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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

Permission to boldly seek compassion is not the only way in which the Jesus Prayer offers a path to self-compassion. When “the prayer begins to pray us”—that is, when the mind enters the heart—we begin to take on the attitudes of Christ; we begin to share Christ’s ability to love. The spiritual warmth that comes in the prayer is the “ ‘flame of grace’ kindled in the heart.” It is Compassion living within us.

—Andrew Dreitcer, Living Compassion: Loving Like Jesus (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question

How might practicing the Jesus Prayer help you take on the attitudes of Christ? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
—Philippians 2:1-2 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Gracious God, give us compassion and humility in our hearts. Let us be kind, gentle, generous, loving, giving, and forgiving wherever we may go.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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2 Comments

  • Julie Posted August 21, 2020 8:33 am

    I have never contemplated this, so off the top of my head I would say that by asking and accepting Jesus’s compassion we are able to share that compassion with others. We begin to give compassion to all we meet because we are imbued with Jesus’s compassion ouselves.
    H came home yesterday morning and told me he was mailing the divorce paperwork to his lawyer. My future is very uncertain. Please pray for me. He said the words then kept standing and staring at me as though he expected me to say something. I was completely silent throughout. Several minutes went by and finally I asked if there was anything else and he said no he just wanted to give me the “courtesy” of knowing he was doing this. He then sttod there more as though he expected a thank you. Next he tried to make small talk about Tazzie and I continued to ignore him and he left.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry who I hope are golfiing together early. I pray a satisfactory solution was found at the doctor’s yesterday.
    Prayers for Robert and thank you for the list of Korean films. Megan and I will look into getting access and watching.
    Prayers for April and her garden. It is very dry here so I hope it is wet enough there that the flowers flourish under her loving care.
    Prayers, thank you and stay well dear UR

  • robert moeller Posted August 23, 2020 1:22 pm

    My prayers to you Julie and Megan. I certainly hope for the best possible result. That you have confidence in your lawyer is a positive. Life has not been what you hoped for with “h” and you have expressed fears for your safety.

    Rakuten viki and Asiancrush have been very good. While a no-commercial subscription starts at $4.99 a month, you can watch for free with commercials. You might want to try that before you sign up.

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