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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

TO DEVELOP A MORE present-minded way of living, you might experiment regularly with an exercise that I first came across in the writings of Metropolitan Antony. The basic steps go as follows:

Set aside some time, perhaps five minutes, to do nothing. Simply sit down in your room and say, “I am seated; I am doing nothing. I will do nothing for the next five minutes.”

Having declared your intention for this little space of time, decide firmly that nothing will pull you away during these five minutes. If you find yourself emigrating mentally into the past or the future, bring yourself back to the here and now with the thought, I am here in the presence of God, in my own presence, and in the presence of all the furniture that is around me, just still, moving nowhere.

I have discovered that doing this exercise regularly builds up the capacity to live more deeply in the present within our everyday lives.

—Trevor Hudson, A Mile in My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion (Upper Room Books, 2005)

Today’s Question

Try the spiritual discipline referenced above.  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?”
—Habakkuk 1:2 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Give me the eyes to see when others hurt, the ears to hear when others cry, and the courage to bring light into their darkness.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted September 25, 2019 6:45 am

    I will do this on a regular basis. Yes, it did keep me focused on the here and now, especially God’s presence. Thank You, Lord.

    Will be off to a convention Fri-Sun. It’s the annual meeting of the Central Vermont Railway Historical Society. More progress made on the station model yesterday.

    Prayers for the US and Great Britain asking God’s wisdom in actions taken and to be taken. Of even greater importance God’s guidance in caring for the planet and all its life. Lord, we have not been great stewards of the place we call our earthly home.

    God’s strength, wisdom, guidance, healing, mercy, grace, and love to all the UR family. The Lord bless you and keep you now and always. Thank You,
    Lord.

  • Julie Posted September 25, 2019 8:35 am

    I will try to do this every day. I need to do this as I am very bad about living in t he moment. One reason Ibegan reciting the serenity prayer daily was due to the line ” living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time.” I do neither of these.
    I had a dermatologist appointment yesterday for a body check. All good with that. She related that she has a patient with Reynaud’s Syndrome that she treats as the woman does no see a hand specialist as I do. She has had success treating her with vasodillators. There is in fact a version of viagra that is labeled for Reynaud’s only. I will bring this up with my hand doctor when he gives me the botox shots. This will be next week. I have decided to persue this treatment in conjunction with the botox.
    Prayers for Robert, may he have safe travels and a successful and enjoyable convention.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry, may he be safe on his travels to Niagra Falls and may Jill no worry, too much.
    Prayers for Mary and her students, mat they pass their exams.
    Prayers for April, BJ, Betsy and Lou and their families.
    Prayers for healing for Andrea, Connie and Marcy.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you dear UR posters and readers

  • Jill Posted September 26, 2019 4:11 am

    Being able to completely still myself, physically – not much of a problem. But, oh slowing down the mind. I feel like there has been improvement in this area, but still miles to go. Just the simplicity of being in His Presence, content.
    My god daughter’s last tennis match was yesterday afternoon. The weather has been so pleasant and it was nice to be there. They won, finishing 17-1 this season, she and her best friend. Now it is on to basketball. Hard to believe it is the end of September.
    Conferences this evening, so a long day at school.
    Julie – I hope this additional treatment will give you improved relief.
    Robert – I am so glad you enjoy your train hobby and are able to go to these conventions/meetings.

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