MONDAY
REVD MARK’S DEVOTIONAL TODAY IS A SUMMARY OF MY SERMON LAST NIGHT. GLAD HE WAS
LISTENING. 24th November – Morning all… Have you ever noticed how we’re drawn to strength that looks impressive? Whether it’s leaders with authority, celebrities with influence, or people whose lives seem neatly put together, we instinctively assume that “greatness” comes dressed in power. Well yesterday in Church we celebrated Christ the King Sunday, where we stepped straight into Luke 23, where our King isn’t seated on a throne… He’s hanging on a cross. Here is Christ’s kingship, so upside-down, so unlike anything the world offers, so shockingly humble that it still unsettles us. You see, the crowd didn’t recognise Jesus as their King, like many people still today. As He hung on the cross, people mocked Him: “If you are the King… save yourself!” They wanted a king who looked the part – strong, triumphant and someone victorious. But Christ’s victory would come through surrender, not show. Two men hung beside Jesus. Same distance. Same suffering. But sadly, only one saw the truth: “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” This man recognises what no one else can see: A dying man is the King of an everlasting Kingdom. And he discovers that faith, even faith spoken in a whisper opens the door to paradise. Jesus responded with a promise that only a King can give: “Today you will be with Me in paradise.” No trials. No delays. Just grace, immediate, overflowing, and undeserved. This is the King we serve. A King whose power is made perfect in weakness. A King whose throne was first a cross. A King who remembers us when we’re at our lowest. And a King whose Kingdom breaks into the darkest places. So, when you’re unsure where you stand with God, remember, one simple prayer changed a criminal’s eternity: “Jesus, remember
me.” And He always does.
Revd Mark Spiers
TUESDAY
IT’S AMAZING WHEN SOMEONE TOUCHES YOU – IT LEAVES A LASTING IMPRESSION, AS IT HAS ON REVD MARK TODAY FOLLOWING A HEARTFELT PRAYER REQUEST FOR A YOUNG BOY CALLED WILLIAM. REVD MARK INVITES US TRUST IN GOD’S NEARNESS AND HOPE EVEN IN THE DIFFICULT
SEASONS OF LIFE.
25th November – Morning all… Have you ever noticed how some people carry a spark that feels bigger than their years? Every now and then, God places someone in our lives whose courage, kindness, and strength seem to shine even in the hardest moments. Yesterday, I received a prayer request for a young 12-year-old boy named William – strong, kind, full of life, an incredibly talented, and an outgoing young boy with a heart that inspires others. Sadly, right now, he’s seriously ill. And
when someone so full of promise faces something so heavy, it shakes us. It stirs questions, concerns, and a deep ache in our prayers. But it also reminds us of something powerful: before we ever see greatness in someone, God already saw it first. Before we ever speak hope over a life, God has already written hope into their story. The truth is this, God is not surprised by this moment. And the God who shaped this young boy with strength, kindness, and purpose is the same God who holds him now. Scripture reminds us: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18) This isn’t just a comforting verse, it’s a promise. God draws closest in moments like these. He’s not distant, not silent, or even passive. He is near. Near to William. Near to his family. Near to every heart lifting him in prayer. God often does His greatest work in the most painful seasons. Nothing is wasted in His hands so, pray for this young boy today. William’s life already carries impact, and God’s not done writing.
Revd Mark Spiers
WEDNESDAY
SO FAR TODAY I’VE SPOKEN TO A KITCHEN FITTER ABOUT OUR NEW KITCHEN QUOTE AND ALSO TO A LADY CALLED PAM, WHO WAS TRYING TO SELL ME A CHEAPER ENERGY CONTRACT FOR CHURCH – NOT SURE IF I MADE ANY IMPACT ON EITHER OF THEM, BUT THEN, THE DAY IS STILL YOUNG.
26th November – Morning all… I don’t know if you have ever noticed that throughout your life, how some of the most life-shaping moments didn’t come with a warning sign, trumpets, or even an announcement. I know most of mine have just come through an unexpected conversation, or a tug on my heart, or an opportunity I didn’t even see coming. It’s only when we stop and reflect that we realise, “God was in that moment more than I ever knew.” Recently I have been looking at the book of
Esther, it’s filled with those quiet, hidden moments where God appears to be in the background, but His fingerprints are everywhere. There’s no thunder, no parted seas, no burning bushes. Just ordinary people, placed in extraordinary situations, trusting that God is working even when they cannot see Him. Esther didn’t plan to become queen. She didn’t expect to carry the fate of her people in her hands. But when that moment arrived, Mordecai spoke those words that still echo through Scripture “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Esther could have stayed silent. She could have stepped back. She could have convinced herself that someone else, someone braver or stronger, should act. Yet in her fear, she chose faith. In her uncertainty, she moved forward. And through her courage, God saved a nation. Let us never underestimate the places God has positioned us. We think our jobs are small, our roles unnoticed, our influence limited. But what if the conversations you have today, the people you meet, the decisions you make, or even the burdens you carry are all part of a divine assignment crafted uniquely for you?
Revd Mark Spiers
THURSDAY
REVD MARK SHARES THIS HEARTFELT DEVOTIONAL TO ENCOURAGE US IN THOSE SEASONS WHEN WE FEEL UNSEEN, REMINDING US THAT GOD IS GENTLEY POSITIONING US – JUST AS HE DID WITH ESTHER – FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS.
27th November – Morning all… Have you ever had one of those conversations that makes you stop and smile? Recently someone turned to me and said, “Are we the only normal ones in here?” I couldn’t help replying, “Have you ever considered we might actually be the only ones who aren’t normal?” We laughed – but later I thought about how often we feel out of place, unsure, or like life isn’t quite lining up the way we expected. And it took me back to a moment in my own life when everything felt uncertain. Doors I thought would open stayed firmly shut. I found myself praying, “Lord, what are You doing?” In that confusion, someone said something that changed me: “Maybe God is positioning you, not punishing you.” Those words shifted my perspective. Looking back now, I can see it clearly, God was redirecting my steps, preparing me for something I could never have planned myself. He was working behind the scenes… just as He was in the story of Esther. There’s a line I often hold onto when life feels confusing: “Sometimes God hides you before He uses you.” Esther was hidden – hidden in obscurity, hidden in preparation, hidden in a place she never asked to be. And yet, it was in that hiddenness that God positioned her perfectly to save her people. When the crisis came, and fear gripped her heart, Mordecai’s words carried a divine whisper: “Do not think… that you will escape… for if you remain silent at this time… who knows if you have come to your position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13–14) Esther could have stepped back. She could have said, “Why me, Lord?” But instead, she chose something extraordinary, she moved forward in faith even when she had no guarantees. And that’s where the miracle began. If you feel overlooked, unseen, or unsure, take heart. God is positioning you. He’s preparing you. And He’s writing chapters you haven’t reached yet. And when the right moment comes, you will look back and realise: “I was exactly where God wanted me to be.” Because you, too, were made for “such a time as this.”
Revd Mark Spiers
FRIDAY
TODAY, MY MOM WOULD HAVE BEEN 103 – SHE HAS BEEN IN MY THOUGHTS DURING THE WEEK LEADING UP TO TODAY – SHE WAS A BRIGHT LIGHT FOR CHRIST IN HER DAY. REVD MARK SHARES THE FOLLOWING DEVOTIONAL TO HELP US PAUSE, REKINDLE HOPE, AND REMEMBER THAT CHRIST’S LIGHT STILL BREAKS INTO OUR DARKNESS TODAY.
28th November – Morning all… This weekend marks the beginning of Advent, a season that reminds us to pause, breathe, and look for God’s light breaking into our world once again. Have you ever noticed how even the smallest light makes a difference in a dark room? It doesn’t have to be bright, just a simple candle, a torch on your phone, even the glow from a nearby streetlight. Darkness cannot swallow light. Light always finds a way through. Advent begins with that kind of hope. It’s the season where the Church dares to declare light is coming… and the darkness will not win. We only have to look around at the world, wars, uncertainty, pressure, worry, the hidden struggles we don’t talk about, and everything feels darker than we want to admit. But Advent pulls us gently back to a central truth: Jesus came into realdarkness, and He still comes today. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) John reminds us that Christ’s light is not fragile. Not uncertain. Not temporary. The darkness did its worst at Bethlehem, in the wilderness, at Calvary, but it could not overcome Him. That same Jesus steps into the shadows of our lives: the doubts we carry, the pain we hide, the burdens we shoulder. Advent is not just about remembering His birth; it’s about expecting His presence now. He is the Light that still breaks in. Even if your faith feels like a flicker, even if your strength feels small, you carry a light the darkness cannot overcome, because Christ lives in you. May this Advent period awaken hope, stir expectation, and remind you that the story is not over. The Light is coming. The Light is here. And the darkness will not win.
Revd Mark Spiers