Exodus 15:2 NCV
‘The Lord gives me strength and makes me sing; he has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise him’.

Gracious God, as we turn to You in prayer at the start of a new week, we reflect upon the cacophony of the bird song from our gardens, fields, wetlands, parks and streets. There may be many challenges ahead of us this week, for many different reasons, and there may be many reasons our hearts do not want to rejoice and sing, but just for a moment, as we pause and focus upon the gift of something so beautiful, something we can so easily take for granted, we give thanks for each unique song that reminds us of the wonder and diversity of Your creation and of Your presence in our world. As we clear our minds for a moment of the clamour and noise of the concerns of the day, with the knowledge that just as You love and care for every creature into which you have breathed life, from the tiniest of finches, to the majestic swan in flight, so too You love and care for each and every one of us. As a new week begins, may we journey assured of Your creative, life-giving presence with us and may we give thanks and feel a song of joy in our hearts, knowing we are loved by You. So too, help us to share the power of Your love in our communities this day so that the hearts of all Your people may have cause to sing in praise to You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.