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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

As we lead Bible studies, we need to carve out time for our own faith practices. Faith is a lifelong process of learning, shaping, and reshaping our understandings. Paul urges us to “work out your own salvation, with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). We can work out our salvation with tools like prayer beads, meditation, a morning walk, or some other form of prayer. If we really are working out our salvation, fear and trembling will be involved. But we’ll find comfort and a transcendent peace in God. We can enter boldly into the spaces of fear and trembling, working out our salvation as we go. Even though we haven’t arrived at some final destination of faith, we can still lead. In fact, it may be a great relief for members of our small groups for leaders to acknowledge that we have not yet arrived either.

—Angela D. Schaffner, Gather Us In: Leading Transformational Small Groups (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

Which faith practices help you step forward courageously in moments of “fear and trembling”? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
—Philippians 2:12-13 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Abba,
You have given me life.
You have filled me with your Spirit.
I am your child, not a slave to fear.
I am your child; light my path and guide my steps.
I am your child; hold me.
Hold me tight.
Amen.

(Adapted from Romans 8.)
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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5 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted June 17, 2021 8:08 am

    With Christ in us, a priest in the order of Melchizedek, the Son of God, we are encouraged to fear (acknowledge, respect, praise, and obey) God, but also come before the throne boldly. I don’t think God wants us to be scared out of our wits with fear and trembling. Jesus certainly didn’t do that. Those who resisted, judged, and put him to death feared they would lose power.
    A better day yesterday and today is off to a great start. Nice New England weather, a yummy breakfast, Erich is at the dentist, a model repaired, photographed, and the photos sent Hopefully more progress today on the Central Vermont Brill car, masking is almost dome. Now to see how all of you are doing. Thank You, Lord.

  • Gail Posted June 17, 2021 8:52 am

    I recite to myself scripture I memorized, such as Psalm 23. Or I sing aloud a praise song, such as the doxology, or Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice… .

  • Julie Posted June 17, 2021 8:53 am

    Thank goodness Robert posted first because I thought I was doing something wrong! When I read the Bible, recite Bible verses, read devotionals, and spend time quietly with God I feel emboldened and strengthened.
    Megan is home safe and sound, thank be to God. My ex MIL passed yesterday at 2:39 am. It would seem my prayers were answered in that instance also as it seems she passed quietly and in her sleep. I am in a bit of a war with h regarding something I did for him but according to him not for long enough and he keeps at me to do it again. I need God’s help because my thoughts immediately go to his attempting to leave me completely destitute while he got all of the marital assets.
    Prayers for health and improved finances for Ally, David and Marcy. Prayers for Jill and Larry as they spend more time with one another, may they both be patient with one another and treat each other with forebearance for each can find the other getting on their respective nerves. Prayers for Robert and his good days, may they continue to grow and may they affect his relationships in beneficial ways.
    Thank you for your prayers. Megan and I are spending the day together tomorrow so no check in from me. I will be reading and keeping up with you. God bless you.

  • Jill Posted June 17, 2021 3:01 pm

    Recalling His promises in Scripture and remembering His faithfulness in the circumstances of my life. And being mindful to be grateful.
    The above reading resonates with me as virtually all the time, members of my small group profess/confess that they are still moving along on the continuum. None of us has reached the destination. But, yes, we keep working out our salvation, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We stay at it, seeing the movement and progress which has occurred, yearning for more and more movement towards full sanctification.
    Another glorious morning for golf and a most pleasant lunch outdoors at a restaurant near the course.
    Much to be in prayer about regarding the topics from last night’s discussion on the Ten Commandments. Keeping the Sabbath holy – what that means. Again, I am spurred on by the sharings of those in my group.

  • robert moeller Posted June 17, 2021 6:30 pm

    Glad I was able to review several days of posts and learn what’s “going on ” with all of you. Nice to read a new poster’s message, Thank you! The passing of Julie’s ex-MIL, while sad, is a blessing. Hard to relate to the passing of someone with whom you didn’t have a good relationship, Time, can and does change how we feel about people and how they feel about us. Glad of the change of pace for Jill, time spent with her Dad, continued tennis and golf, and lessons learned and shared from and with various groups.. Prayers for the health, finances, and well-being of Marcy, Ally, and David. Safe travel and good times for Lou and her children. Safety and and an equitable end to Julie’s time with h. Yes there are days when other activities keep me away from NEM or from posting first. Hope this is seen as it is a later in the day post. So far so good with Erich at the dentist, we had a grand time at a wildlife area this afternoon. Thank You, Lord.

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