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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

Wherever you may be sitting now, make yourself comfortable and place your hands upon your lap. Curl up your fingers into tightly closed fists. Imagine that in these tightly clenched hands you are holding on to everything that is important for you—your life, your loved ones, your work, your possessions, your resentments, your hopes and dreams for the future. Feel the tension build up from your hands. Now hear Christ’s invitation to let go and let God. It is an invitation to deeper surrender and yieldedness. As you are able, allow your response to find expression in the slow opening of your hands.

—Trevor Hudson, Hope Beyond Your Tears: Experiencing Christ’s Healing Love, with a foreword by Dallas Willard (Upper Room Books, 2012)

Today’s Question

What do you need to release into God’s care today? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
—Matthew 6:34 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

God of Compassion, we offer you our tears—tears of release, tears of grief, tears of joy. Receive them in love, and reveal to us the healing they can bring. Amen. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Throughout the season of Lent, join us for a midweek moment of prayer and worship live from The Upper Room Chapel. You can find us on Facebook or YouTube each Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. (CST).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

2 Comments

  • Ally Posted March 20, 2022 2:11 pm

    I have lots to release to God’s care: David’s upcoming biopsy, my feelings of rancor toward his ex and her husband, the PTSD David is dealing with due to COVID and lingering after effects, his leftover psychological trauma from emotional abuse from his ex during their marriage, the way this has impacted our marriage. Also this tangled up knot regarding disability process. David is now in counseling and I start this week. Please pray for us. God is able.

  • Jill Posted March 20, 2022 4:17 pm

    I feel fortunate that there doesn’t seem to be anything I am gripping or that is gripping me. I am relieved for dad that the villa in Florida is a go – so this will allow him to relax. There is deep gratitude for my dad being with my sister and her husband, with less on me. School is very busy right now and will be until Spring Break as there are many deadlines for our program prior to break. But, that is just a reality, not something that grips me – but must be attended to consistently. I am grateful for my health and ability to be active.
    I didn’t realize it, but the mask mandate at the early service this morning has been lifted. It still was sparsely attended, so I felt just fine. Dad picked up pizza after his church service and came over. We went out to a new ice cream place, well – at least new for us. Then came back and watched basketball. He napped off and on and I did school work.
    In addition to all the deadlines looming ahead, I will have my second evaluation of the year the week after this. Started prepping some of the paperwork for that. I am quite confident, following the review from first semester. Nevertheless – all the ducks will be lined up in a row.
    Got out for a long walk this afternoon – as the sun came out quite nicely after a drizzly, chilly start to the day.
    Blessings for this first week of spring. May we linger a bit longer with a new blossom, or in a sunbeam or with a spring scent in the air.

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