Did you know that God is the most amazing artist EVER!  You only have to look at the world he created to discover what an incredible artist he is!  His colours, his creativity, his shapes, his sounds, his designs amaze us as we see the incredible depth of beauty in everything he made.  Not only did he fashion and create the world in which we live, but also what he did in the rest of the universe is breath-taking!

Planets and galaxies were made by his design and what a design.  You only have to look into the vast array of the heavens to discover what a stunning, incredible and flamboyant artist God is.  Did you know that our sun is a star, which is a million times larger than the earth?  However, it is only one star in 100 billion stars that make up our galaxy, which is called the Milky Way!  The Lord took time and effort to create each star, for each star is different in terms of size, lifetime, colour and temperature.  The interesting thing is that our galaxy is only one galaxy in 100 billion galaxies in the universe!  Not only that, but our sun is as small as a grain of sand when you compare it to the size of other stars!

When the Lord formed the universe, he designed it with thought, flair and effort, all shining and reflecting his beauty and glory.  Psalm 19:1 says, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands’.

When the Lord finished creating the world and the universe, he looked at all he had made and said, “This is good!”.  But he didn’t stop there; he went on to create the birds in the sky, the fish in the seas and animals to live on the land.  He didn’t just create one type of bird, fish or animal, but as an amazing artist, he created various, wonderful, colourful, extraordinary creatures.  There are many television programmes that display and explore the beauty of the animals, birds and fish that live in this incredible world with us.  Scientists will tell you that it is estimated that there are several million species of living things on our planet of which possibly fewer than 10% have been identified.  In Genesis 1:20 the Lord said “Let the water teem with living creatures” and this is certainly what happened!  No wonder it says in the Bible that as he finished creating the many living creatures he could say, “This is good!”

However, he didn’t stop there!  Then came the best bit of all!  He said in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make mankind in our image…”.   So then the greatest artist ever, shaped, fashioned and formed human beings in his own image.  Wow!  Just think about this for a moment, not only have we been created, shaped and formed by the greatest, most wonderful, joyful, happy, kind, loving and faithful God but we are also created in his image!  Oh how we need a deeper revelation as to who we are for we have been wonderfully made!

Not only did the Lord make mankind immensely beautiful, but he also crafted us with joy and delight.  He took so much pleasure in what he had made that when he was finished he didn’t just say this is good, this time he said, “This is very good”.  Today – hear him say to you – You are my wonderful creation – you are very good!

A number of years ago just as I was starting to write my book called Oasis of Delight, I discovered that the word Eden meant delight.  That discovery got my senses going and my excitement soaring!  Listen to this: When God created human beings, he placed them in a garden he called Eden. In other words, he placed his amazing, unique, wonderful creation in his delight.  They were surrounded by delight, they were covered with delight and no matter where they looked, they saw and breathed delight.  Wow!  God loved mankind so much that he positioned them to live in his joy, pleasure and delight at all times. This experience was not just designed for Adam and Eve, for we too have been placed in his wonderful all-encompassing delight.

In the Bible God tells us that he takes great delight in each of us.  He rejoices over us with singing and finds much pleasure in each one of us!  We are not worthless individuals, indeed before we were born, God poured his delight into us!  Even before we took our first breath, he was drenching us with his love and pleasure.  We were created to live, breathe and be covered daily with his delight.  The Bible tells us that no matter who we are, each of us is a person of great worth and immense value. What a message we need to learn and to share with others around us.  We all need to know we are loved.

The truth is that the Lord delights so much in us that he sings over us every day.  Whether we hear his voice or not, he fills the universe and beyond with his many melodies of love, joy and pleasure in us.

One day, as I was out for a walk with the Lord, I asked him to speak to me.  I looked across a field and saw some trees in the distance.  As I looked, I concentrated on the weeds that were growing around the bottom of the trees.  I said to the Lord, “What a shame that those trees have such a lot of weeds around them.”  The Lord replied, “Nancy look up and see the immense beauty and majesty that is in each of those trees.  They are all so incredibly beautiful.  Don’t look down; instead look up!”  I looked up and was suddenly blown away by the intense beauty I saw.  I could have missed it by concentrating on the problem areas.

So many of us don’t see ourselves the way the Lord sees us. We concentrate on the ‘weeds’, giving attention to the difficulties and problems in our lives, instead of seeing the beauty that God created.  Let’s look up!  Let’s see ourselves from the Lord’s perspective!  Let’s delight in who he made us to be!  Let him deal with the weeds in his time.  Let’s remember that he surrounds us with his delight.  He loves each of us so deeply and has placed us in his delight.  His pleasure will forever be on you. No matter who you are this is the truth, so let’s believe it today!

Did you know that you have a bodyguard?  Celebrities have bodyguards to keep them safe and protect them – but you have the best bodyguard ever.  Read Proverbs 2:7-8 (TPT) – He becomes your personal bodyguard as you follow his ways, protecting and guarding you as you chose what is right.

It also says in the Bible that he goes before us- and that he is behind us – he is on our right hand side and also on our left hand side.  He completely surrounds us.  If you are a Christian, then he also lives inside of us and we live inside of him.  What a great protector we have.  What an amazing bodyguard we have.  Next time you feel attacked, or weak or alone – remember your bodyguard.  He is there all the time to strengthen you and to help you.  He won’t desert you – he continues to protect you always.

All you need to do is to call on him – Psalm 18:2b says: The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Call on your bodyguard, your strong Saviour and your God and he will help you!  When you find yourself in a difficult situation, or you feel worried about walking into a certain situation, or you feel on your own, remember you have a bodyguard who goes before you and is behind you – he never leaves you – he’s on your right hand side and your left hand side – you are completely surrounded by him.  Remember your amazing bodyguard who is within you, and you are within him – he will help you!

Many of you will know that I had an accident almost a year ago now.  I don’t know what happened, but I was discovered after being unconscious for 27-28 hours in my home.  I had a traumatic brain injury with two brain bleeds and one blood clot in the vein.  The doctors didn’t know whether I was going to live or die.  But my great and wonderful bodyguard protected me, and the doctors and medical staff said I had a spectacular recovery.  So don’t be afraid instead trust in your amazing bodyguard – your incredible God who will never let you down.  Be encouraged and trust in him for He loves you so very much!

Did you know that God’s love for you is unbreakable?  Let me read my paraphrase of Jeremiah 33:20 – If you could break my covenant with the day or with the night do that day and night no longer come at their appointed time then you could break my love for you.

A while after my husband, Ray died, I found some lyrics he had written and was struck by them – so I asked my daughter in law – Leanne Goudie if she would write a melody for the lyrics which she did and then we recorded the song on a CD called Unbreakable Love.  Listen to some of the lyrics:

If you could stop the day and stop the night

Remove them from their scheduled flight

Then you could stop my love for you

Erase my promise from the sky

Then you could steal the apple of my eye

Unbreakable love, unbreakable love

My love from here to eternity stretches unreservedly

Unbreakable love, unbreakable love

I am love, I am your destiny

If you could count the stars and count the sand

Reach out and hold them in your hand

Then you could count my love for you

Stop the earth from spinning round

Then you could silence heaven’s loving sound

Unbreakable love, unbreakable love

My love from here to eternity stretches unreservedly

Unbreakable love, unbreakable love

I am love, I am your destiny

I’m your God, you are loved

All your failures I’ve restored

I’m your God, you are loved

I will never let you go

Unbreakable love, unbreakable love

My love from here to eternity stretches unreservedly

Unbreakable love, unbreakable love

I am love, I am your destiny

No matter what you are going through God is there for you.  He loves you completely and unconditionally – you cannot stop his love for you.  You cannot break the cycle of the day and of the night – so you cannot break his love for you.  He absolutely adores you and is always there for you.  You may not feel his love or his presence, but the truth is he never leaves us and he never forsakes us.

He doesn’t give up on you when things are bad, instead his love continues to be poured out on you.  So no matter what you are going through – know this – his love for you is constant and unbreakable.

I have read the Bible many times, but I realised recently that although I had read Genesis chapter 1 over and over again, I had missed that God said in verse 3 ‘And there was evening and there was morning the first day!  It struck me that it was strange that God said evening and then morning and that made the first day.  To my mind I would have thought he would have said ‘it was morning and evening the first day!’  But you see God created something in the darkness and at the right time he brought forth the light.  Often when we are surrounded by darkness, painful problems, and difficult situations, it is so hard to see that the light, (the answers) will come.  The darkness seems so dark at 11pm.  However, the truth is that at 12 midnight something happens although we do not see it.  It changes from pm to am – and even though we are still surrounded by darkness, we have turned a corner.  We know that at some point in the next few hours, the light will come.  At the time there is nothing to suggest in the circumstances around us that anything will change, but we know that as we continue to hang on, the light will come.

The same is true for our hard and difficult situations.  It may seem as though darkness is reigning and nothing will change but, if we keep trusting God for the light, we will see a change in our circumstances and a new day will come into sight.  Whatever darkness, problem, or situation is in your life, put your trust in God in the darkness and I tell you his light – his answers – his solutions will come!

I also noticed in the Bible that Jesus says that all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed.  A mustard seed is the smallest seed there is, so our faith need only be small to see miracles happen.  However, something we may have missed is that Jesus goes on to say that when this small mustard seed is planted it will grow and become the largest of all garden plants with such big branches that the birds of the air will perch in its shade.  We all like to quote that Jesus says all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed but we don’t go on to read what Jesus says to do with this mustard seed faith.  We need to plant it!  We need to plant our faith.

So, my question to you is: have you planted your faith?

I taught this during my latest ‘Tea and Cake with Nancy’ and encouraged those who listened to make sure they plant their seed.  What do I mean?  How do I plant my seed?  Well, the first thing I want you to notice is a seed is planted into the darkness – into the earth.  I believe it is important to plant our faith at a time where there seems to be no hope.  Perhaps the doctors have been telling you there is no hope?  Or perhaps it’s your bank account that is shouting to you that there is no hope?  Or maybe you are longing for your family to be saved and/or healed, but there seems no hope.  Perhaps someone has harmed you physically, emotionally, spiritually and you are hurting and there seems no hope – this is the time to plant your mustard seed….in the darkness – when there is little or no hope.

Paul and Silas did just that!  In Acts 16 it tells us they were arrested and put in jail, in fact into an inner cell.  In other words, they were put into the darkest cell where there was no light whatsoever.  They had been beaten, severely flogged and now had their feet in stocks to make sure there was no way they could escape.  What did they do in the darkness?  What did they do when there was little or no hope?  In the darkness they planted their seed of faith, and they sang praises to God!  Remarkable!  We often forget that they didn’t know the end of the story.  They didn’t know a miracle was going to happen.  For them it was a time of darkness when fear and anxiety could have overcome them, but instead they decided to praise God.  They didn’t know that God was going to supernaturally answer their prayers.  We know that’s what happened because we have read the Bible, but they were in the middle of the story, and they didn’t know how it was going to end.  That’s what makes this story so inspiring and so remarkable.  They didn’t know what would happen as they praised God….but in the darkness of their situation, in the darkness of the night, in the darkness of being beaten, they praised God.

The first thing a seed does when it is planted into good soil is to put its roots down deep into the earth to get the nutrients it needs to grow. Water is essential for the seed to grow.  There is much growth underneath the ground – hidden from sight, but then at some point the seed will sprout and we will begin to see what has been happening in the darkness.  The same is true for us.  In order for us to grow in faith we need to plant our seed into good soil, in other words into the word of God.

It is essential that we spend time with the Lord daily if we want to grow….reading his word, talking with him, seeking his face, drinking in his presence, worshipping him, listening to him. putting our roots down deep and being drenched in his Spirit. This is all unseen – this is you and the Lord spending time together – putting your roots down deep into the soil of his word and drawing up his life-giving water and being drenched in the Holy Spirit.

So, let me ask you again – have you planted your seed?  Have you put your roots down deep?   I cannot stress enough how important our relationship is with the Lord when we go through dark times.

It’s good to remember that often in the darkness we see our greatest potential growth.  A seed grows hugely in the darkness and at some point, we will see what’s been happening as the growth shows itself in the light.  The same is true for us!  As we trust God and hold on to him in the darkness, as we keep reading his word, believing the truth of the Bible, keep talking to the Lord and putting our roots down into him – we will see the darkness dispel as the light of his life shines into all our dark places.  Keep trusting, keep rejoicing, keep praising and keep believing the truth of the word of God – let me remind that as you do this in the darkness, you will see the light of his love shining on you!  Woohoo!

Before my team and I (of 43 people) went to my Spiritual Health Weekend, we asked God that whilst each previous weekend has been incredible, that this weekend would be the best weekend we had ever put on – and God certainly answered our prayers.  What a joy it was to see what God did as we trusted in him.  Before going to the weekend, we prayed, we fasted, we sought God and prepared ourselves even more than we prepared the preaches etc., and we waited to see what God would do.  From the first night, God started to move and it was such a privilege to watch him move deeply in people’s hearts and lives.  There were over 540 people in the room.  I asked people if they wanted to give their lives to Jesus to go to a certain place in the room, where a couple of our team were waiting to lead them through to Jesus.  Three ladies told me their stories later.  One of them who was not thinking of responding, found herself standing up after the appeal.  Her two friends asked her, “Where are you going?”  She told them, “I have to go down the front and give my life to Jesus.”  The other two answered, “Wait for us, we are coming too!”  All three gave their lives to the Lord Jesus.  There were so many who gave their lives to the Lord we had to stop counting – including one who was led to the Lord on the pavement on the way home!  Woohoo!  So good. All these people are followed up by the leaders who brought them. 

We also experienced so much physical healing.  One lady who could not raise her hands above her head, or uncurl her fingers not only did both of those things but also stood from a wheelchair and walked across the room and stood for 15 minutes.  God enabled her to do all these things and when I announced it from the platform, she raised her hands to show the rest of the audience what God had done.  Another lady who had Rheumatoid Arthritis and couldn’t move her stiff and bent fingers was healed.  After prayer it was as though she could play the piano – she was moving them all in the air to show everyone what God had done.

Every year, I pray for each person who attends the weekends.  Many of the names I don’t recognise, but whether I know them or not, I bring them to the Lord and ask him for a word for each woman.  This word is put on a card and read over them whilst they are at the conference.  One person, after receiving her word, went to her friend who works for ngm and asked her, “Did you tell Nancy about me?”  When she said she hadn’t, she insisted, “You must have told her about me – did you tell her I was creative?”  The team member replied saying she hadn’t spoken to me about her at all.  She then told her that the word was so accurate that she had been convinced that she must have told me.  The girl on the team told her, “It wasn’t me who told Nancy about you – it was God.”  When a lady I know wrote to me before the weekend and told me what difficult times had been troubling her – I looked up her word and knew immediately I needed to let her know that I had got her word several months before she told me the information about her health and her life.  I didn’t want her to receive the word at the weekend and think that I had given the word out of what I knew.  She was astounded when she received the word because she knew it had to be God.

So many women have written after the weekend telling me and my team how much God moved in their lives.  To be honest, I am overwhelmed at what God has done.  He has done more than I could ever think or imagine.  Lives have been transformed as God moved in individuals throughout the conference.  The hotel staff themselves were noticing the difference between this conference and others they have had at their hotel. 

I, went to the Spiritual Health weekend to bless others and came home mightily blessed myself!  As it was the 25^th anniversary, I received gifts, presents, cards, flowers, pampering treatments but the most incredible thing I received was a 3 minute video which showed people throughout the years who have attended the weekend telling me what God had done in their lives.  This video reduced me to tears as I could see so many women whose lives had been transformed through the 25 years that this weekend has been running.  What a joy!  Just as the weekend was starting, I also received a message from a man I didn’t know who told me that 33 years ago, the band that Ray and I had started and that we were in, Heartbeat, did a mission/concert at a hall in Worcester.  I remember the event well but didn’t know his story.  He told me he went to that event a total nonbeliever who had never even considered Jesus until that day.  He went on to say that during that event, he gave his life to the Lord Jesus and has not looked back since.  He is now an elder in his church and over the years has led hundreds of people to Jesus.  He went on to say, “I wonder how many people like me are out there on the back of your faith and obedience?”  Wow!  What an encouragement.

Sometimes we see what God does because of our faith and obedience, at other times we may not know until we get to glory but be assured, my friends, that every act of obedience, every act of faith produces huge fruit.  God sees each one and Heaven rejoices.  So let’s keep obeying and trusting in our great God.

Rejoice with me today that God has done so much – but know that, only half of it has been told.

NANCY GOUDIE

Are you fearful when you look to the future?  Do you have assurance that no matter what happens to you, your family, your nation and our world in the future, that you will still be loved and protected?  The God that we serve loves us and has our futures in his hand – and what a safe place that is.  He has said in his word that he has already given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and yet so many of us worry about money, provision for our future and whether our world will survive this virus never mind the effects that this virus has delivered.  Can I encourage you to look to God for assurance and to trust Him for your future?  He has promised never to leave us and never to forsake us – do you believe this to be true?  He has promised never to forget us and never to let us go – do you believe this to be true?  He has said he is Jehovah Jireh – our provider – do you believe this to be true?  With all the negativity that often comes from the media, we can so easily be scared and become fearful.  That is when we need to look into the eyes of our Lord and trust him.  That is when we need to read our Bibles and believe the living words it gives us.  When we trust in Him – this allows us to live in the gifts that God has given us – peace and joy!  Oh, how our world needs the peace and joy that God gives, yet each of us already have these gifts and it is not just any peace and joy – but his peace and his joy.  The kind of peace that passes all understanding – peace in the midst of any massive storm!  And not just any joy, but his joy – the kind of joy that took Jesus through the cross.  That’s the kind of peace and joy he has given each of us and yet although we have already been given these two gifts, we often live with fear, worry and anxiety.  Let’s choose today to trust our incredible, huge God who is bigger, stronger and more powerful than any storm we can go through. 

This is the last National Day of Prayer re: Covid prayer points, but please don’t stop praying.  If you wish to still receive my blogs then please do send me your email address and I will put you on our mailing list – this will tell you when these blogs come out.  If at any time in the future, there is a huge need to call us all together again for prayer, then I will initiate another National Day of Prayer.  It’s been my enormous privilege to lead these days for 21 months.  When I initiated the first one, I never for a moment ever imagined I would be leading these days for so long.  It’s been my privilege to journey on this with you and with many churches too.  Let’s keep trusting, let’s keep our eyes on the Lord and let’s keep being strong in Him. 

PRAYER POINTS FOR FRIDAY 26^th November 2021

• The statistics show us that the cases although reasonably high are mainly due to the young people who are not vaccinated contracting Covid. Deaths and hospitalisations due to Covid remain low although let’s pray that during these winter months that the hospitals are able to cope.  Do pray for every family who have lost a loved one to this horrific virus. 

• Continue to hold the NHS and also all health care providers across the world before the Lord. As I said last month there seems to be a sense of weariness on many of the heath care workers here in the UK, so let’s pray against the tiredness and pray for a way through the increased workload that they have.  Continue to pray for good health and strength for them all and for wisdom and kindness to pour from all they do.

• As I said above, many children and teenagers are contracting the virus, and this is obviously because many of them have not had the vaccine. This is producing fear in our children, so do pray against this fear.  Many children pick up fear from the media and also from those around them.  Pray that fear will be replaced by the love of God and that the children of our world can have happy and carefree childhoods. 

• Let’s continue to pray for our leaders – for the Prime Minister and for all MPs. Pray for those who give them wisdom – that the wisdom they speak will be from the King of Kings.  Pray for our Queen – she has not been well during the last month or so.  Pray for good health and long life for her.  Pray too for our economy, for businesses across our world.  Pray for those individuals who are struggling financially.  Pray for the prosperity of your city and nation.  Pray for generosity to be released in our world and that each of us will look out for our neighbours and friends. 

• Fear is strong in our nation and in our world. Fear has increased our worry and anxiety too.  This virus has brought with it immense fear.  Let’s pray against fear in ourselves, in our families, in our neighbourhood, in our nation and in our world.  Trusting in God, who is the Saviour of our world, is so important.  Let’s display the love of God to all who we meet and allow his deep and wonderful love to take away our fear. 

• Pray for those who constantly suffer with mental health problems – those who live with fear, anxiety, stress and pain. There are so many!  Pray for those who mask their pain but suffer greatly in their mind.  Be kind to others around you and in doing so you will minister God’s grace to them.

• Oh, how we need to have a move of God here in the UK but also across our world. Let’s be salt and light to others around us.  Let’s show by our lifestyles and by our love that God is real and alive.  Let’s not bombard people with our views, but instead let’s show them the love of Christ.  Pray for our neighbours, our families and our friends that they would come to know the Saviour of the world and discover his incredible love for us all.  Let’s live being soaked in our Lord and spreading everywhere the fragrance of our incredible God. 

Do you need prayer?  What a joy it has been to pray for those who have asked for prayer in recent months.  We are seeing many answers to our prayers.  Remember if you or others need prayer do drop us an email and we will pray.  Don’t forget our prayer line if you or others need prayer – prayer@ngm.org.uk 

May the good Lord bless you and keep you.  May his face shine upon you and may he be gracious to you.  The Lord is faithful and he can be trusted.  He won’t let you down and will never let you go.  Do keep in touch and remember to send me your email if you wish to receive news, blogs and encouragement from me.  It’s been great having your company here for the last 21 months.  May God bless you and your family hugely as we keep serving and loving him. 

With love, your friend – NANCY GOUDIE   

For those who are reading these prayer points for the first time:  do read below:

Setting the scene

On 20^th March I called for a National Day of Prayer, not only for the UK, but also for others who live further afield.  A few days after it was over two friends contacted me and asked if I would do a National Prayer Day every Friday, and asked if I would continue to give some pointers each week for prayer.  After prayer, I took up the challenge of doing just that.  Thank you for joining us.  To read previous prayer points and encouragements – go to www.nancygoudie.com/blog/

Helpful instructions/suggestions:

1. Set your phone, your watch, your alarm clock or whatever to remind you to pray throughout the day. I would suggest praying every hour for a few minutes or for as long as you wish, but make a time that is suitable for yourself.
2. Maybe pray for one of the above pointers every hour – or take one for each day of the week.
3. Every time you wash your hands, which should be often – then pray a ‘Heal Our

Nation’ prayer – sing or speak the lyrics of ‘Heal our Nation’ and ask God to pour out his Spirit on this land.  ‘Heal our Nation, Heal our Nation, Heal our Nation, pour out your Spirit on this land.’  Sing or speak that twice.  And finish with the first line from the verse ‘Lord we long for you to move in power’ – and ask God to move in the UK but also move in our world.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoZwje7Ogkg

4. Keep reading Psalm 91, Psalm 121 and Psalm 46 to encourage yourself and your family with the truth of the word of God. Perhaps try meditating on Psalm 62:5-6 – Find rest, O my Soul in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will not be shaken.
5. Use the UK Blessing – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U Play it in your home – make this as a wonderful blessing on you and your family, your children and their children. When you go a walk pray it over your neighbourhood. The song was written in Elevation church, USA. You can watch here and discover how the song came together in the presence of the Lord – no wonder this song is being used at this time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp6aygmvzM4&feature=emb_rel_end

Is there anyone like me who knows you need to exercise, because you see the difference it makes, but sometimes find the motivation and the energy to do physical fitness sadly lacking?  I exercise three times a week by swimming around 60 lengths of the pool.  One day just recently as I contemplated going to the leisure club, I could see that my thought process was beginning to talk me out of going.  My energy levels were low and so I thought to myself, “I’m too tired, maybe I should just stay here and get on with some work.  I don’t have the energy today!”  I was on the brink of staying where I was, when I thought I would compromise.  I would go and probably only do 10-20 lengths.  I somehow convinced myself that it was important to exercise and even a small amount of exercise is better than none.  Before I left the house, I ate some protein and drank a little energy drink.  When I got into the swimming pool, I could not believe the energy I had.  I zoomed to the end of the pool and back again with ease and ended up swimming 60 lengths with no problem at all.  The protein I had eaten and the small energy drink supplied the strength I needed.

It got me thinking how many of us do this in our spiritual lives.  We get exhausted spiritually.  We then convince ourselves that we are too tired to spend time in God’s presence.  We know we need to read our Bibles and talk to our Papa God to not only grow in life but also to survive and be victorious, but we don’t have time and it seems too difficult to get ourselves motivated.  We forget to eat the word and drink in the presence of God.  When we do that, our spiritual energy levels get depleted and we are not able to overcome the enemy’s tactics in our life.  We want to soar spiritually, to zoom our way through life as he takes our hand and guides our path, but in order to do that we need our daily spiritual food.  Let’s not forget to exercise spiritually every day; let’s make sure we tone our heart and get the Bible pumping through our veins.  His presence is our life blood.

If you find it difficult to exercise spiritually, then I have the ideal book for you.  Nancy Goudie’s Spiritual Health Encounters will give you a daily plan to help you tone your spiritual muscles.  This book is full of creative spiritual exercises which are fun to do, yet take you deeper than you have gone before.  If you want to meet God, communicate with Him and find out what it is like to have a vibrant living relationship on a minute by minute basis with the Holy Spirit, then this book is for you!  It’s not so much a book you read, but a book you do.  Try it and see, I tell you it will give you the spiritual energy you need to thrive.  You will soon see the difference when you exercise spiritually every day!      

Have you ever been disappointed?  I’m sure you have at some point in your life.  Just this last week I had a huge disappointment.  My younger son and myself were due to fly to the USA on 2^nd November to see my other son and my daughter-in-law.  It was to be a real joyous family time as well as attending a leaders’ conference at Bethel Church in Redding, California.  We were so looking forward to a special time in the States.

Unfortunately, the American government aren’t opening up their borders until 8^th November and therefore I had to cancel our flights.  I am still trying to work out my flight, but my younger son cannot travel with me as he has work and home commitments during the rest of November.  To say I was bitterly disappointed is a huge understatement.  I was at a speaking at a conference in Cheshire when the news came through, and therefore, I couldn’t check the situation until I came home.  When I came home and the reality of the situation hit me, I could not stop the tears pouring down my face.  I was so disappointed that I would not be able to travel to America with my younger son and there is a very real chance that I will not be able to see my older son this year.

Disappointments happen to each of us from time to time.  It’s so important that our disappointments cause us to run into God and allow him to heal the pain in our hearts, rather than cause us to walk away from the Lord and perhaps blame him for what is happening to us.  I wonder what you have been disappointed about recently?  Is it driving you into God or is it causing you to run in the opposite direction? 

The amazing thing about God is that he loves each of us so wonderfully and as we continue to love him, he will take each disappointment and bring good out of it.  I don’t know at this point when I will get to see my son in California.  I haven’t seen him for over two years because of Covid and I have a mother’s ache in my heart to see him face to face soon.  However, despite all that, I trust my God to bring good out of this disappointment.  I have seen him do this in the past – especially when my husband died and I had the pain of losing someone who was more than a husband to me – he was my very best friend, my partner in ministry and someone who I always thought I would grow old with.  Disappointment has a way of robbing you of your joy if you allow it to do so, but I discovered that as we trust in God and look to him to change the circumstances around us, joy is just one of his precious gifts to us. 

Whatever disappointments you may be going through, can I encourage you to do what I am doing and trust in our amazing God.     

 PRAYER POINTS FOR FRIDAY 22^nd October 2021   

• The good news is that the statistics tell us that the death rate and the hospitalisation rate are remaining low, however every death from this virus is unacceptable. The Covid cases seem to be still very high, but the government are saying this will come down when the young people are vaccinated.  Let’s pray that this is so.  As the government have said, this virus is not going away, but the vaccinations have protected many of us.  Let’s continue to pray that the vaccinations and the booster helps to control this virus.  Let’s pray for God’s answers to this pandemic and thank him for all he has done and is doing at this time.

• We continue to hold the NHS in our prayers and also all health care providers across the world. There seems to be a sense of weariness on many of the heath care workers here in the UK, so let’s pray against the tiredness and pray for a way through the increased workload that they have.  Continue to pray for good health and strength for them all and for wisdom and kindness to pour from all they do.

• A lot of young children and teenagers are contracting the virus so let’s pray for our young people that fear does not lodge in their hearts and that their health is restored quickly. Do pray for teachers and parents as many of them are catching the virus from the young people.

• Let’s continue to pray for our economy and for the businesses across the UK. Pray for the prosperity of your city and nation.  Pray for those who are struggling financially or having trouble getting a suitable job.  Pray for generosity to be released in our nation and that each of us will look out for our neighbours and friends.  Pray that we will make sure our neighbours, friends and family have enough to live on.  Ask the Lord to open our eyes and ears to the cries of those who are living on the breadline.

• Do pray against fear of the future. There are so many fearful news reports coming out about soaring energy bills, about not having enough food or petrol in our nation, about not being able to purchase Christmas presents and of course all the uncertainty of this virus!   It’s so easy to allow fear to reside within us.  Let’s pray against fear in us and also in the nation.

• Let’s continue to pray for those who struggle with mental health. There are many who mask their pain and grief but suffer hugely in their mind.  Pray that many of us will have eyes to see beyond the natural and offer a kind word in season to those around us. 

• Above all, let’s pray for a deep and wonderful move of God. Our hearts want to see revival come and for there to be a great awakening to the spiritual things in our nation and our world.  Pray for our neighbours, our families and our friends that they would come to know the Saviour of the world and discover his incredible love for us all. 

Do you need prayer?  What a joy it has been to pray for those who have asked for prayer in recent months.  We are seeing many answers to our prayers.  Remember if you or others need prayer do drop us an email and we will pray.  Don’t forget our prayer line if you or others need prayer – prayer@ngm.org.uk 

 I am planning on continuing with the National Day of Prayer for Covid -19 until the end of this year but feel it is right to finish it before 2022.  However, having said that I do believe it is important for us as individuals and as churches to continue to pray and seek God for our nation and for our world.  Prayer is so important.  I will be continuing to pray and I hope you will too.  So, from the end of November, I will no longer be doing these prayer points.  So much has been done through our prayers and so I want to encourage you to continue to pray into this situation.  It has been a privilege to pray alongside each of you since March 2020.  My last prayer points will be released on 26^th November 2021.  Well done to those who have continued on this 18-month journey with me – it has been an incredible journey seeing God’s goodness and blessing as we have prayed.

Let’s stay strong knowing that our Heavenly Father is hearing our prayers and is answering.  His love and his power are so wonderful and because of him, we are seeing miraculous things happening throughout this Covid time. My heart rejoices in my God and in his salvation.  May God continue to bless you and keep your safe!  With love, your friend – NANCY 

For those who are reading these prayer points for the first time:  do read below:

Setting the scene

On 20^th March I called for a National Day of Prayer, not only for the UK, but also for others who live further afield.  A few days after it was over two friends contacted me and asked if I would do a National Prayer Day every Friday, and asked if I would continue to give some pointers each week for prayer.  After prayer, I took up the challenge of doing just that.  Thank you for joining us.  To read previous prayer points and encouragements – go to www.nancygoudie.com/blog/

Helpful instructions/suggestions:

1. Set your phone, your watch, your alarm clock or whatever to remind you to pray throughout the day. I would suggest praying every hour for a few minutes or for as long as you wish, but make a time that is suitable for yourself.
2. Maybe pray for one of the above pointers every hour – or take one for each day of the week.
3. Every time you wash your hands, which should be often – then pray a ‘Heal Our

Nation’ prayer – sing or speak the lyrics of ‘Heal our Nation’ and ask God to pour out his Spirit on this land.  ‘Heal our Nation, Heal our Nation, Heal our Nation, pour out your Spirit on this land.’  Sing or speak that twice.  And finish with the first line from the verse ‘Lord we long for you to move in power’ – and ask God to move in the UK but also move in our world.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoZwje7Ogkg

4. Keep reading Psalm 91, Psalm 121 and Psalm 46 to encourage yourself and your family with the truth of the word of God. Perhaps try meditating on Psalm 62:5-6 – Find rest, O my Soul in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will not be shaken.
5. Use the UK Blessing – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U Play it in your home – make this as a wonderful blessing on you and your family, your children and their children. When you go a walk pray it over your neighbourhood. The song was written in Elevation church, USA. You can watch here and discover how the song came together in the presence of the Lord – no wonder this song is being used at this time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp6aygmvzM4&feature=emb_rel_end

I love the book of Philippians, especially chapter 4 – it is so full of practical and transforming truth.  Ever read it?  Try it now – it’s amazing!  It talks about rejoicing, always!  I remember recently when I was feeling quite down, thinking about how much I had lost when my husband died and a thought came into my mind, “Phone Louise.”  Louise is a good friend of mine, so I called her and during our conversation I started to laugh at some of the stories she was telling me.  We laughed so much that when I came off the phone, I realised I was in a much brighter mood.  Laughter is a massive gift from God that we need to use regularly.  So next time you feel down, why not call a friend who you know will encourage you to laugh, or watch a funny film or recall a hilarious story that has happened to you in the past – and rejoice!  As you do, the thoughts within you will change.

If you are worried about something then do what it says in verse 6 – train your mind not to worry, instead present your concerns to God in prayer, thanking him that although you don’t know the answer, he does.  Then notice what verse 7 says, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus….wow!!  We all want the peace that passes understanding, but we only live in it if we don’t worry and decide to give our problems/difficulties to God in prayer.  The peace of Christ is a gift that Jesus has already given us.  John 14:27 says, “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give you!”  He has already given it to us, but we need to learn to live in it by not worrying, by changing our thoughts and receiving the peace that I have experienced and can testify is so wonderful.  When my husband died and I was in mourning, God gave me two gifts.  One was the gift of a peace that passes all understanding and the other was what I called a bubble of joy (The full story is in my books – Who Would Ever Have Thought and Our Greatest Adventure).  These two things were exactly what I needed to experience after not understanding why God had allowed my husband to die.  I took the deliberate step of praying out loud to God telling him that I trusted him even though I did not understand what had just happened and God flooded my heart with peace and joy right in the midst of mourning!

When we are worried and concerned about issues, it’s so important to control our thoughts and Philippians 4:7 tells us clearly how to do that.  Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, then think about such things.  When we begin to realise that our thoughts are taking us down the wrong route and we are getting overwhelmed with sorrow or pain, then drag your thoughts away and begin to think and dwell on the truth of the word of God, begin to think about good and positive things, things that are good, lovely, right, and pure – and in verse 9 it tells us that the peace of God will be with you!   The Bible is not just a history book, it’s a book that speaks truth and points the way to freedom.  Woohoo!  So pick up the Bible, open it at Philippians and let’s experience the joy and peace that God has for us all.