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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

As I have offered spiritual direction to people over the years, people have asked how to develop a better prayer life with the hope that I had a magic or simple solution. There are many practices or habits one could adopt, like befriending silence, walking a labyrinth, lectio divina, centering prayer, keeping a journal, or working in a soup kitchen. Yet the first questions are really, “What is your heart’s desire? What is your longing?” Can we recognize our response to God’s extravagant love as the Spirit’s gentle nudge and soft push to develop practices of openness, receptivity, and gratitude?

—Larry J. Peacock, The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today’s Question

Consider the author’s questions in today’s reflection. Share your thoughts.

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. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ”
—Romans 8:26-27 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

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Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted December 28, 2019 8:15 am

    Thank God for this 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. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” I am not always able to easily and accurately express my prayers.

    I’m grateful for a wonderful day yesterday, had a marvelous time with my daughter, Willa, Oona, and Chris. Will go to Broadway for a show today. Home tomorrow. Snow on the way there and very hopefully there will be some good skiing soon.

    Have learned how to change 1:12 scale to 1:87 scale. This will help with a train station I hope to model. Guidance on tunnel building was also discovered.

    Prayers for the UR family earlier this morning and here again. Peace be with you.

  • Andrea Posted December 28, 2019 8:34 am

    Psalm 33:33 – Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

    The fourth day of Christmas. I am grateful for these peaceful, quiet days. I pray to use the time well.

    Prayers for your wonderful visit to your daughter and a safe trip home, Robert.

    Prayers and blessings. God is good.

    • Andrea Posted December 28, 2019 8:36 am

      Should read “Psalm 34:22.”

      • Andrea Posted December 28, 2019 10:15 am

        Oh, I am all thumbs today. (I should not try to post comments using my phone.) The Psalm verse is Psalm 33:22.

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