Daily Thought: Emily Hobhouse

Daily Thought: Our Health

Sunday Service: Wrong Decisions

Sunday Service: Parting Instructions

Daily Thought: Mental Health Awareness

Daily Thought: White Ribbon

Daily Thought: International Workers Memorial Day

Daily Thought: Heroes

Daily Thought: Footprints in the Sand

The Importance of Prayer

It has been quite a week with the 3 week extension of the lockdown and once more I encourage people to keep in touch with one another.

I was impressed on Thursday night when so many people across the country went to their doorsteps and applauded our dedicated health service workers; it seems to get bigger each week. These are very special moments in which the country comes together in solidarity. We are truly in this together.

To borrow a phrase from the late Jo Cox MP  we 'have more in common than that which divides us'. We are also coming to appreciate the efforts of so many people whom we have in the past taken for granted. That legacy is one which I hope lives on beyond the virus.

Many of you will be feeling anxiety at this time: I certainly am. Do not feel guilty about this or beat yourself up over it. It is a natural feeling. After all, Jesus went through agony in the garden of Gethsemane at the thought of what was to come. Try to think positive thoughts and do whatever helps you to relax; our mental health is very precious indeed.

Prayer becomes important even if it is not always easy. We need to travel the path ahead in a way in which we are open to God's prodding. Those making important decisions from positions of authority need our prayers; those who work in the health service and other emergency services need our prayers; the shop workers who are constantly interacting with the public need our prayers; the sick and sad need our prayers; those struggling with isolation such as families where family members have the likes of autism or ADHD need our prayers; those for whom domestic abuse issues seem inescapable need our prayers; and of course we need to pray for the scientists working on a vaccine. The list is endless, however, we should not forget that God can bring hope into the most difficult of situations.

In the meantime, seek to bless one another. I commend to you the words of St Paul:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11

The Lord is my Shepherd

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

These words are familiar words from the Book of Psalms. Many can recite them and in various forms we often sing them in worship. Are not these words especially relevant for today?

Psalm 23 is a 'Psalm of Trust' and as such it is a Psalm that looks to God in times of trouble. The Psalm contains phrases such as the 'darkest valley' and a table 'in the presence of my enemies'. Clearly the Psalm was either written by or for a person going through times of trouble and yet, in the darkest of times, it points to a God in whom we can put our trust; a God who has been faithful in the past and who is not about to give up on us, even in the most challenging of times.

Today we face real challenge in the form of a deadly virus that is sweeping the globe. There can be no doubt that the next few months are going to be very difficult indeed. During the current lockdown we are having to live with restrictions that we could not have envisaged just a few short months ago. We have to be vigilant for the sake of our own health, as well as for those whom we love and hold dear.

At times we will be tempted to despair. In these moments we need to look to God for help, trusting in God's unwavering love to help and guide us, even through the darkest of paths.

I encourage you to hold fast to the words of Joseph Hart who in a well known hymn wrote these words that still hold meaning for these days:

How good is the God we adore!

Our faithful, unchangeable friend,

His love is as great as His pow'r,

And knows neither measure nor end.

May God's love enfold you at this time.