This week’s prayers are written by Sam Adjepong – the theme is, Jesus Christ our living hope. They are based on 1 Peter 1:3-5, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.’

Monday 15 February – If last year was unpredictably horrible, what hope do we have for this New Year 2021? There is some hope in the new Covid-19 vaccine, but ultimately our hope is in Jesus Christ.

Thank You Father that our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and His righteousness. A hope that is secure, unfailing and alive. We will not be moved nor become fearful but will press on holding unto You because of Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Tuesday 16 February – Because of our salvation, we have a living hope that is alive and true. Faithful is He who has called us into fellowship with His Son (1 Corinthians 1:20).

Father, we thank You that no matter what this year brings, Your Son has gone before us and is able to keep that which we commit to Him. He is our salvation – a salvation that produces a living hope based on the resurrection of Christ, our Lord and Saviour from the dead, and His victorious ascension back to Your right hand.

Because He lives, we also shall live. We can trust in Christ about everything in life. He is our living hope. Nothing in all creation shall be able to separate us from Your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Hallelujah! Glory to Christ’s name now and forever.

We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to the rock which cannot be moved. Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love. We pray for any who are not rooted in Christ – save the lost, restore the fallen, and strengthen those who still stand. We ask that You will anoint and use the ministries and people of Telford Elim, in person and online, to see many people rooted into Christ their living hope. Amen

Wednesday 17 February – We have a living hope because of the abundant mercy of our God, in Christ. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), because of all that Jesus has accomplished for us.  We have been cleansed by the blood of Christ and made righteous and given the hope of eternal life. Thank You, Lord, for this abundant mercy for not getting what we really deserve because of our sin and failures.

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life – my lips shall praise You. I will bless You while I live, and I will lift up my hands in Your name.  Your mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. This is a cause of cerebration as we begin a new day. Jesus our living hope – we come into Your presence to magnify and to worship You. Lead us in the centre of Your will today, and may be have the joy of partnering with You in Your mission, along with Your people and through Your Church, to the world. Amen

Thursday 18 February – We have a living hope because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).

‘If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep’ (1 Cor.15:19-20).

Hallelujah! Thank You, Father, that the object of our hope is the risen Saviour, Your beloved Son. This makes all the difference because we have believed and have come to know that He is the Christ, the son of the living God. You – Father, Son and Spirit – alone are God and there is no other. We praise the glorious name of Jesus, and rejoice in His resurrection and soon return. Because He lives we also will live. No matter what the year brings – our anchor is secured in Christ our Lord. We Praise His glorious name.

Lord, we pray for all who we know who are without the hope of Christ the Saviour today – we pray for their salvation; enable Telford Elim, to be effective at reaching and winning the lost, bringing them to Christ the Saviour, and then helping disciple them so they become strong in faith and fearless disciple-makers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Friday 19 February – Our living hope in Jesus is safely guarded by the power of God (1 Peter 1:5). We are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Lord Jesus, Your eyes are upon us, we are grounded in You, hedged around by Your Spirit and word, and protected from any weapon formed against us. We are confident that this hope will not fail us for we know whom we have believed and are persuaded that You are able to keep what we have committed to You. Lord Jesus, it is all about You, and we praise You.  

Many families are mourning lost ones, many in financial crises, and many with mental health issues because of this ongoing pandemic. Will You enable our church to point them to the only source of true, lasting salvation hope, to You. Help us all to be the instruments of Your grace, anointed by the Spirit to be effective witnesses and disciple-makers. Amen

Saturday 20 February – ‘Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us’ (Romans 5:3b-5).

The trials that we go through are to show the genuineness of our faith, and eventually bring glory to Jesus – if we will remain faithful and submitted to Christ as we go through them. So Father, we pray for strength to persevere and not lose heart, nor to grow weary; instead that we will go from strength to strength adding to our faith moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, goodliness, brotherly and sisterly kindness, and maturing love.

Would You, by Your Holy Spirit, enable us to serve Christ – set apart with clean hands, hearts that are open to You and Your ways, and with Your joy as our strength. Our eyes are on You, Lord Jesus, our living hope. Amen

Sunday 21 February – We have a living hope in Jesus Christ because of the nature of the inheritance He has brought us into which is ‘incorruptible, undefiled and does not fade away, and is reserved in heaven for us’ (I Peter 1:4).

‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour – that having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life’ (Titus 3:5-7). 

Father, help us to see You as You are, our blessed hope. Oh to see the exceeding greatness of Your love and power which is Christ in us the hope of glory. No matter what 2021 brings – we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, Jesus our living hope. Let the redeemed believe and proclaim this over our church and our families.

We also pray for our church AGM today – thank You for how You blessed the church in 2020, and enabled us to continue and grow in so many ways producing good fruit that honours and brings glory to Christ, our Lord. May Your blessing be upon us in 2021, Your favour upon all who worship, serve and minister in Telford Elim, online and in person, and on those elected as Church Elders today. May they be strong and courageous in faith, humble and gentle in spirit, wise and discerning as leaders in the church. In Jesus’ name. Amen