Lent 2023 – Day Two – Luke 1 verses 39 – 80
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 20 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 including Bible passage (approx 18 mins).
Audio of Reflection shortened prayers (Approx 6 mins).
Read Luke Chapter 1 verses 39 – 80. 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 only
As I read this two songs in Luke’s Gospel it spoke to me about how song is an important part of the lives of the majority of us. Music lifts us, makes us cry, calms our fears and stresses.
Perhaps even more so the words of hymns, songs and poems resonate with us and express our inner thoughts and feelings. Even words written by others still speak vividly to us as if they were our own.
In our passage today we read words expressed by Elizabeth, Zechariah and Mary. Heartfelt, beautiful words of salvation.
When I used to walk to the rail station each day, I quite often would “write” a song of praise and sing it as I 
walked along. Unfortunately, by the time I had settled on the train the words would more often than not be gone from my head. The fact that they were forgotten did not lessen the outpouring of praise to God. I do have a notebook of those words I remembered hastily scribbled on the train, the tunes, however, always escape my mind!
I encourage you, during this Lenten season, to take time to sing a new song to the Lord and if possible, commit it to paper. Do not be afraid to share it with someone – they will benefit from your words and the power and passion which caused you to write them.
This passage also speaks of the potential for each of our lives “what then is this child going to be?” (v 66 NIV)
Whilst, in this context, we are thinking of a new born baby and perhaps more usually we ask this of the children we know. We are all God’s children and so we can all ask ourselves “what then are we going to be”? as we continue our lives of faith in God.
Singing the Faith – 186 – “Tell out my soul”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQxHxUHUI-U
or Songs of Fellowship – 1003 – “Sing to the Lord with all of your voice”
Daily Sketch
Today’s passage spoke to me of the questions the angels words must have raised Who were these promised children going to be and what effect would they have on the world? Yet in those questions there is a shout to the Lord of the Good News.
Let us pray together.
Audio of Prayer section
After the contemplation words. The audio has approximately four and a half minutes of the quiet background music for your own prayers. If you would like longer just stop the audio and re-start it when you wish. If you want a shorted period “drag” the audio to 05:45 which is just before the final prayer.
Contemplation Words
“What then is this child going to be?” (v 66 NIV)
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 our prayers.
Pray using your own prayers or one of those which have been prepared below.
Twitter Prayer
Lord make me realise that your hand is with me every moment of my life. Amen
Facebook Prayer
Lord each day help me to be the best that I can be. Let my life speak of the Good News which fills me. Help me to see all that I can be for you. Amen
Full Prayer
Loving God may my own heart be bursting with the joy of knowing you. May my voice speak of your love for the world and everyone in it.
Help me to overcome my fears and anxieties, my lack of courage and confidence, so that I may sing a new song every day, of your place in my life. Let me speak of your desire to be at the centre of everyones life.
Let me always be asking you what you want me to be, at this moment and in the future. If change is coming in my life, help me embrace and rejoice in it, knowing that you are a part of every circumstance in my life.
Help me to see that each step I take, as I share your Good News, is a step I take with you.
Help me to know that you do indeed, show me the path one step at a time. 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:
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.
