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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

A soldier asked Abba Mius if God accepted repentance. After the old man had taught him many things, he said, “Tell me, my dear, if your cloak is torn, do you throw it away?” He replied, “No, I mend it and use it again.” The old man said to him, “If you are so careful about your cloak, will not God be equally careful about God’s creature?”

—Keith Beasley-Topliffe, Editor, Writings of the Desert Fathers & Mothers (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question

How does it feel to know that God cares for you and accepts you? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Come now, and let’s settle this,
says the LORD.
Though your sins are like scarlet,
they will be white as snow.
If they are red as crimson,
they will become like wool.

—Isaiah 1:18 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Spread the love of Christ in 2021. Join The Upper Room Fellowship Circle, a community of donors who support our ministries with a monthly gift. Partner with us.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • Julie Posted January 20, 2021 8:40 am

    I feel immense gratitude and vastly humbled. I am so full of sin and though my intentions are good, I continue to fall victim to the dark angel. I need God’s forgiveness and guiance, yet I am unworthy. Still, He sees the goodness in my heart shine brighter than the darkness of the sin. I am truly blessed.
    Prayers for Ally and David, may they have healing in both body and spirit this year. May Ally’s business be a success.
    Prayers for April and her outreach to those in need of soul sustenance and positive affirmations.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry, may all go well when Larry gets his vaccine next week and may there be no cheating in Jill’s classes this semester.
    Prayers for Lou and her family, may her friends surround her and fill in the lonely spaces.
    Prayers for Robert and his church as they seek a new pastor. I pray with him for a smooth transition of power today and quick end to this pandemic of illness but also of rancor, malice and division.

  • robert moeller Posted January 20, 2021 9:03 am

    I’m human thus I am sinful. Without repentance and the gift of salvation Jesus made possible I am lost. We are reminded day in and day out that we need God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We exist because of them. Thank You, Lord.
    Many problems facing the US and the world, may we all work together under God’s guidance and make mighty progress in improving the welfare of people and the planet. MAY GOD’S KINGDOM COME, GOD’S WILL BE DONE HERE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. We pray this, let us be the hands of God and make it with God’s help, happen.

    I join Jill in her prayers for the UR family and the US. Thank You, Lord, that we have reached this day.

  • April Posted January 20, 2021 9:34 am

    I am reading a new-to-me book on calling and vocation (job). They may complement each other and be easily seen, such as call to be a care giver and nurse or they may be care giver and office assistant (caring about employee’s family). So even if retired, we are still called with the gift from the Spirit to our hurting world.
    Two other thoughts have their own chapter: to love and to be loved …. compared to being and doing…..one a noun and one a verb. Yes, God asks us to be loved…by Him!!
    God calls us to repent and He accepts our repentance. He forgives, mends us, and He loves us back….we accept and are be/being loved….allowing us to be love. I am humbled to accept His love, yet when I do (even though I know I do not deserve it as in being paid for my work/vocation), the feeling is like heaven, joy, peace rather than $$ deposited in the bank.
    A beautiful day is breaking, my day to unwrap the present from God for a New Thing. I pray that my eyes will be open to see what He has for me to see and do. I pray that He may look upon His world and grant us peace. Blessing to each and all.

  • Jill Posted January 20, 2021 5:13 pm

    God, in His infinite patience, remains with us, gently guiding us back to the path, offering forgiveness and mulligan after mulligan after mulligan. For He knows how we were made, He remembers that we are dust. He desires intimate relationship – mind blowing and so humbling. Thank You Father.
    I prayed so much regarding my last class of the day today, and God gave me the proper tone, the proper stance and the right words to be received by my students. I coaxed them to make suggestions and asked them what I could do differently to be of better assistance. I think we reached some middle ground and will proceed from here. One student somewhat threw me under the bus. Very quickly, another student came to my defense. I needed that, and treasure it deeply.
    This evening – a lot going on – my god daughter’s basketball game and my small group Bible study. May be a bit of overlapping. If the game is competitive, I will probably “zoom” in to study tardy.
    I feel like the nation is hopeful after the proceedings of today. May this virus be attacked anew and may this new administration lead and represent us well.

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