Today’s Reflection
Why then should I care whether other people hear my confessions, as if they were going to heal all my diseases? People are curious to know the lives of others but slow to correct their own. Why do they desire to hear from me what I am, who are unwilling to hear from you what they are? And how can they tell, when they hear from me of myself, whether I speak the truth, seeing that no man knows what is in a person except the human spirit that is within?
—Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Augustine, Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe (Upper Room Books, 2017)
Today’s Question
What does today’s quote say to you about listening to the Divine, to your own spirit, and to others? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.
—Revelation 3:20 (NRSV)
Prayer for the Week
Try this suggested prayer practice this week:
1. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and remember that God loves you and you are in God’s presence.
2. Imagine God calling you by name, asking “(Your name), what do you want?”
3. Answer God honestly with whatever word or phrase comes from deep within you.
4. Call God by name, a name you frequently use for God.
5. Combine your name for God with your word or phrase to form a brief prayer that flows smoothly.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Let’s join together and pray for our divided world. Post—or respond to—prayer requests and praise reports on The Upper Room Prayer Wall.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
4 Comments
God and Spirit enable us to listen well, provided that listening begins with vertical hearing. Walking in step with God, seeking His will and transformation enables us to be humbly present to others, attentive to their spoken and unspoken needs. I believe the more we focus on others and meeting their needs, what we perceive as desires and needs slide quietly to the background and we become fulfilled by having a servant heart towards others. It’s all part of that upside down gospel. The first shall be last, and the last first. Give and it shall be given to you. Eyes on Christ and others, and you will be blessedly unaware of yourself.
Last evening, most of time with small group was spent in praying for each other. Usually we do prayer requests at the end. But there have been some heavy things occurring and our leaders asked us to come ready with a request and we would begin with sharing and praying. When someone shared a request, another would volunteer to pray specifically for that need once all requests were made. We spent the first 50 minutes of our hour time together sharing and then in non-rushed corporate prayer. It was an incredible blessing. These women, of all ages, are such an encouragement to me.
Thank you, Ally, for sharing the good news from doctors appointments. Glad your sister will be with you tomorrow. I pray God will grant you and extra measure of His peace as you face this procedure.
Father – please continue to companion Marcy through these physical struggles. Father, in Your great compassion, we ask that You would heal her or at least reduce the suffering. Father – in Your will and timing. Thank You, God, for Julie’s mom’s healing thus far. May her corrective surgery provide strength in her body and may Julie feel comfortable with whatever is decided for holiday visiting.
Father – thank You for several days of warm temperatures and brilliant blue skies. I was not able to get outside yesterday for more than a few moments standing on my porch. But – today, after school – I will be going to my friend’s and we will eat outside at a local restaurant. A simple thing, but yet something to look forward to. And a rare treat in November.
I think knowing and doing God’s will empowered by the Spirit brings us to help, care for, and endure with others. We are made aware of their needs, concerns in this way. The reverse is also possible since everything is possible with Christ.
Still in the 30s and low 40s, some sun, clouds, and breeze.
More progress via ZOOM with Advent-Christmas planning for my community of faith.
Patiently waiting for presidential election results.
Continued prayers for the health concerns of Marcy, Julie, Ally & David,, and Jill’s former student.
Prayers for Julie and Megan through the divorce.
A well known exceptional modeler has pancreatic cancer and is preparing for a celebration of life before
he passes. Another short time known friend passed away in February, I only recently learned, The pandemic grows worse with 100,000 new cases in one day here in the US. Lord, we are thankful that You are with us through all of our existence. Nothing can separate us from Your love. Thank You, Lord.
I must come to God openly and honestly as nothing is hidden from Him. He will know if I am hiding from Him and myself and the exchange will not ultimately draw us closer. I have to speak honestly and listen with a willing heart to His response. I have always sought to be an active listener. I listen with my heart and give myself over to the person speaking as God does for me.
Prayers for Jill and her women’s study group, for all their shared concerns. I am also enjoying this pleasant stretch of warmth and sun and dreading when it is gone.
Prayers for Robert and his two modeling friends, may their lives and contributions to modeling be celebrated.
Prayers for Ally and David. Prayers of thanks for good doctor’s visits and for a sister’s presence during a tense time. May alll go well tomorrow.
Prayers for Marcy, for her health and for God to hold her through the pain.
Thank you for your prayers. I am waiting until next week to tackle personal issues as this week is stressful enough, though looking less so as the counting continues.
I tend to let myself be distracted by what others say to me and worry too much about what others think. I also need to look outward more and not focus so much on myself. Doing intercessory prayer for others helps with this. Helps me to fulfill the commandment to “love they neighbor”. My prayer today is to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord and keep my heart open to the leading of the Spirit so that I can listen for God’s will and direction regarding others and myself.
My consult with eye surgeon yesterday went well and I am cleared for that surgery. I’m experiencing anxiety about the heart cath tomorrow. Please pray that David and I will trust God to take care of us. My sister Amy is traveling today to be with us tomorrow. I’m so glad she can be here not just for me, but for David. He has been pretty emotional. Please continue to pray for my cousin. I had a long conversations with her daughter, who told me that her mom is an alcoholic and is also addicted to opioids. This explains her erratic behavior. She is a little ticked at me for reaching out to Ali, but I was concerned to the point of trying to see about her myself and I can’t do it at this time. She made statements which hinted that she was suicidal, so I had to take some kind of action. I would rather her be mad at me and alive than the alternative. Please pray for Ali as well. She has a young family and is exhausted from trying to help her mother. Please lift up another dear friend who was injured in a serious accident. The other driver is at fault and alcohol was a factor. Please lift her up as well, as she needs a touch from the Savior. This has been the craziest week, with my cousin and another good friend in crisis, this crazy election, my health issues, and work stress. Loving Lord, we give all of this to You and Your watch care. Grant Amy traveling graces for a safe journey. Work in Rebecca’s life and make her aware of Your presence. Be with Ali as she seeks Your guidance about how to help her mother and care for herself and her family. Heal our country and help us to be patient as we await the outcome of the election. Help us to look to You for ways to be united. Thank You for my friends in this forum.
Jill, I continue to lift up your dear friend to the Lord. I pray she feels God’s comfort and her treatments begin to work. Praying also that the side effects will be minimal. Praying also for Larry and for best outcome. I’m thankful he has loving children. Sounds like the Spirit moved in your prayer group. An incredible blessing. Robert, lifting up your friend who has pancreatic cancer. Such a devastating disease. I pray he will feel God’s peace. I pray for you as you grieve for this friend and for your friend who died in February. I am with you and Jill in trying to be patient as the counting of votes continues. I pray healing and an outpouring of Holy Spirit on Marcy. May she feel God’s nearness today. Julie, thank you for sharing from your heart. I lift you up as you deal with this crazy week. Praying for you as you seek God’s wisdom. I pray we all seek God’s peace in the craziness of this week. Bless you all;
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