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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

Church planters take their cue from the Incarnation not only as a principle of making the gospel relevant and practical in real-life ways but also in settling down into the life of a particular place; moving from being an outsider to being an insider; starting as a joiner rather than as a leader. Building trust one experience, one relationship, one day at a time, layer upon layer.

—Ben Ingebretson, Plant Like Jesus: The Church Planter’s Devotional (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

What does the Incarnation teach you about “settling down into the life of a particular place”?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
—John 1:14 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

Teach me, Lord Jesus, to listen as you did. Help me to be slow to speak, slow to judge, and quick to hear. Open my ears so that I can sense both the cry for help around me and your Spirit more clearly, that I might follow you more completely. I pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
—Ben Ingebretson, Plant Like Jesus
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted April 8, 2024 5:28 am

    I’m having a tough time with today’s question. Have to think more, pray for understanding.
    Thankful for a blessed time at church yesterday. It was busy but all went well. Thank You, Lord.
    GThe best site in NH to see the eclipse is north and west of here. I doubt I will go there for a two minute total eclipse. I’m thankful that the Son is with me always. Thank You, Lord.

  • Ally Posted April 8, 2024 5:58 am

    Pondering the question. I look forward to hearing what others have to say.

  • Larry Eugene Dyer Posted April 8, 2024 10:58 am

    Internalizing the Incarnation means the Holy Spirit lives within our very being . So in essence wherever we are in body we are settled. The way I think of it is : ” lf God through Jesus Christ wanted me somewhere else, l would be there”. It behooves us as growing Christians to be at peace with God. The human predicament is that we are physical trying to live spiritually !!! Grace of God we will all experience eternity.

  • Jill Posted April 8, 2024 2:30 pm

    I am not even sure where to go with this question. One very loose thought is that it is no mistake that I am where I am, when I am, as who I am by my Creator. There is work to do presently, right here – and to try to be in step with the Spirit to glorify God. Stop straining for something and just be present and at peace.
    Time away with dad, Becky and Don was very good. Got in a lot of golfing and some tennis. It was hard to leave yesterday morning, as it was the fifth anniversary of mom passing. Dad was emotional.
    Good to be home with The Kittens – and ready to settle back into a routine. The eclipse just occurred here and they were acting a little unusual. Gratefully the cloudy morning cleared up so it could be witnessed well.
    I was able to get some yard work done after lunch. Upon arriving home yesterday – my lawn looked very scruffy. I got it taken care of and cleaned out my flower beds a bit. Nice to have the windows open and fresh air flowing.
    Back to school tomorrow – a 3 week push until my students test in my subject. Hope they are refreshed and ready to get after it.

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