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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

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

“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, The Message

Prayer for the Week

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

Something More

Join us for the next online Academy Day Apart retreat, Praying the Psalms in Lent and Beyond: Shaping a Justice Imagination, with Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes and Andrew Wilkes. On March 18, 2023, we will focus on the spiritual practices of silence and contemplation as we journey intentionally through this Lenten season. Learn more and register here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • Julie Posted January 30, 2023 9:34 am

    Sometimes this comforts me and sometimes not so much. Lately, not so much. H is deteriorating daily. Last evening I came home to find him standing in the foyer facing the house across the street. He was wearing his coat and carrying his shoes and clothes for today. He indicated that he needed to go across the street so he could “check in, be given his key and shown to his room.” I am at my wits end. He has a neurologist appointment tomorrow, hopefully he can help me with this.

  • Jill Posted January 30, 2023 3:17 pm

    At times I am buoyed by this fact and at other times, I wonder why He leaves the situation as is, when I am struggling. It is my job to lean into Him further and recall His faithfulness when I am discouraged. Easier said than done at times. But how faithful He is. Last week was rough and ripe with discouragement that had me down. But, thanks to others who listen well and/or speak truth into my life, as well as worship yesterday – I feel I have recovered lost ground.
    My sister got the all clear from her surgeon and she and Don are on a plane back to the Sunshine state. Dad will be happy to see them. Both he and Don will continue to nurse her back to health.
    Kinda snowy here. A decent day at school and I have some schoolwork I need to spend some time on this evening. Not the norm – but needed this evening.

  • robert moeller Posted January 30, 2023 6:24 pm

    Knowing that God (The Trinity) is with us always, whether you believe or not (God is waiting for your commitment) is reassuring, positive, uplifting, and supportive. Faith makes it more recognizable.
    Thankful for a visit by Julie and H with the neurologist, good results for Becky, safe travel to FL, and improvement recovering lost ground for Jill.
    Worship went well Sunday despite no ZOOM and no projection of a picture depicting Jesus preaching the Sermon on the Mount.
    CCUMC continues, still working on how to stream line administration. Planning for Lent continues.
    Prayers that God’s wisdom comes as we struggle with policing, race, gender, gun violence, and drug use. Thank You, Lord.

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