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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

I believe that asking What if? is a worthwhile spiritual practice. It keeps our eyes and minds open to what God is doing in the world, and it keeps us grounded as well. If we will simply follow Jesus into the world with a willingness to love, God will do the transformative work in us and in others. It may not look the way we expect it to look, and it may not happen on our time frames. That’s okay because it’s not about us. It’s about what God is doing in the world. What if all of Jesus’ apprentices imagined a world made whole and holy by the love and grace of God?

—Rebecca Bruff, Loving the World with God: Fourth Day Living (Upper Room Books, 2014)

Today’s Question

Do you fears ever keep you from following God? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
—Matthew 14:27 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love.
(From the Peace Prayer of St. Francis)
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Join The Upper Room Emmaus Ministries on Friday, April 21, at 7:00 p.m. (CST) for their annual online international gathering via Zoom. Learn more and register today here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Liturgy of the Palms

Liturgy of the Passion

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

5 Comments

  • Gail Churchill Posted March 28, 2023 9:10 am

    In the area of sacrificial giving, if I give a large amount I may lack funds in retirement. So I give a smaller amount. Or I put it off. Or I discontinue a planned giving amount. All these things stream through my mind. Undoubtedly there are other areas in which I experience fear that I choose not to acknowledge!

  • Ally Posted March 28, 2023 9:44 am

    I sometimes fear going where God wants to lead me. I fear because I fear i can’t do what God asks. Lord, help to trust that if i follow Your path, You will be with me and that i can do all things because You give me strength. Help me to trust that I can learn new things and be obedient to Your voice.

  • Julie Posted March 28, 2023 9:47 am

    I tread lightly when mentioning God, Jesus or my belief. I fear people judging me negatively or feeling put upon. I have seen people who over share and the eye rolls from others.
    Yesterday was trying with h. His hallucinations and delusions are getting worse. Thankfully, his friend picked him up and took him to get his hair cut and out to dinner. I needed the break.

  • robert moeller Posted March 28, 2023 2:17 pm

    My first without thinking very hard response was no, but reading posts helped me get a clearer view of myself and the answer truly has to be yes. I wish I could give more, my heart wants to, my mind says no. I take abuse for believing in God so sometimes I make visible references to God less visible. I am thankful that no one prevents me from going to church, Bible study, fellowship, or church meetings.
    So thankful that another snowshoe near Bald Hill was possible. Met a fellow Army retired warrant officer today. We both had service in Korea and Germany.
    The next to the last Messiah Bible study was today. Not sure how things will work out next week with my planned visit to my daughter. This has been an “awkward” Lent for me.
    Thank You, Lord for Your ever presence.

  • Jill Posted March 28, 2023 5:48 pm

    Robert – me too. My first inclination was no, of course not. But, how many opportunities to serve Him better have I set aside? And was it truly fear, or simply not wanting to be uncomfortable? Quite likely it is a much more selfish thing. Something I need to take to Him in prayer.
    Got around today fairly well. Just kinda feel achy. The day passed fine at school.

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