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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

God always pursues us in love. Nothing can ever extinguish the flame in God’s heart that burns to be in personal relationship with us—even when we mess up and get terribly lost. When God asks us where we are, it is as if God is saying to you and me, “Where are you? I miss you. My heart aches for you. I want to reconnect intimately with you. I grieve over the distance between us. I long for your companionship, and I will search for you until I find you.”

—Trevor Hudson, Questions God Asks Us (Upper Room Books, 2008)

Today’s Question

What helps you believe God wants to connect with you? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

God made the nations so they would seek him, perhaps even reach out to him and find him. In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us.
—Acts 17:27 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

God, help me hear what you are asking of me.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Learn from this week’s featured author, Trevor Hudson, and other spiritual guides at our virtual event, RESILIENCE | Healing Practices for Mind, Body, and Spirit. On September 30–October 2, 2021, we will explore a fresh array of spiritual practices to help with healing from trauma. Early registration pricing is ending soon on August 30. Learn more at UpperRoom.org/resilience.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Preorder the 2022 edition of The Upper Room Disciplines and save 20% plus free shipping. Use promo code DPRE20 in our online store or call 800.972.0433. Offer expires September 1, 2021. Good only on the print editions, and subscription purchases do not apply.

6 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted August 23, 2021 7:43 am

    This is one of those I don’t know right away what the answer is questions. Scripture tells us this. Hudson says so as well. I have perceived God’s presence. Do I need all these to believe? I don’t know, I just accept it as truth. An amazing truth it is. I’m thankful for it, am sustained by it. There is no existence without Giod.
    Thankful that so far Henri hasn’t caused damage here. Prayers for those in its path.
    The people of Haiti are slowly receiving much needed help. Thank You, Lord. The changing conditions in Afghanistan are also being addressed. Thankful for the progress made so far and hopeful that adjustments being made adequately deal with the situation. Leaving Afghanistan was never going to be easy, have to do the best we can.
    Prayers for each of the NEM family and your families, friends. Thank you for your prayers. Prayer helps sustain us all. We are lifted up to the supreme the almighty the everlasting, our creator. Thank You, Lord.

  • Joan Posted August 23, 2021 7:44 am

    This reading! Thank you. A beautiful way to begin today and a new week

  • Julie Posted August 23, 2021 8:51 am

    I’m with Robert, as in my first thought was ..um, huh what does? How does one describe that feeling of “just knowing” something to be true. After all, as I understand, this is part of God’s inate nature, it is who He is, a God who wants to be in relationship with us. His Bible reveals this desire through His constant striving and provisions of the means of communication.
    I spent yesterday at church and then walking around the Botanical Garden again. I joined and it is secluded and socially distanced. I had planned to attend several festivals in Pittsburgh this weekend (Picklesburgh and Italian Festa) but chose against it based on the case counts in our area. I love the gardens, though it is a misnomer in that it is simply walking trails through woods. There is a beautiful Japanese garden, but even that is a pond with lilypads and flowers only. There are no flowers, other than wildflowers. It is peaceful and cool even in the heat of the day.
    Prayers of joy for a new poster, welcome Joan. I have an aunt named Joan! Prayers for Ally’s and David’s health and finances, Jill, Larry and Roger’s health, Lou’s safety while in New York and her daughter’s menatl health, and Robert and Erich’s counseling and relationship. Prayers for Marti and her staff. Thank you for your prayers and may God bless all who visit here.

  • April Posted August 23, 2021 9:41 am

    A question I can answer quickly: God awakens me in the middle of the night and we start talking.
    I praise Him and the opportunities of the day. He presents those who need my prayers. I lift up names and situations knowing that He, our Helper and Healer, will provide what is needed. After no new names or subjects come to me, I fall asleep in His loving arms.
    It feels like fall air, cool in the morning and warming in the evening. I am reading a fictional mystery that is of a GI who lived the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam and returns in the 1990’s. He travels around and remembers places and events. I have looked them up and so far all are correct. He was 18 when he went and now is older. I remember sending cookies and letters to solders but never understood what was really happening as I do now. It is so sad. I pray for all those who have similar stories from Vietnam and now from Afghanistan. I pray for God’s presence to be with all.
    Prayers for a good school year for students and teachers and parents. Blessings to all, we are each a Beloved Child of God.

  • Ally Posted August 23, 2021 10:21 am

    The scriptures tell us that God wants a relationship with us. My own experience tells me this: that during the times I feel disconnected with God, God reaches out to me: through a person God places in my path, through divine touch where the Holy Spirit meets my spirit, through a word in a scripture. God, open my heart to receive You. Thanks to all for your insight today and your prayers. Know I lift the things on your heart to God. Be blessed, everyone.

  • Jill Posted August 23, 2021 6:48 pm

    Things others would consider coincidences – I know are God’s timing, His winking (over something light hearted), His provision. I don’t know exactly when I was able to say “I know that I know that I know.” But, I indeed can say it with utter confidence today, with such gratitude.
    School today was probably the best it will be all week, as we had meetings until 11:00 and then the rest of the day to ourselves to work in our rooms. The rest of the week is wall to wall meetings. Tomorrow we have 4 hours of trauma training before lunch and then discussion about it in the afternoon, around other meetings.
    Very warm here, but dad golfed with his buddies. He admitted to feeling a bit unsteady to start, but settled in and seemed to enjoy himself. I did yardwork after dinner and took a walk. Will be to bed here shortly, as I was up at 3 AM – thought I heard Roger and then couldn’t find him. Then I was WIDE awake. Missing those lazy naps.

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