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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

The gardenia prompts our awareness of life’s high moments of sweetness that can sustain us through the not-so-sweet times—the embrace of a loved one, the adoring smile of a child, the strains of great music, the delectability of a piece of chocolate, the smell of rain . . . or a homemade corsage. Those charming delights strengthen our spirits and nourish our souls if we pay attention and say thank-you.

—Linda Douty, Rhythms of Growth: 365 Meditations to Nurture the Soul (Upper Room Books, 2014)

Today’s Question

What moments of delight can you notice and say thank-you for today? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
—Psalm 119:103 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

Thank you, God, for sun and showers.
Thank you for each lovely flower.
Thank you for each stately tree.
Through all these, you speak to me.
A Gardener’s Prayer
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

You don’t have to be at the beach to experience the sea, the sand, the sky, and the glory of the One who created it all. In Beach Calling, author Missy Buchanan’s brilliant descriptions—intertwined artfully with scripture—paint a vivid picture that invites you to a closer, more authentic walk with God. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

2 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted April 18, 2024 5:20 am

    The gardenia was my grandmother’ s favorite flower. Today the smell of supper, the first bite of a brownie, a message from a new friend, and starting the day with New Every Morning are all reasons to give thanks. Thank You, Lord. Remembering Ally&David, Jill, Becky, Larry, and Don, April, Rusty and K, Rick and Scott, Lou, Andrea and Lowell. Prayers for all of you.

  • robert moeller Posted April 18, 2024 5:22 am

    Jule, Megan and h

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