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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

Even though my conversion took place over forty years ago, I continue to find pieces of hard stone in my heart. There are still moments when I forget God and want to be at the center, to be in control, to handle matters in my own way. Often I get discouraged by these struggles to love unselfishly those close to me. But I have learned to return to Christ who never gives up on me. I keep myself open to his spirit, confess my failure to love, and continue to trust that God will complete the heart transplant that was begun in me long ago. And, through all of this, my love for God has deepened and grown more than I can describe.

—Trevor Hudson, Holy Spirit Here and Now (Upper Room Books, 2013)

Today’s Question

How do you need the Holy Spirit to touch your heart at this moment? [question from Holy Spirit Here and Now] Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

[Thus says the Lord God:] “I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”
—Ezekial 11:19 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

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
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Amid the fullness of spring, are you longing for sacred rest? Take a pause, rediscover sabbath, and reset your soul with three life-giving resources from Upper Room Books. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Day of Pentecost

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted May 16, 2024 5:20 am

    I need the Holy Spirit to keep me going, My son thinks my faith is foolishness. Over and over he explains how we came to be, created by aliens. I listen patiently, but do not accept his explanation.
    I have no idea how he came to this understanding. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all else is sinking sand, There are times when I do see see Christ in him, He does things that are helpful, caring. We are on a roller coaster, Thank You, Lord for the Holy Spirit, we are very much in need of the Spirit’s guidance.

  • Julie Posted May 16, 2024 8:17 am

    Oh Robert, I feel for you. Aliens?!? I thought perhaps he believed that Scripture and evolution could not be resolved. However we know that the seven days are not literal and that our God has placed clues for us to discover and draw information from as to the creation story on our own. Megan does not believe either but she respects my choice. The most she says is how Christianity stole pagan holidays. But mostly she is silent and understands that religion is important to me and respects my choice. May God bless you.

  • Jill Posted May 16, 2024 6:05 pm

    I need the Holy Spirit to produce fruit which I cannot on my own. I want to provide the proper environment – but so need the help of the Spirit. I recognize I am being like a turtle, tucking and moving away from my sister. Unfortunately, it is reminiscent of the past…6-7 years ago, right before mom received her diagnosis. I can see myself doing it, pray that I won’t…yet, it is my nature. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.
    My sister texted me this morning on the way to work – our first interaction since Monday – asking me to call her. Not the way I wanted to start my day, walking into the building. But – I called her – and much to my surprise – she tells me dad met a woman for dinner last night. Could have knocked me over with a feather. She didn’t have a lot of details, but was traveling 2 hours today with dad to visit his sister and I am sure the inquisition was on! We are very happy for this. Should be interesting to see if anything comes of it. She is a lady from dad’s church! That is all Becky and I talked about. She acted as if Monday didn’t happen – so beyond me, and so disarming.
    Tennis went well. It will be a while before I am back in my rhythm – but it was great to be out there and my double’s partner and I won our court. The team won as well.
    Two more weeks of school. I completed my on-line orientation for my course which begins next week. Technology is likely my biggest hurdle, but I feel somewhat confident navigating the platform after doing several activities in the orientation.

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