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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

You are coming back home to yourself. You have poured out yourself in care for your children. In those early months and years, you’ve been consumed by their holy fire. You have forgotten yourself and died to yourself. You have been broken apart and are now being reconstituted. Can you hear the invitation to new life? However this beginning looks and feels for you, know that it is just that: a beginning. Our becoming is ongoing. We continue to be created and formed.

—Lauren Burdette, This Life That Is Ours: Motherhood as Spiritual Practice (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today’s Question

What is it like to come back home to yourself? [question from This Life That Is Ours] Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

If anyone is in Christ, that person is part of the new creation. The old things have gone away, and look, new things have arrived!
—2 Corinthians 5:17 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Dear God, may I see my moments of strength and my moments of weakness as invitations to draw more closely to you. Amen. [prayer adapted from from This Life That Is Ours]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

While personal reflection is the most popular use of The Upper Room daily devotional, did you know there are many other ways to use it in your ministry? Here are eight of our favorite ways to encourage daily life with God in your congregation (and beyond) with The Upper Room. Read more here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted May 6, 2024 6:03 am

    I’m only partially “home to myself”. My son lives with me and together we are making progress that hopefully will lead to a move to the Poconos in PA. Improving our financial position is one area we are addressing and a big step takes place today. Very thankful that this is happening.
    Yesterday was CCUMC’s first Communion in the post General Conference’s decisions. As awesome as they are, there is still much to do. Guide us Lord as we move forward. There were more people in church. Thank You, Lord.

  • Lou Posted May 6, 2024 11:03 am

    This is an interesting question- I feel like some days I don’t really know who I am. I’m a changed person since my ex husband left almost 7 years ago- so hard to believe it has been that long. Now I shuttle back and forth between caring for my mom, visiting and trying to keep my kids together, and working. I think my faith is the only thing that balances me and keeps me going. I feel like I’m not moving forward really in new directions but most days treading water though few would know this. I’m in the airport currently traveling to help my mother – prayers for her as she faces surgery tomorrow. Thankful I can be of help to her.
    Prayers for all of the UR faithful-

  • Jill Posted May 6, 2024 6:38 pm

    I am excited about this new chapter in my life – end of life doula support. In the last month or so – retirement could be my reality in 3 years, instead of the 8 or 9 I was thinking. But, that could just be a result of this being such a different year and the discouragement I have with my one class. Regardless – I am becoming something new, with new opportunities. It feels right – and I am trusting God with the details…including the “when” of retirement. Even in 3 years, things could look drastically different. Will dad and Don still be here? If that answer is no, Becky and I have big decisions we need to make. Which could shape retirement, or possibly, vice versa.
    I received a bit more information today regarding my course – which begins in 2 weeks.
    Lou – prayers for your mom’s surgery, her medical team. I am glad you will be there to support her.
    Yesterday was chock full of stuff – church, cancer support group meeting, tennis and serving dinner at the homeless shelter. Too hectic for my liking, but each thing meaningful and positive.

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