It was very early on Thursday morning, time to prepare for this week’s THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK. I was about to close the computer down, prayerfully asking for inspiration, and there it was before me! A thank you for the “SO GOOD” thought from a reader who had tried but failed, she said, to say something profound about ‘be strong, keep calm and have faith’ and then asked, could I help?

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You will recall that a previous THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK included words from a song which was sung by Michael Ball with Captain Tom who raised over 30 million pounds for the NHS. Soon throughout the world people were singing the song and getting help through the words, “When you walk through a storm… you will never walk alone”. As I recalled that happening, another song popped into my mind – one that has always lifted me when I’ve struggled. It was written by the band Secret Garden, with music from Norwegian Ralph Lovlaid and lyrics by Irish writer Brendon Graham. Many have interpreted “You Raise Me Up” as a song to God, part of which is “When I am down and oh my soul so weary, You raise me up,” and another line is “I am strong when I am on Your shoulders… You raise me up to more than I can be…”

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Please let me know if you can’t find the complete song for in that raising up there is calmness and faith.

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Now I take you back to those two short words ‘calm’ and ‘faith’, neither of which need to be intense or deep in knowledge. We might remember the day when Jesus calmed the storm – Luke 8.v.22-25. Jesus did not calm the storm for Himself but for His frightened disciples as He does it for us.

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Then we go to St. Paul writing to the people of the Roman church (Romans 8 v.26 & 27) and saying, “The Spirit (Holy Spirit) helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us by searching in our hearts.” Our simplicity is loved by God and answered by Him.

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I have spoken to Revd Michael and Barbara Haighton and they thank us for the prayers. Thinking about those who have not got access to the internet, they suggested turning to Premier Christian Radio, which can be found on channel 725 on Freeview (also available on digital radio).

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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

Almighty and ever hearing God, we pray that we might find stillness, for in stillness we can know your nearness and as we are still Lord you show us how to be calm.
Lord God, as we are quiet, we find once more the depth of love which comes to us from your Son Jesus who gave His life that we might live.
As we are still and quiet we remember how Jesus calmed the storms and as, at the present time, we are going through the storm of COVID-19 the prayer is that Jesus might calm our fears, that our children will be safe as well as the teachers and other workers, as the decision has been made for the schools to be opened again soon.
We pray too that the Holy Spirit will be interceding in all our prayers as was promised by St Paul. and as we pray as always in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN