 Thess. 3:6–15
An action to take: Think through the things that you are praying about. Do any
of them require you to act?
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, God, for trusting us to be involved in Your world.
Amen.’
MONDAY 26 JUNE Ruling
Genesis 1:26–28
‘Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over
every living creature that moves on the ground.’ (v28b)
R
ulers give ruling a bad name! Most people see the word ‘ruler’
and can think of leaders who rule poorly, especially in parts of the
world where the rulers more concerned with keeping power than
serving their people.
But there is a strong argument to say that we are all leaders with a
small ‘l’. We do after all lead our lives, and if leadership is influence,
as some suggest, then we all have some influence over those around
us. Adam and Eve were given real power to rule over creation under
God. In the New Testament, we see that God’s people are to use their
influence where God has placed them and will one day be rulers in the
new heavens and new earth.
Taking a lead of course requires action, and too often we can
passively accept how life is and what happens to us. Sometimes there
is little we can do, but we can choose to make a difference in the
areas we have influence. You may know the famous prayer: ‘God help
me to accept the things I cannot change, to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.’ As you survey your personal
world, maybe it’s time to do some leading with God, prayerfully and
thoughtfully, so that life can change for yourself and for others.
Scripture to consider: Judg. 5:1–9; Prov. 12:5–11; Mark 10:35–45; Rev. 5:6–10
An action to take: Consider the areas of life with which you are dissatisfied
and ask yourself if there’s something you could be doing to change things.
A prayer to make: ‘I’m sorry, God, for blaming You when I should be sorting
some things out myself. Amen.’
Prove It TUESDAY 27 JUNE
Matthew 4:1–3
‘Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting for forty
days and forty nights, he was hungry.’ (vv1–2)
I
t was a glorious moment when the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus at
His baptism and He heard those words from His Father: ‘This is my
Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased’ (Matt. 3:17). But His
being led by the Spirit does not lead to an easy life, and Jesus soon
after finds Himself in the wilderness, where He is tempted by the devil.
Sometimes it is presumed that the devil came to Jesus at His lowest
moment after He had fasted forty days and forty nights but, in fact,
the discipline of fasting can increase our sense of God’s presence. It
is hard to draw parallels with Jesus, who was God and full of the Holy
Spirit, but as one who was fully human, these were real temptations,
and He had the strength to withstand them and overcome them. The
devil’s chief weapon is to question the identity of Jesus: ‘If you are the
son of God...’ In other words: prove it!
There are some clear lessons for us. Just because life is tough, we
mustn’t assume that we are not being led by the Spirit. The enemy of
our souls will also seek to undermine our identity in Jesus. He might
accuse you: he is, after all, ‘the accuser of our brothers and sisters’
(Rev. 12:9–11). In the next few days, we will see the ways in which Jesus
counters the devils attacks but, for now, let us remind ourselves of the
security of our identity in Jesus. Remember Jesus identity comes before
His public ministry. You and I are secure in Christ regardless of what we
do or are able to do for Him. That is an thought worth resting in.
Scripture to consider: Isa. 14:12–17; Ezek. 28:1–19; 1 Pet. 5:6–11; Rev. 12:9–11
An action to take: Reflect on your last few days. Is it possible that God was at
work within you when you didn’t know it?
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You for the authority that we have to resist the devil’s
attacks. I do so in Jesus’ name. Amen.’
WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE God’s Word Stands
Matthew 4:4–11
‘Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”’ (v4)
M I
aybe you are the kind of person who always thinks of a smart
reply once a conversation is over?! Plenty of people find
themselves unable to know what to say when criticised or
challenged, and it’s only later that the right words come to them. We
are not told exactly how Satan tempted Jesus, but His replies are
immediate, and, in each case, He quotes a verse taken from the book
of Deuteronomy, the fifth book in the Bible. In Deuteronomy, we read
about the events at the end of the forty years of wilderness journeys
that came before Israel entered the Promised Land. We read a second
(deutero) reading of the law given in Exodus. Where Israel failed to
overcome the temptations they faced, Jesus’ triumphed after His 40
days of testing. Jesus is confident in the Word of God each time. He
doesn’t attempt to come up with a clever retort, but simply quotes a
relevant scripture.
Jesus knew His scripture (Old Testament) and could quote from
it. Bible memorisation is a great tool for us to build up our faith, to
recall what God says and especially to repel the enemy in times of
temptation.
If God has said something, we can trust it. Jesus treats the Word
like the law of gravity: you can rely on it every moment of every day.
Of course we need to interpret the Word correctly, and not every verse
functions the same as every other. But, providing we have understood
it correctly, we can know that it’s true and will save us.
Scripture to consider: Ps. 19:7–14; Isa. 55:8–13; Col. 3:15–17; 2 Pet. 1:12–21
An action to take: Find a list of the top ten verses to memorise and start
learning Scripture off by heart.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that Your Word is reliable. Help to
remember verses so that I can withstand the temptations I face. Amen.’
Good Focus THURSDAY 29 JUNE
Matthew 4:6–11
‘Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written:
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”’ (v10)
f someone was to write the word ‘chair’ on a piece of paper in
front of you, and then ask you not to think about a chair, you will
immediately have the picture of a chair in your head. This helps us
understand why Jesus responds to the lies of the enemy as He does.
He doesn’t quote Scripture because it is the equivalent of a magic spell
which will help Him automatically resist temptation. But, as an idea is
given to Him by Satan, He is able to replace the evil idea with the Word
of God. The attacks are aiming to appeal to Jesus in some way: ‘Use
Your powers to make stones into bread’; ‘Ask God to save You from
a dangerous fall’; ‘Take the easy route to possessing the kingdom by
bowing down to me.’
When a tempting appeal is made to our desire, we must respond by
seeing the lie behind it. Sin only seems attractive because there is a lie
attached to it – often that God is not trustworthy. It is the same principle
used when we go back to the Garden of Eden, and hear Satan’s initial
question to Eve: ‘Did God really say…?’ Satan is questioning whether
God is good and trustworthy and has our best interests at heart. God
can be trusted to meet all our needs without us having to take matters
into our own hands. The whole Bible shows God coming up trumps to
bless His people and further His purposes in the world.
Yes, He is to be trusted!
Scripture to consider: Gen. 3:1–19 & 4:1–7; Rom. 7:14–25; Jas 1:13–18
An action to take: Think of any temptations you are facing and identify the lie
behind them.
A prayer to make: ‘Thank You, Lord, that You have proved throughout the Bible
that You are utterly trustworthy. Amen.’
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