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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 began speaking to scripture, it began to speak to me. I am not saying that I started receiving answers to all of life’s problems. I still worried about being a good enough person. Past mistakes or hurts still bothered me. I still wondered where God was during painful experiences. But I truly felt in conversation with God while I took part in my own spiritual growth and understanding. I found myself drawn further into the mystery of Christian faith, further away from certitude, and closer to a life with scripture I had always longed for but had not believed possible.

—Jane Herring, One Day I Wrote Back: Interacting with Scripture Through Creative Writing (Upper Room Books, 2015)

Today’s Question

How has interacting with scripture affected your relationship with God? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
—2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

Gracious God, your word says that you will always guide me. You are with me during every moment of every day. You will satisfy my needs when I feel frustrated, and you will strengthen me when life makes me weary. Help me to follow your ways as you lead me into a life of fruitfulness and joy. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

—Adapted from “30 Powerful Prayers to God for Guidance and Direction,” at ConnectUsFund.org

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Learn from this week’s featured author, Jane Herring, and other spiritual guides at our virtual event, RESILIENCE | Practicing Compassion in a World of Conflict. On September 29-30, 2023, we will explore the transformative power of compassion in a world marked by division. Learn more and register today at UpperRoom.org/resilience.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

1 Comment

  • robert moeller Posted August 9, 2023 5:27 am

    My interaction through reading, listening to, and discussing scripture sustains me. It keeps me aware of God’s ever presence. It enables me to resist challenges to my faith. Thank You, Lord.
    Rain, clouds, high river, and flood warnings, but no wind, thunder. or lightning. Have not lost power. Prayers for all who have had damage and are without power. Thankful the crews have been able to restore it to so many so quickly. It’s the strangest summer I have ever experienced.
    I need to keep trying to read older posts, used to be able to do that. Prayers for all the NEM family.

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