Today’s Reflection
When you know that a fight is coming, you won’t be blindsided. When you’re clear that you’re in a battle, you’re least likely to get sucker-punched. Sometimes the greatest gift our on-time God can give us is clarity. A battle is coming, they are organized, and they are on your turf. So ready yourself for battle. . . .
I’m not going to lie to you. In the times we live in right now, battles are coming. As politics get more partisan, the digital divide widens by the day, public health continues to be in crisis, and our personal and professional lives seem to change more than we care to admit, there are yet battles we have to face. But knowing the battles are coming gives us the fortitude to face them with courage.
—Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes, “An On-Time God,” in The Upper Room Disciplines 2024: A Book of Daily Devotions (Upper Room Books, 2023)
Today’s Question
How do you ready yourself for battle? What gives you fortitude and courage? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
The Philistines got ready for war and brought their troops together to attack the town of Socoh in Judah.
—1 Samuel 17:1 (CEV)
Prayer for the Week
God, give me the boldness to stand up to oppression, trouble, and affliction. I ask that you strengthen me for those battles: show me my past wins, reveal to me my best tools, remind me who and what I am fighting for, and protect me along the way. Amen. [adapted from prayers by Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes in Disciplines 2024]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Psalms for Black Lives, written by pastors Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes and Andrew Wilkes, is a collection of thirty devotions, each containing a psalm, a reflection, and an invitation for the reader to develop a justice imagination. It is the perfect resource to add to your bookshelf as we celebrate the Juneteenth holiday this week. May we join with God and with each other in the holy work of pursuing justice, undoing structural racism, and building a society that truly values Black lives. Learn more here.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
3 Comments
These days the ‘battle” I face is the mental illness in my son. It comes and goes. I’ve faced the anger many times and am confident I will be ok. God knows what is going on and is my strength and shield. Reading “Unafraid” by Adam Hamilton has helped as well. I keep faith in God and that gives me what is needed to resist my son’s claims against God. There are also good days with my son. yesterday was one of them.
My sister visits today.
It will start warming up, high of 81, then some 90+ weather for several days.
Page refreshed when I tried to publish my comment. Comment disappeared. I’ll try tomorrow. Love to all.
I ready myself with consistent time alone with God, each morning. Also, listening to podcasts and books while walking or in the car re-directs my thoughts throughout the day.
Time with dad yesterday was good – the four of us enjoyed Chinese and cards, as well as a walk. Dad and I golfed Saturday and this morning. The restaurant he wanted to go to for Father’s Day was not open on Sundays, so we are meeting there for dinner tonight.
Trying to water, water, water my flowers as the heat is setting in.
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