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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 have found it helpful to create a spiritual autobiography or a faith journey timeline to look back at the highs and lows of my spiritual journey and remember the ways that God has been with me. Like the contemporary gospel hymn says, God has been there, through it all. “Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God.” Hold on to the assurance that God is with us. Hold on to the signs from the past year that give hope and promise.

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

Today’s Question

What assurances of God’s presence give you hope and promise? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength.
—Ephesians 1:17-19 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Creator God, Give me wisdom to learn from the blessings, stresses, and sorrows of all that lies behind, and give me the strength and hope to press on to what lies ahead.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

5 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted December 29, 2020 7:08 am

    Day by day with God ever present I’m able to meet the challenges that life brings, Bills get paid, there’s a roof over our heads, food on the table, I’m able to help others, and am healthy. I’m very thankful. Of course there’s always more to do, and I surely will need God’s help to be able to do it.
    A blustery day here, bare wet roads, wind takes snow off the roof, mostly clear, blue skies, 26 going to 28 and then down to 17. So far the ski season has not really started. Had snow then the rain took it away in one day. Finished my Canadian National Mail-Express car. The Café-Grill car is headed for the finish line.
    ZOOM Bible study this morning, the epilogue to the “Almost Christmas” Advent study. A Wesleyan Covenant Service is there, not sure what we will do. The wise men are nearing Jerusalem searching for Jesus. He is now in a house in Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph. They have followed the Jewish law, Jesus has been circumcised and taken to the temple since He is the first born of the family. I expect it was a surprise when the wise men showed up.
    I hope in these last few days or 2020 that your hopes and fears are being fulfilled, resolved and that as a New Year comes God will guide and secure you on the path that leads you on. Thank You, Lord, most certainly Your mercies are new every day.

  • Julie Posted December 29, 2020 8:55 am

    I related just yesterday one vivid example of how God has assured me of His presence and sovereign care. Megan testing positive for the coronavirus and being sick for over a week while I remain totally symptom free. He also kept Megan from developing a more debilitating illness, she never even had a fever.
    Tazzie is home. His remains were delivered by our vet who also performs home euthanasia. Also his final resting place, an urn with a place for a picture was delivered. I am wearing a locket with some of his remains within. Megan found these online after Chai passed.
    Prayers for Robert and his churches willingness to try new ways of worshipping with different service styles.
    Prayers for Ally and David and may Ally’s last days at this job be rewarding. Thank you again for extending an invitation to join your church’s Zoom services and Bible studies. In case you did not see my reponse yesterday my email is julie020664@gmail.com.
    Prayers for Jill as she continues to wrestle with her feelings regarding the students who cheated. May she and her administrator come to a mutual agreement regarding punishment. Prayers for her former player who had surgery. I pray her cancer was entirely removed with minimal tissue loss. I pray for her pain to be relieved and recovery to be swift.
    Prayers for April, Lou, Marcy, and Rick. May all be well.

  • Ally Posted December 29, 2020 9:16 am

    My prayer each day is that the Lord will make me aware of His presence. I have felt God’s presence in this year, through some of the toughest times I have experienced. I look back on this year and see a year of grace. God’s mercy has covered us. God chose us and loves without condition. Our assurance is that God promises us in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5 that God will never leave or forsake us. This along with who Christ is as Immanuel, God with us, has been a theme that has stayed with me throughout this year. Thank You, Jesus!
    My co-workers are taking me to lunch today, as Thursday is my last day. I am going to miss my colleagues.
    Jill, thank you for your prayers and expressions of good wishes. I pray your student did well in surgery and has a good prognosis. Praying for you during this different Christmas season. I have missed the same things. Julie, are you comfortable with my passing along your email to my sister so she can send you the Zoom invite when the new Bible study starts? Praising God that Megan has had a mild case and that you remain symptom free. Still praying for y’all as you mourn little Tazzie. I’m thankful you have wonderful memories and the remembrances of his sweet presence. Robert, Good to hear you have made great progress on models. Thank you for your insight and wisdom. Prayers continue for your children, that they will find life in Christ. Richard, welcome to this forum. Thank you for sharing how you kept Christmas and shared the light. I pray all of us find the light of Christ and share with others. Peace and joy to all.

    • Julie Posted December 29, 2020 2:52 pm

      Yes by all means share with your sister

  • Jill Posted December 29, 2020 1:01 pm

    His presence through the peaks and valleys of the last 3 1/2 years is sufficient and sustaining. Was taking my time re-reading through the Lord’s prayer today…thinking about daily bread…trusting Him for strength and means necessary for today alone. I am often looking way too far out front. And what luxury can be found in resting in His promises (as Ally stated above) and just existing in the present moment and gift of today.
    With that being said, my colleague with breast cancer reached out to me this afternoon, wondering if I had “heard the rumor”. Supposedly our principal is leaving to move into central administration and our weakest assistant principal is moving in to his slot. Good grief. One more kick in the butt by the year 2020 as we head out the door. As she correctly said – most of these types of rumors have a way of becoming reality. She is pretty “in the loop”. I am not in the loop at all, and only get placed there when she “let’s me in”. Which is fine with me. I think ignorance is bliss in a building of my size. I just like to be in my classroom with the door shut, working with my students.
    On a super positive note, my former student’s surgery was able to be performed laparoscopically AND she even came home last night. I have not received any correspondence from her, but saw what her mom updated on a google doc which is being used to post medical updates throughout this ordeal. Thank you, those who have been praying for her.

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