
Helpful Bible Readings
IN TIMES OF TEMPTATION
Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 Corinthians Chapter 10 verse 13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
ASSURANCE AND SALVATION
1 John Chapter 5 verses 12 to 13
He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.
John Chapter 3 verse 16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
FORGIVENESS
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

RECEIVING JESUS
John Chapter 1 verse 12
Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Revelation Chapter 3 verse 20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION
Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 8 to 9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no-one can boast.
Titus Chapter 3 verse 5
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
GOD'S LOVE AND KNOWLEDGE
Psalm 139 verses 1 to 18
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in — behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right and will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonnderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
TURNED FROM GOD?
Luke Chapter 15 verses 11 to 31
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no-one gave him anything. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'
So they began to celebrate. "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.'
ARE YOU WORRIED?
Matthew Chapter 6 verses 25 to 34
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
THE GOLDEN RULE
Matthew Chapter 7 verse 12
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
JESUS PAID IT ALL
Romans Chapter 5 verse 8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Peter Chapter 3 verse 18
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
(Readings rom The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society)

Prayers for Comfort and Health
TRUSTING IN JESUS
Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life.
(Take a few moments to ask His forgiveness for anything in particular that is on your conscience.)
Please forgive me.
I now turn from everything which I know is wrong.
Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free.
Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Spirit. I now receive that gift.
Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever.
Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
FOR THE BEREAVED
Heavenly Father,
Who gave your Son Jesus Christ to suffering and death on the cross, and raised Him to life in glory, grant to me a patient faith in times of darkness, and strengthen my heart with the knowledge of your love, through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen
Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever.
Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
FOR FORGIVENESS
Dear Heavenly Father,
I find it so hard to forgive those who are unkind to me, or who blame me for the things which are not my fault.
I go on bearing a grudge against them and I feel bitter and resentful. I know this is wrong.
When Peter asked Jesus how many times he ought to forgive someone who had wronged him, Jesus said he must go on and on forgiving. Jesus even prayed for forgiveness for those who crucified Him.
Please help me to be more like Him and be willing to forgive. Amen.
Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever.
Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
FOR FAMILY
Heavenly Father,
I pray for all the members of my family. For those who are growing up, that they may increase in wisdom and love.
For those facing changes, that they may meet them with hope.
For those who are weak, that they may find strength.
For those with heavy burdens, that they may carry them lightly.
For those who are old and frail, that they may grow in faith and find their strength in you.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
GOING INTO HOSPITAL
Dear Lord,
You understand my feelings at this moment, you know my fears and my nervousness, you know the thoughts that I cannot put into words. I thank you for all the skill and wisdom of the surgeon, the anaesthetist and the nursing staff. Give them your strength during all their work and help me to place myself into their hands.
Thank you Jesus. Amen.

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