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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

GIVING UP SOMETHING for Lent is a familiar tradition for many, a variation on an old and rich tradition of self-denial known as fasting. … Maybe you know people who approach the season of Lent by giving up chocolate or coffee or another indulgence and then follow through with that intention until Easter. The idea of giving up something – usually a personally meaningful practice or custom – for Lent has become one way to fast during the season. The reasoning behind this ancient tradition focused on ways to develop openness to God. …

This Lenten season I invite you to break from the usual custom of fasting or other form of self-denial and, instead, to fast from apathy. That means you set aside all your noncaring attitudes and move closer to the caring love of God. Even in its mildest form, apathy is a spiritual illness. The cure for apathy is also a spiritual one. … We must move from prayer to action.

– George Hovaness Donigian
A World Worth Saving

From pages 17-18 and 23-24 of A World Worth Saving: Lenten Spiritual Practices for Action by George Hovaness Donigian. Copyright © 2013 by George Hovaness Donigian. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What action would you consider taking up during Lent? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,

1 Peter 3:18, NRSV

This Week: Pray for a holy lent. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Did You Know?

In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.

This week we remember: Valentine (February 14).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2018 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

8 Comments

  • Julie Posted February 16, 2018 7:55 am

    I mentioned earlier this week that I had hoped to send a note of thanks to somene each day of Lent. So far I have sent none. Lack of time and sore fingers have kept me from this. I will still try to do this however. I am limited now because of sores on fingers and toes.
    Continued prayers for Isis and Erich. So thankful they are having good days together.
    Prayers continue for each and every one of the UR family. My list is long, but God is patient and compassionate.
    Blessings to all the UR loving family
    Those who try to do something and fail are infintely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed. Lloyd Jones

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 16, 2018 7:03 pm

      May God bless you with a speedy recovery Julie!

      Blessings to all

  • Connie Posted February 16, 2018 8:14 am

    Apathy is quite easy, less stressfu

    Apathy is quite easy to fall into. This Lenten Season I will try with all my heart to feel passionate about everything I do.
    I have always said that if I try ten kind things and only one works out that’s o.k. Also, good intentions come to God’s attention.
    Praying that Jill’s fingers feel better and stay better.

  • Pam Posted February 16, 2018 9:24 am

    God Bless you BOTH for CARING! It really IS the THOUGHT that COUNTS, especially when EVERYONE here has the complete opposite attitude of apathy!

  • jan Posted February 16, 2018 12:15 pm

    Give up $50.00 to animal rescue so that starving animals will have some food. I am retired and on a limited budget, so giving up $50 is a sacrifice
    for me.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 17, 2018 1:29 am

    Visited my dad in the morning today and brought devotional material for him to read.

    Blessings to all and thank you for praying for my dad and i.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 17, 2018 5:24 pm

    Give up more personal time to pray for others.

    Blessings

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