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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

JESUS LIVES a Spirit-led life, even in a culture trying to forbid him from performing acts of justice on the sabbath. He puts the over-planners on notice—the productive, wealthy, powerful, self-righteous, hoarders, ignorers, and worriers. He consistently calls us to the kind of action that isn’t measured in qualitative data: love, justice, service, and awareness.

—J. Dana Trent, For Sabbath’s Sake: Embracing Your Need for Rest, Worship, and Community (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question

What action might the Spirit be leading you toward today? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.”
—Luke 13:10-12 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Holy One,
I am listening.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

This Lent, The Upper Room is offering an online Lenten Calendar for children, youth, and families. Visit UpperRoom.org/Lent to interact with the calendar and sign up to receive each day’s practice in your inbox.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • Jill Posted February 25, 2020 3:09 am

    I will strive to be attentive to what He is calling me to do. A few thoughts this morning revolve around dad arriving back in town late this evening and Lent. I have been pondering what I might “take on” during Lent – and keep coming back to the thought of taking a half hour or so when I arrive home from school to be still, get into the Word, reflect on the day and its interactions. Things should be slowing down a bit – as my god-daughter’s season is almost over. I need to be more prayerful in this – seeking what He would have me either take on or release during this Lenten season.
    Sometimes the current day’s reading is available early and some days it is not. Grateful for the encouragement and faithful prayers and thoughts shared in this space. Thank You, Father – for this gathering spot for Your flock. Continue to bless the UR in its ministries.

  • robert moeller Posted February 25, 2020 5:48 am

    The Holy Spirit will lead me to Bible study today., giving to help someone for Lent, and Ash Wednesday service tomorrow. Thankful Jill and her Dad are safely home.

    The search for a car to replace my current one took us to a certified dealer yesterday. We were encouraged by what we found.

    Yes, Jill, I’m also thankful to be able to pray here for others and thankful others pray for us. Thank You, Lord, for the ministry of the Upper Room.

  • Julie Posted February 25, 2020 8:33 am

    I feel like a broken record, but I strongly feel that the Holy Spirit is leading me to serve in some way and i am flummoxed. I try to stay indoors as much as possible, leaving home to shop and spend every other Sunday with Megan only. Yes this is very restrictive, but the Reynaud’s is restrictive. I cannot do much with my hands, they loose sensitivity and I drop things often. My toes with wounds make walking painful, so what Holy Spirit would you have me do? Like Jill, I have also contemplated adding quiet time, maybe the answers await me there.
    Prayers and thank you to Jill. I asked about your medication change reluctance because we both rely heavily on meds to function at all. My hand doctor said the Botox may have stopped working me based on the horrors of last winter. I am afraid the vasodilator may do the same some time in the future. I had several side effects and still battle some nausea. But the vomiting has subsided, mostly.
    Prayers for Robert, may he find a safe, reliable and afforadable replacement vehicle.
    Prayers for Rick, I also spent Sundays doing homework when I was back at school in my late 30s. I understand the guilt, so my empathy to you. Sometimes this is necessary for the greater good.
    Prayers for those who visit this site for Christian community and a dose of love and acceptance, prayers for the UR team that keeps this page working so smoothly, prayers for all of the UR personnel who provide so many wonderful resources, and prayers for the authors of the many finsightful books used to inform our discussions.

  • April Posted February 25, 2020 10:25 am

    Just this last Sunday afternoon we were walking along the river and I said how I enjoyed being retired as I could enjoy all of Sunday without having to spend time preparing for an 0800 meeting on what my plans/goals were for the week. I remember the 60’s and how we did not do any work on the day. It was a wonderful day to read and be quiet, go to church, and sometimes go for a drive to surprise others with a visit.
    The services for the young man that committed suicide were yesterday. It was very moving and sad. The theme of seeing him live on in the world and our lives touched me. A practical way and which I have already done is to be ready to act if we see someone who needs help. It is to put the National Suicide Prevention Hotline number in our phone and have it always ready. The number is 1-800-273-8255.
    It is so good to follow along with you Rick as you share your schooling with us. Congrats to you on your decision to further your education in nursing!! I have great confidence in you!!
    I am contemplating Lent and my actions related to this….to give up or to add.
    When I awake at night, my first thought is that God is asking me to do something, be it waiting in silence for Him to talk, pray for myself, pray for others. Most times it is all 3 and then I fall asleep, so I believe God is asking me to be more prayerful and will see that as my Lenten action.
    Blessings dear UR Family as we greet this day and until we meet again.

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