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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

How do we begin to care less compulsively? First, we honor the gap between our feelings of care and compassion for someone and our desire to help immediately. When we feel another person’s pain, rather than leaping into any set or predetermined active response, we acknowledge that we don’t know exactly what this person needs. Our initial response must simply be our presence; we listen deeply and get alongside the suffering person. Inwardly, we direct a glance Godward and ask, “Lord, how would you have me respond here?” With this modest attitude we seek the whisperings of the Spirit, respect the mystery of our neighbor, and practice the art of compassionate nondoing.

—Trevor Hudson, A Mile in My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion (Upper Room Books, 2005)

Today’s Question

Think of a circumstance where you are called to show compassion. Ask yourself, “Lord, how would you have me respond here?” Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

[Jesus said] Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
—Matthew 10:40 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

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.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Early registration for our virtual event RESILIENCE | Practicing Compassion in a World of Conflict is ending on August 1st. For just $99, you can join us on September 29-30 as we explore the transformative power of compassion in a world marked by division. Learn more 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 July 22, 2023 5:56 am

    Some situations require immediate response, in others there is time to ask for guidance.I’m back to my long held routine of QT before I start the day. My effort to post later in the day was at best only partially successful.
    Climate change, global warming is here. Warnings have only partly been acknowledged and the action being taken is decidedly not enough. In typical American style we have waited until the problem has become enormous. Lord help us come to our senses and take care of the home You have provided for us. Thank You , Lord.

  • Julie Posted July 22, 2023 9:27 am

    I need to heed this. I tend to be too impulsive in my helping. I think of ways to help immediately. I need to step back and reflect and ask God for his leading and counsel.

  • Jill Posted July 22, 2023 3:20 pm

    I know the best “help” someone has given me when I am struggling is to just sit with me, listen to me and NOT try to fix me/the situation. Just allow my tears, my rage, my silence. And remain with me. This approach – “Lord, how would You have me respond here…how can I best demonstrate Your love in this situation” – is what I need to meditate on for a few moments before I visit my hospice patient. Companionship, not fixing, this is what I must offer.
    Hit a local art and craft show with a former student. She lives right across the street from the show. We beat the heat by going right when it opened. Ran into parents of a former classmate of hers, and a teammate on the basketball team I coached. Really good to catch up. My sister and I hit a couple of stores this afternoon – I had received a coupon over the internet for a store we frequent, so we met there. Probably take a walk this evening.
    Starting to throw some things in a duffel bag…Becky and I are heading down to Florida in a week – to stay at the place down there. It is going to be blazing hot – we are going to be at the pool everyday. We are driving down, leaving a car there, and flying back. I am taking down several clothes to just leave there.

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