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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

Stillness and silence open doors for meditation. My breezeway provides a perfect sanctuary for me to meditate on warm afternoons, with music provided by Carolina wrens perched in the branches of a towering blue spruce. For decades, that tree protected the breezeway from rain and snow. Now I feel sheltered by faith and prayers from the emotional blasts of living with cancer.

Me: My energy’s at zero right now, so I’m
learning to do nothing and to do it well!
Linda, an old Bible study friend: We humans
think we have to be busy all the time. God
is pleased when we can just ‘‘be.” Enjoy the
“being” process.

—Jan Woodard, Texting Through Cancer: Ordinary Moments of Community, Love, and Healing (Upper Room Books, 2021)

Today’s Question

When your energy is low, how can you give yourself permission to meditate and just “be”? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”

—Psalm 46:10 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

God of All,
In you I trust.
All will be well.
All will be well.
All will be well. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Meet some of The Upper Room’s International Publishing Partners at a free online event on Thursday, May 4, 8:30 a.m. (CT). You’ll meet Tarmo Lilleoja from Estonia, Manasi Mohanty (Odia edition) from India, Juan Gattinoni from Argentina, and Makgoshi Sindane from South Africa and learn more about their ministries. The good work they are doing for the Gospel will inspire you and strengthen your faith, and your support and prayers will be an encouragement to their ministry. Register 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 April 23, 2023 6:13 am

    Posting early in the morning as Ally mentioned not seeing any posts from me in a week I have thankfully read posts from NEM members and commented, but since I posted last you haven’t seen them. Prayers for Ally’s health-shingles, being able to work, the tough times she experienced, David’s good kidney news, Julie and the challenges with h, visits to the Botanical Garden, church friends, time with Megan, Jill’s school, student testing, retirement thoughts, pizza and cards with Becky and Dad, Gail’s prayers, news of Lou, Rick, and Scott.’
    Rain today, prayer meeting worship this morning. Kitchen appliances on the way, scheduled delivery is the 26th. Arrangements to remove old appliances have been made. Enjoying the hockey-basketball-baseball all at once season. Blessings to all. Thank You, Lord.

  • Ally Posted April 23, 2023 1:58 pm

    Hard for me not to feel guilty, but I have realized last few days, on a heart level, how crucial it is to just be and self-care. The stress level I have been under has basically debilitated me. I need to rest and spend time fostering mindfulness. I spend quiet time with God almost every day, but realized that I need more I plan to take short walks, take some time to explore nature, pleasure read, and do some simple art projects . Thank you for your prayers for us.
    Robert, glad we are seeing your posts! Good news that you’re making progress toward move to the Poconos. Prayers that the move will benefit Erich’s mental health and quality of life.
    Love to all.

  • Jill Posted April 23, 2023 2:41 pm

    Giving myself permission for self care is something I had to get used to once I received my diagnosis almost 6 years ago. I feel like I am pretty in touch with my body and mostly have the ability to take a self care time out. Mentally and emotionally I had to do that this week. Yesterday was initially going to be a full, quiet day at home. That is what today has become, following church.
    Singing, with the congregation, “all creatures of our God and king, lift up your voice and with us sing ‘Alleluia, alleluia’…O Praise Him…” It was what my soul needed and it was good to be there.
    Making some grouper fingers for dinner, along with some broccoli. I brought home zero schoolwork – and it was wonderful. Reading, napping, watching some playoff basketball (it’s hard to be a sports fan in Ohio) – just a day to get myself ready for the week.

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