URC Daily Devotion for Wednesday, 20 May 2026

St Matthew 6.10 

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 
 
Reflection 

Our listening and learning must be rooted in prayerful dialogue with God.  As an ecumenist, I value praying in many different spaces and ways.  Being part of JPIT has many joys, and one I often take comfort in is the success of ecumenism embodied in JPIT’s work.  There is diversity in all elements of Christian life represented within our churches, and this strengthens our missional work for social justice.  This is true within as well as between denominations, and it’s a privilege to be prayerfully enriched from these different traditions.  

Each of our denominations lives out that unity in diversity differently.  We are united in the diversity of our ways of praying, in our justice seeking, and in the connections between the two. 

The prayer life of JPIT members denominations is critical to our work at all levels.  The Baptist Union (BU) is currently prayerfully considering a shared understanding of mission, that resolves to “Passionately share the reason for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ with gentleness and respect.” and to “Commit ourselves to compassionate service, pursuing justice and caring for creation.” (Mission Forum Resolution).  In connecting prayer, action, and kin(g)dom values, BU’s Mission Forum has worked across the spectrum of Baptist tradition to recognise and encourage social justice work as part of the prayerful mission of the Church.  

This means that prayer is both rooted in and used in the service of justice seeking. From the liturgy of the Northumbria Community to extempore prayer, the missional focus of the BU brings the power of prayerful discernment into social justice mission. 

Prayer 

In the shadow of Your wings 
I will sing Your praises, O Lord. 
The Lord is my light, my salvation; 
whom shall I fear?  
The Lord is the refuge of my life; 
of whom shall I be afraid? 

Lord God, we pray: 
peace, truth and justice reigning everywhere, 
be present with us in the public square. 
Fill all who lead with your integrity. 
Transform, revive and heal society.  
Amen.