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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

CONFLICT CAN DRIVE us to fear and to acting as if God does not exist, but conflict can also drive us to our knees, to faith. In my experience, conflict can help me understand, like nothing else, my dependence on something beyond myself, and my interdependence with others—in short, my need for assistance from God and neighbor. In conflict, I learn to depend on the resources and power of the Spirit in new ways. Conflict opens me up to know God in fresh and powerful ways. The more I work with conflict the more I am aware that this is where God is most fully present.

—Thomas Porter, The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation: Creating a Culture of Justpeace (Upper Room Books, 2010)

Today’s Question

How does conflict remind you of your dependence on God? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
—Romans 8:26 (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 Saint Francis)
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

We Are the Church… Let’s Act Like It. Journey with Linda Pevey as she discusses practical and biblical ways today’s church can truly be a transformative presence in the world. Learn more about this small group study on the book of Acts.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • Jill Posted January 13, 2020 3:47 am

    My natural tendency when in conflict is to react protectively, which could include lashing out/inflicting pain elsewhere. My reaction should be to turn to God, ask Him to reveal to me what He wants me to learn in the situation and to react out of compassion, in accordance to His Will. Yes, there is much to be learned in each and every situation. I need to be very aware of where my mind goes , re-directing my thoughts towards Him as quickly as possible.
    At the cancer support group yesterday, the pastor which oversees our ministry led the lesson. He spoke on Philippians 4 and gave some wonderful truths. There is never a circumstance in life where the peace of Jesus cannot be known and experienced. There is evidence of this in my life the past few years – and I am so humbled by this. Secondly, learning to live by the peace of God does not come naturally, it must be practiced and lived out. Directing our thoughts to Him is the first step – see Philippians 4:8. His final point was – contentedness is learned over time and can only be found in Jesus. Amen. I hope these are an encouragement today.
    Grateful for time at home this weekend, rest, school tasks accomplished.
    Joyce – I appreciate what you bring to this group, so glad you have joined us.

  • Joyce Kaiser Posted January 13, 2020 6:53 am

    Conflict- crime-shootings, use of knives,…hatred, loss of love, care concern by humans..the more happens and does not happen……STOP Joyce. Folks, it has taken me thu ‘ups and downs’ and yet, I know that my comfort ‘comes from the Lord’. I know that prayer is an essential key for me, attending the fellowship of a church, and reading of scriptures…is what I can do! My love for the Lord is growing. I learn each and every day from God- ‘GodsGotThis’ and yes, Jill- I have — need to practice every second. And, yes, many times I drop to my knees and simply say “Help.” And the neat part of compassion is I feel it- feel it immediately.
    “How cool it is that the same God who created mountains and oceans and galaxies–looked at You and thought the world needed one of you, too.”
    You are COOL today and always with God by your side…yes you are COOL!
    Thanks,

  • Julie Posted January 13, 2020 8:19 am

    I have lived my life with conflict all around me. I learned early iin life to be a pleaser so as to not have any conflict directed at me. Otherwise, I kept my head down and stayed out of the fray as much as possible. Now I find myself in a relationship that is nothing but conflict. But this time I must engage as my future hinges on the outcome. I have turned to God, asking for Him to counsel me in walking the line between living His word while also remaining congnizant of my safety. When it comes to my mother, I am a duck, it rolls off my back. I find with age and maturity and growth in my faith I find it easier to take my mother as the person and creation she has become.
    Prayers for Jill and her restorative weekend put to effective tasks.
    Prayers for Joyce and her growth and maturity as a Christian.
    Prayers for Andrea and her back pain.
    Prayers for BJ. So good to see your post. I, too, use a Samsung tablet, but a warning,; mine decided out of the blue one day to just refuse to start.
    Prayers for Lou and her new start for the year.
    Prayers for Rick, may the spring semester go well for him and may he find time for all he needs and wants to do.
    Prayers for Robert, may his cold be a thing of the past and may he and Erich grow closer through their work together.
    Prayers and thank you UR

  • robert moeller Posted January 14, 2020 6:59 am

    Thank you, Julie, Joyce, and Jill for prayers, insight, and posts.
    Jill wrote, “My natural tendency when in conflict is to react protectively, which could include lashing out/inflicting pain elsewhere.” I expected the first part of this statement, but ,from my readings of your posts, not the second part. Somehow I didn’t see that in you.
    Yes, Joyce, your posts are most welcome, thank you.
    Julie, the UR family has your safety in our daily prayers and we are very thankful for the daily person directed prayers you pray. May your hands and foot benefit from the new medication and may there be no side effects.
    Am encouraged by the careful planning and progress being made in getting a business started. Erich’s training and experience is coming together. He has to be passionate about what he does and this , thus far, has been the case. Thankfully I have some business experience and here and there have been able to help.
    My weeklong illness has finally departed. Thank You, Lord.

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