X

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

I walked across the road and stood at the side of the bridge, looking down at the river which glistened in the sunlight. There was no other traffic on the highway. The only sounds were a gentle breeze, the calls of a few birds, and the music of the swiftly moving water. Standing there, I was able to release my struggle with the person who had caused difficulty in my life. In my mind’s eye, I saw that person float on down the river, away from me and out of my sight. I felt immense relief and gratitude. Neither that person nor my anger were any longer burdens I carried.

—L. Cecile Adams, in Anger: Minding Your Passion, compiled and introduced by Amy Lyles Wilson (Fresh Air Books, 2010)

Today’s Question

What helps you practice releasing the burden of your anger? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.
—Ephesians 4:31, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

Lord,
Search me and know me. Shine a light on my innermost thoughts and feelings, even those I try to hide deep within. Give me courage to name the sources of my joy and my anger. Give me strength and wisdom to learn from them. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Registration is now open for RESILIENCE: Healing Practices for Mind, Body, and Spirit. Join us on September 30–October 2, 2021, as we explore a fresh array of spiritual practices to help with healing from trauma. Learn more.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

5 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted September 8, 2021 6:19 am

    Talking to God, and taking action as an advocate for change help me. These days there are plenty of actions that can be taken. Had some positive help from my counselor and another appointment this month. A birthday to celebrate today, hope the foods I’m looking for are available at a reasonable price. Fears for women and children in Taliban ruled Afghanistan seem to be very real. Hope more people can leave and the Taliban can change. So many issues facing us these days, they need resolution. Thankful God is close by, knows our needs and concerns, as well joys. Let us be in conversation with God. Thank You, Lord.

  • Lou Posted September 8, 2021 7:43 am

    I find that I need to release sadness more than anger and I pray often that God continues to help me. Praying, journaling, talking to my faith friends all help me in this journey.
    Thankful for the prayers from this community. I’ve been reading daily but haven’t checked in in awhile. It took me about a week to recover from the mental and physical toll of moving my youngest from a 4th floor walk up to the 2nd floor walk up – but with God’s help we did it and survived some challenging weather conditions. So many people affected by floods, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes and more. Prayers for all who are suffering.
    Thankful my daughter is onto a new school year and settling in- things are better this week and she likes her new therapist. Thankful for resources to help her. Feeling distant from my middle daughter – I miss her greatly. Thankful for time spent alone with my son this weekend. The joys and challenges of parenting persist even when they are adults.
    Prayers for all here at the UR- thank you for your prayers on my and my children’s behalf. Prayers for peace, health, and safety.

  • Julie Posted September 8, 2021 8:35 am

    I am like Lou in that I have sadness and hurt with my anger. Turning to God and the Bible help somewhat. Sharing here also helps a great deal. So, yesterday I noticed something large on Megan’s lower leg and asked her what it was. She replied that it is a tatoo and asked if I wanted to see it to which I replied that I did not. Her father paid for it of course. Later I asked to see it and she showed me the picture of what it will look like after it heals. It is large and specialized just for her so I imagine it was expensive. I do not like body art. When I went to bed I heard Megan in her bathroom talking to her father. They were discussing me and laughing about my reaction. They were degrading me and laughing and I was left in tears. I didn’t sleep much and am in tears now relating the episode. I intend to inform Megan that I overheard the conversation and that I am hurt that she and her father engage is treating me this way behind my back. I will not be malicious but I am also not going to let this treatment of me go. So, Jill, now you know why I have so much trouble believing I am worthwhile. Even my own daughter thinks me an object of ridicule. I knew he was indoctrinating her from early childhood against me but I had hoped that my actions would outweigh his words.
    Prayers for Robert, for continued success in counseling and that he may find the foods he is searching for today. Prayers for Lou and her children, for her youngest child’s mental health and scholling and for her middle child to touch base. Prayers for Ally and David’s health and finances. Prayers for Jill as her family relationships mature without the shadow of her mother, may she continue to grow close to her loved ones. Prayers for Marti and her staff. Thankyou for your patience with my venting as well as your prayers. May all who visit her be blessed.

  • Ally Posted September 8, 2021 4:24 pm

    I have a tendency to carry burdens around with me, allowing them to weigh me down. There is an exercise I used when facilitating anger management groups, in which my clients wrote the name of the person or thing they were angry about on a sheet of paper while listening to a therapeutic song. Then they folded the paper and threw it in the trash. I’ve been angry this week about a few things. Perhaps the exercise Amy tried would be a good one.
    My cousin Brad who had open heart surgery is doing well, thanks be to God. 2 friends died of covid last week. Both their wives were pretty sick, but are better. This cruel disease is one of the things I am angry about. Despite the changes in the world of online teaching, I have decided to get online teacher certification and take some online computer classes. I also have an appointment with a disability lawyer to do my application. David has an appointment with his primary care to address his depression. I’m praying he will agree to some therapy. Thank you for your prayers for us.
    Robert, I too am worried for women and children in Afghanistan. Is today your birthday? Hope you find the items you are looking for. Some things in our area are getting scarce and the price of groceries gone up so much since the spring. Giving thanks for your progress in counseling. Lou, praying for as you parent your adult children. Praying you can connect with your middle child. Julie, I can’t imagine the hurt you feel about Megan making fun of you. Praying for your hurt heart to heal. Jill, prayers for you and your family as you deal with change in your family’s dynamics due to your mom’s passing.
    Prayers for Mexico as they deal with the earthquake. Prayers for our world. Prayers for safety for all and for everyone to love their neighbors. Blessings to all.

  • Jill Posted September 8, 2021 5:56 pm

    I am pretty blessed to not experience anger very often these days. I feel like I am better equipped to handle it, should I be faced with it. I think part of it is the desire to be content. I have not always been a content person. I think God opened my eyes to the many ways content can look, as I was constantly aware of my brother-in-laws discontentment. And He led me through an appropriate awareness of where the desires of my heart laid. The many idols – most of which were positive things in my life – had been in the place of where Christ should be – the throne of my heart. He loosened my grip and eventually my desires for those things…I could still enjoy them and be grateful to Him for them – but they must be in their rightful place…behind Him.
    Julie – I am sorry if I offended you or seemed to minimalize your feelings. To whatever extent I can – I understand the scenarios you have expressed here. It is awful how you have been treated, and continue to be treated by members of your household. I just desire for you to be able to stand securely in how God sees you, how He loves you and how He longs for you to feel the preciousness of being His child. And that His actions and compassion would begin to move to the forefront of how you perceive yourself. I will keep praying.
    Ally – it seems of the tight knit crew here – that you most assuredly have been most impacted by covid – with David as well as many loved ones. God can take the anger – I would encourage you to remain before Him, openly communicating it.
    Lou – I will continue to pray for your “empty-nester-ness” and for opportunities to connect with your children.
    May the grace of our Heavenly Father be so very real to each one who stops by here.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *