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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

I want to invite you to consider all that stresses you out at this very moment. What are you overwhelmed by? Could you make a hard reset and start fresh with a new perspective? What could you do to intentionally practice being with God throughout the course of your days and nights? If you’re a pastor or a ministry leader, who are some other leaders in your circle who could share the load? Where can you carve more time to be with your family?

—Junius B. Dotson, Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today's Question

What areas of your life could benefit from a reset and a new perspective? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
—Philippians 4:6-7 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

God of new beginnings, help us reset and reorder our lives around your love, grace, and goodness. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

What if the contradictions within the Old Testament weren’t problems to be resolved but rather essential to its deepest meaning? In Sacred Tension, biblical scholar William P. Brown invites us to consider the Old Testament as a wide-ranging dialogue in conversation with itself and with us.
Now available for preorder here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Jeremiah 17:5-10
  • Psalm 1
  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
  • Luke 6:17-26

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

2 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Especially when there is so much negativity and stress, and we are overwhelmed by all that’s going on in the world, we need to hear the good news over and over and over again. We need to hear the story of God’s salvation, grace, mercy, and compassion. We need to be reminded that there’s a God who is bigger than whatever I’m going through, who hears and sees and knows my struggle. God’s got me. God’s going to give me what I need.

—Junius B. Dotson, Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today's Question

What helps you remember “there’s a God who is bigger”? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.
—Proverbs 18:10 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

God of new beginnings, help us reset and reorder our lives around your love, grace, and goodness. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

What if the contradictions within the Old Testament weren’t problems to be resolved but rather essential to its deepest meaning? In Sacred Tension, biblical scholar William P. Brown invites us to consider the Old Testament as a wide-ranging dialogue in conversation with itself and with us.
Now available for preorder here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Jeremiah 17:5-10
  • Psalm 1
  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
  • Luke 6:17-26

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

2 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Here’s what I discovered about my need to fix and rescue: I had basically short-circuited the ability to learn from failures. In community we fail together, we learn from it, and we move on together. But I couldn’t let the failures happen, so I took on burdens that didn’t belong to me. Deep down, I could not allow myself to fully trust the capacity of my leaders—even though they were super-capacity kind of people. But they showed me over and over again that not only could they be trusted—they also should be celebrated for their great leadership.

—Junius B. Dotson, Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today's Question

When have you practiced trusting others? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
—Psalm 9:10 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

God of new beginnings, help us reset and reorder our lives around your love, grace, and goodness. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

What if the contradictions within the Old Testament weren’t problems to be resolved but rather essential to its deepest meaning? In Sacred Tension, biblical scholar William P. Brown invites us to consider the Old Testament as a wide-ranging dialogue in conversation with itself and with us.
Now available for preorder here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Jeremiah 17:5-10
  • Psalm 1
  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
  • Luke 6:17-26

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

2 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Pursuing wholeness has led me to freedom from a façade. I’m not pretending to have it all together anymore. Seeking wholeness has trained me to live in very authentic, organic, consistent ways. I live with integrity and can be my true self; I’m not hiding from anybody. I’ve discovered that God’s love for me is not dependent upon my productivity or my positivity. Because I am close to Jesus, I can be vulnerable, and my vulnerability might help others on their spiritual journey. There is no substitute for closeness with Jesus on this soul reset journey. He is the first thing, the last thing, and everything in between!

—Junius B. Dotson, Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today's Question

How can you embrace greater authenticity in relationship with God and with others?
Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
—Psalm 25:5 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

God of new beginnings, help us reset and reorder our lives around your love, grace, and goodness. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

What if the contradictions within the Old Testament weren’t problems to be resolved but rather essential to its deepest meaning? In Sacred Tension, biblical scholar William P. Brown invites us to consider the Old Testament as a wide-ranging dialogue in conversation with itself and with us.
Now available for preorder here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Jeremiah 17:5-10
  • Psalm 1
  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
  • Luke 6:17-26

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

5 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

In my experience, discovering wholeness has required practicing the means of grace. Means of grace are those intentional practices that put us squarely in the flow of grace—practices such as prayer, silence, solitude, confession, journaling, physical exercise, small groups, worship, and practicing the presence of God, to name a few. I’ve had to intentionally create habits and rhythms that keep me close to Jesus in order to maintain any lasting sense of wholeness.

—Junius B. Dotson, Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today's Question

What habits could you create to stay connected with Jesus and to maintain a sense of wholeness?
Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
—John 15:5 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

God of new beginnings, help us reset and reorder our lives around your love, grace, and goodness. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

What if the contradictions within the Old Testament weren’t problems to be resolved but rather essential to its deepest meaning? In Sacred Tension, biblical scholar William P. Brown invites us to consider the Old Testament as a wide-ranging dialogue in conversation with itself and with us.
Now available for preorder here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Jeremiah 17:5-10
  • Psalm 1
  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
  • Luke 6:17-26

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

3 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

In order to reset our souls and experience the wholeness we crave, we need only look to Jesus. He showed us how to be in ministry, how to work long hours, how to address the needs and expectations of many people, all while staying connected to God. He knows that it’s all too easy to get burned out on religion. He knows that taking a real rest is rarely easy to do. He knows that we need to recover our lives. He knows how we feel and what we go through because he has lived it. God came to us in Jesus Christ and walked our steps, felt our feelings, experienced everything that we go through. He is the path to wholeness.

—Junius B. Dotson, Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today's Question

What comfort do you find in the truth that God knows what you’re going through? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

[Jesus said,] “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
—Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Prayer for the Week

God of new beginnings, help us reset and reorder our lives around your love, grace, and goodness. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

What if the contradictions within the Old Testament weren’t problems to be resolved but rather essential to its deepest meaning? In Sacred Tension, biblical scholar William P. Brown invites us to consider the Old Testament as a wide-ranging dialogue in conversation with itself and with us.
Now available for preorder here.

Lectionary Readings

  • Jeremiah 17:5-10
  • Psalm 1
  • 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
  • Luke 6:17-26

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

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

6 Comments | Join the Conversation.