Dec 18 – The focus of this week’s Daily Prayers is on prayer as incense using thoughts from a sermon by Dr Neil Chadwick, ‘Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh,’ https://www.geocities.ws/neilchad/gold.doc as a basis.

As one of the gifts brought by the Wise Men recorded in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, frankincense has held a special significance for the Church through the ages.

The primary lesson from frankincense is that our worship is to be pleasing to God. Remember, this sweet smelling resin comes as the result of the tree’s woundedness and pain.

When we can worship God in the midst of our sorrow, our brokenness, then it is a sweet smelling offering. That’s why David said, ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise’ (Psalm 51:17).

Father, as we reflect on frankincense – we give You thanks and praise that even those wounded areas of our lives, even the areas of deep pain, can become a catalyst for spiritual renewal.

You have a way, through brokenness, of cleansing us of self-reliance and self-dependence bringing us to our knees in heartfelt true worship. You are able to turn our wounds and pain into a sweet smelling basis for worship.

Accept our offering of worship this Advent, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Dec 19 – Lord Jesus, at this Advent – we offer to You afresh our lives as we prepare for Your coming. In Your Incarnation, You came fully to the world You had made, You held nothing back.

You will appear a Second time in glory to draw everything to a conclusion, end the Age of Grace, and prepare the way ready to start the Great Judgement.

You are our everything. You are interested in the condition of our hearts when we pray and worship You. You see us as we really are!

At this Advent, check my heart to ensure that my devotions are directed to You out of a heart full of sweetness and light, and not from a sense of religious duty which does not engage my heart and mind.

If there is any bitterness in me because I don’t feel that You are dealing fairly with me – set me free from it. I pray for all today who are stuck in the quagmire of self-pity because they think everyone, and everything, is against them or doesn’t understand them.

We pray that divine revelation will reveal the true state of hearts, where needed, lead to repentance and a genuine desire to move forward Christ. You call us to true worship.

We pray for the wisdom and spiritual understanding to overcome feelings of self-pity, fear and doubt. May our worship reflect our dependence on Your grace at such times. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Dec 20 – Lord Jesus, while joyful praise is acceptable to You, tears, like frankincense resin, oozing out of our hurts, broken hearts are especially pleasing to You. The tears of repentance are also a sweet smelling sacrifice.

May there be a spiritual awakening in our church, borough and County leading to the rising up of a great people of profound faith who serve You unselfishly in their homes, schools, colleges, universities, businesses and places of recreation and leisure.

In the midst of all the last minute shopping, upcoming sales, and all the sporting activities – we pray for our nation. Instead of debt, materialism, escapism and consumerism controlling many – break the power and control of these controlling philosophies, mind sets and unseen spirits.

May people be set free in Christ through the ministry of Telford Elim in person and online. Amen

Dec 21 – Lord Jesus, in the Bible, incense is a symbol of prayer and worship, for it was offered along with the sacrifices of the sanctuary. The Psalmist cries, ‘Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice’ (Psalm 141:2).

When the Magi offered incense to You, they were acknowledging that they knelt in the presence of the thrice holy Son of God. It was no mere earthly ruler who had come to be born in Bethlehem, but You, the heavenly King of kings.

Open our eyes afresh to who You really are. You are the King of kings, Lord of lords – the Alpha and Omega, the only Saviour of the world.

Lord Jesus, we declare and proclaim Your love and grace over our Church, over Telford, and over Shropshire. Amen

Dec 22 – Lord Jesus, how the wise men understood that they were in the presence of the Supreme Deity we cannot tell, but they did, and their gifts show it. And so they came, worshipping You – bending the knee, falling down before the Christ; perhaps bowing in awed silence in the presence of a divine mystery they could not fathom.

May our church be filled with that same awe and sense of majesty because we experience and feel Your presence because of a fresh, vibrant and living relationship with You.

We pray for Your holy presence, awesome power and call to salvation, worship and service become more widely known in Telford in 2024. May many new disciples be made, disciples who become disciple making disciples themselves.

As we consider those who are wounded, in pain, broken or lost across our Borough and County – we pray for their salvation. Holy Spirit glorify the Lord Jesus greatly as we reach out with the Gospel.

Empower and enable us to preach with boldness and confidence so that men and women, , young adults, young people and children will come into a living faith in Christ through repentance and a saving faith in Him. Amen.

Dec 23 – Luke 9:47-50, CSB, ‘But Jesus, knowing their inner thoughts, took a little child and had him stand next to him. 48He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me welcomes him who sent me. For whoever is least among you — this one is great.”

In His Name

49John responded, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”

50 “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”’

Holy God, send Your Spirit so that holy and healthy attitudes inhabit the life of Telford Elim.

Forgive us when what we have been has been less than You intended. Help us to amend where we are falling short of Your glory, and set a course for us into the future where our communal life reveals Your glory in Christ. Amen

Dec 24 – Lord Jesus, as we enter the place of worship today on this Christmas Eve – may we come with that same sense of the holy mystery of God that the wise men brought to You.

May we come, offering the “incense” of our worshipful expectancy and humble adoration. May we come with Spirit anointed “prayer and praising, voices raising, worshipping God on high”

The Magi remind us that it’s no casual thing to enter into Your presence. They remind us that we don’t come to be entertained, amused or even instructed; we come to meet the Lord of all. To encounter Your overwhelming majesty.

If that doesn’t happen in our gathering today, we haven’t brought the right gift into Your presence. We’ve brought another agenda with us, an agenda that runs counter to Your purpose for us.

We declare afresh, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Help us always to come into Your presence as the Magi did, offering the gift of our prayerful devotion. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen