Lent 2023 – Day 24 – Luke 15 v 11-32

Welcome to our Daily reflections for Lent.

We have provided a number of ways of using these reflections.

• You can listen to it in podcast style by clicking on the first audio file. (approx 18 minutes);
• You can listen to the reflection and the prayers with a shortened length for personal prayer (approx 6 minutes);
• You can read your own version of the Bible and then listen to the reflection, play the hymn in the embedded YouTube clip and then listen to the prayer section;
• You can choose to just read through it and ignore the audio files; or
• any combination of the above.

However you choose to use them we hope you will find them helpful and thought provoking.

Full Audio of today’s reflection. To be added

Read Luke Chapter 15 verses 11-32. In your own preferred version. The audio uses the NIV.

Link to the Bible Gateway NIV version (Opens in a new tab)

Audio of reflection

“he was lost and is found.”

The parable of the lost son is one of my favourite parables. One that speaks into all of our lives. Sometimes we desire what is not good for us and sometimes we get it to our great detriment. Sometimes we are bitter that we do not get what we think we deserve. All of these things serve to separate us from our Father God.

I often pray, during our prayers of confession in worship, that God forgives us time after time after time and it is true. However, we must remember that it is not a free pass but that we are called to do the right thing first time so that we do not need to ask for forgiveness.

In one of my previous jobs I was asked to do some work that we did not really have explicit permission to do. When I questioned this, I was asked if I could complete the piece of work. The answer to this was that yes I could. Then let’s do it and ask for forgiveness later was the reply. I am pleased to say we did the work and I did not need to ask for that forgiveness. However, that is not the way we should approach our relationship with God no matter how confident we are that when we truly ask for forgiveness we will receive it. Rather we should strive to do the right thing every time confident that it is God’s will for us.

Hymn: “I was lost but Jesus found me”

Contemplation Words

“he was lost and is found”

Let us pray together.

Contemplative Prayer

Think of the words in order to understand context and meaning, Feel the meaning of the words with and in your heart, Pray, using the words, for yourself or others. With only a name and without explaining the reasons or pre-defining any answers. Listen for God’s voice in the quiet of your prayers. Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.

Twitter Prayer

Lord,I thank you that you never give up on me. Amen

Full Prayer

Loving God, you know everything about us, you hear our prayers, and care about all that concerns us. We pray for those who do not know your great love for them. Members of our families, friends, colleagues and strangers. Lord we so often feel that we do not have the right words to say to draw them to you.

We thank you that nothing is too difficult for you, that you take our faltering words and make them powerful. We thank you that you wait, arms open, for the lost to return.

We pray for the presence of your Holy Spirit in the lives of those who are lost and wandering.

Thank you that you never give up on us. We thank you for the reminder that you changed our own hearts drawing us into that loving relationship which is our faith. Amen

Copyright Notices

Reflections and Prayers

By Chris Hancock

Hymns

Hymn words where displayed are in the Public Domain. Hymn organ recordings where used are from Small Church Music. Copyright notice: Rev. Clyde McLennan, performer in this collection, has assigned his performer rights in this collection to Hymnary.org. Non-commercial use of these recordings is permitted. Other hymns are from YouTube and covered by YouTube copyright processes.

Bible Readings

Bible readings are from the New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Images

Images where used are from pixabay.com and free for commercial use no attribution required.

Background Music

The background music in today’s recordings is: Music from Pixabay Relaxing Music Vol.12 – Relaxing Time slightly edited by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.

Sound Effect from Pixabay Andrew kn – At the edge of space II – Re-mixed and tinkered with by Chris Hancock as permitted by the Pixabay licence.