First Magherafelt - Prayer Blog: 10/05/2026

Saturday, 16 May 2026

Life in the GTZ

SCOTTY SMITH

“ At just the right time, God sent his Son” (Gal.4:7). “At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth” (Eph.1:10). “My times are in your hand” (Ps.31:14).

Lord Jesus, “What time is it?”—a consideration we take to heart several times a day, especially if we have an appointment to make or have friends living in different time zones around the world. But there is one time zone that is constant for all of us who know you— T he GTZ— Gospel Time Zone. Free us to lives the rest of our lives in that “zone.” What might that mean?

Priority-Wise: It would mean our primary time reference would be you, Jesus. We’d say more freely and gladly with Paul, “For me—to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil1:21).

Calendar-Wise: Life in the GTZ calls us to think of everything in light of your resurrection and return, Jesus—the already-and-not-yet of your Kingdom… our present and future life with you. When the Gospel captured Martin Luther’s heart, he said only two days became important on his calendar—“This day, and that Day”—the Day you will return to finish making all things new. Give us that same

Peace-and– Hope-Wise: We’d worry less and love more. When the question arises, “What’s going on in the world right now?”—our primary thought would be, “In this very moment, Jesus is redeeming his every nation bride, ruling over the kings of the earth, making all things new, and working in all things for our good. Angels are rejoicing and demons are trembling—and before long, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.” (Phil.2:5-11).

Hallelujah… in the GTZ everything happens right on time, and since “our times are in your hand” (Ps.31:14), fill our days, dreams, and plans with yourself, Jesus. So Very Amen.

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Friday, 15 May 2026

Holy, Loving, “Gospelicious” Competition

Heavenward

SCOTTY SMITH

Holy, Loving, “Gospelicious” Competition

SCOTTY SMITH

“Outdo one another in showing honor”. (Rom.12:10)

Heavenly Father, what an intriguing verse—we are all familiar with competition and the effort required to outdo others. Some people live to outdo one another in pickle ball, weight loss, or on the golf course—and losing can send clubs flying and golf carts into a lake. Some of us compete economically—either to “outdo the Jones,” feed our security idol, or reach the never-reached-zone of “having enough.” Some of us compete spiritually—outdoing one another in theology learned, verses memorized, children catechized. We can turn anything into a stage to bring honor to ourselves.

Abba, our generation desperately needs renewed passion and joy in the most redemptive form of competition imaginable—outdoing “ one another in showing honor.” Oh, that respect, honor, kindness, and other-centered compassion were championed again. This isn’t a “sweet,” naïve sentiment, our call to “play nice”; it’s the calling you’ve given us in Jesus, the culture the Gospel creates, and one of the signs the Kingdom of God is nearby.

There’s always an honorable, kind way to do even the most difficult relational matters—at home, at work, and in our culture. Life isn’t about winning but serving; not getting more but giving more, not gaining applause but giving love, not earning a higher place on the org chart but choosing a lower place where your grace pools.

Whether we’re in a complex family story, having to make hard decisions about our workplace, or need to confront dear friends with hard stuff—grant us big grace, Abba-trust, and tenacity in loving each other as well as we can. We will never regret “erring” on the side of honoring Jesus. We’ll only regret seeking to look good, gain control, and finishing on top. So Very Amen.

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FREE eBook: Fit to Lead: On the Call to Pastoral Ministry by Charles Spurgeon

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Thursday, 14 May 2026

Devilish Footholds and Learning to Steward Anger

Heavenward

SCOTTY SMITH

Devilish Footholds and Learning to Steward Anger

SCOTTY SMITH

“ When you feel angry, don’t sin. Don’t let the sun go down while you’re still angry. That gives the devil a foothold, robs you of sleep, and ruins the next day—or month, or years.” (Paraphrase of Ephesians 4:26–27)

Blessed Lord Jesus, I can think of certain door-to-door salespeople I wish I’d never let across the threshold. One toe through my front door, one minute into their “pitch-n-spill” and I’m finding the quickest way to finish the visit. Help us to be that wise when the devil approaches our hearts and homes. He lost us for eternity but seeks to wreak havoc and destruction in route to his own destruction.

If the devil came knocking in a red jumpsuit with a three-pronged pitchfork in hand, we’d have no problem turning him away. Unfortunately, he often comes in the back door through our vulnerability, exhaustion—and as you remind us, especially through our anger. Jesus, help us steward our anger. It’s a confusing and important emotion.

Many of us have been on the destructive end of anger and rage, so we’re wary of hot tempers. Many of us have no clue how angry we are—masking that emotion and using its energy to live a driven, restless life. Help and free us, Lord. Anger isn’t bad, but it can be dangerous.

Jesus, help us be angry at the right time, for the right reasons, and in the right way. Melt the icy tension in our hearts. Change our rigidity into playfulness. Redirect the wasted energy of our anger into loving someone as unto you. Getting even never works. Repaying chilly relating with chilly relating only creates icebergs of distance, not even global warming can’t melt. You turn our mourning into happy dancing; certainly, you can turn our anger into foot-washing humility.

Right now, Lord Jesus, we throw open every door, window, crawlspace, and crack in our hearts to you. Come in and establish multiple footholds of mercy, grace, and compassion. Flood our hearts with your lovingkindness and supernatural compassion. So Very Amen.

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Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Gift-Wrapped Grace for Challenging Stories and People

Heavenward

SCOTTY SMITH

Gift-Wrapped Grace for Challenging Stories and People

SCOTTY SMITH

Three times I asked for God to remove my thorn in the flesh. His response? “ My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Cor.12:8-9)

Heavenly Father, like Paul, there are many things for which we pray, hoping for a “Yes, as you wish my child.” But instead, you choose to give us a “Yes” gift-wrapped in the “the-grace-that-we-need.” Thank you for being the perfect Father and not a Sugar Daddy. Send us “need-shaped-grace” for these things, Abba.

For our “ thorns in the flesh”: Grant us grace to accept the inconvenient, limiting, painful things going on in our bodies. Until we inhabit our resurrection body at Jesus’ return, keep us alive to your love, patient in affliction, and kind towards fellow suffers.

For our “ burrs in the saddle”: Father, some of us are dealing with “challenging” people and aggravating circumstances. Whether on the job, in our homes, or in our community—if you’re not going to change the situations, then change us—which will probably bring you the most glory. Grant us bigger hearts and thicker skins, wisdom from above and grace on the ground, less seething and more sweetness.

For our “ punches in the gut”: Some of us are reeling from fresh disappointments, betrayals, or losses. Thank you for being a Father of compassion and God of all comfort (2Cor.1:3). Help us catch our breath, gain perspective, and experience your calming, centering presence, Abba.

For our “ arrows to the heart”: Nothing hurts as much as relational pain. Father, grant us the grace we need to love well in messy, complex, didn’t-see-that-one-coming situations. Keep us from repaying hurt for hurt and “snark” for “snark.” Show us what “faith expressing itself in love” (Gal.5:6) looks like in our easiest and most heart-hurting stories. Thank you, and So Very Amen.

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Monday, 11 May 2026

Not Mind Over Matter, Abba Over All Things

Heavenward

SCOTTY SMITH

Not Mind Over Matter, Abba Over All Things

SCOTTY SMITH

“Find rest, O, my soul in God alone; hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5

Dear Father, thank for your being the designer, architect, and wellspring of both the rest and hope for which we long. That is our theology, and today we want it to be our actuality. So we follow King David’s example today and speak this glorious truth to ourselves—arresting the peace-robbing monologues we fall or jump into way too easily.

Some of us talk contemptuously to ourselves—heaping on blame, shame, and vain regrets. Some of us carry on a boring, self-focused chat—reminding ourselves of what we deserve, lamenting how few people really “get” us, and planning ways to get even or get more. None of these reap good benefits; they only rob precious joy.

As your beloved children, we are all called to address ourselves as David did in Psalm 62. You promise a rest you alone can provide. You give a hope only you can guarantee. So on this Sunday in May, we say to ourselves…

“ Anxious Me, find your calm in Jesus, alone. Take your restlessness to the One who gave you birth and new birth. Surely you can trust him who gave you a new heart and his perfect record. Jesus won your peace and is your peace. He is at work, right now, in all things for your good.”

“ Sad Self, take your pain to Abba—the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. You need his presence more than you need relief. Don’t weaponize your hurts, steward them.

“ Vulnerable Heart, don’t plug your “joy-cord” into mere people. Don’t hitch your fulfillment-wagon to burros without legs. Only your Father knows you thoroughly and loves you totally. He is all you need, and you really are his.”

“ Perturbed Soul, how much energy are you wasting blaming, “should-ing,” and resenting? You’re acting like a spiritual orphan, like you don’t actually have a heavenly Father who loves and cares for you. Get back home as you journey Home.” So Very Amen.

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First Magherafelt - Prayer Blog

Saturday, 16 May 2026

Life in the GTZ

Friday, 15 May 2026

Holy, Loving, “Gospelicious” Competition

FREE eBook: Fit to Lead: On the Call to Pastoral Ministry by Charles Spurgeon

Thursday, 14 May 2026

Devilish Footholds and Learning to Steward Anger

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Gift-Wrapped Grace for Challenging Stories and People

Monday, 11 May 2026

Not Mind Over Matter, Abba Over All Things

The Manifold and Multi-Colored Grace of God

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