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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.

 

Words of Hope During COVID-19

In tough times Bruce Epperly, author of The Mystic in You, begins his days by repeating Psalm 118:24. This verse’s words remind him that God is present in his life, that he can do something beautiful for God, and that God is at work in history.


 

Today’s Reflection

My future is in God’s hands; God has not forgotten me. I need to go to God in prayer again and again until my scary, out-of-control spells pass. In prayer time, something mysterious happens. God wipes away fear and brings peace to my troubled spirit.

—Nell E. Noonan, A Widow’s Prayer: Finding God’s Grace in the Days Ahead (Upper Room Books, 2015)

Today’s Question

When can you spend some time with God in prayer today? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.
—Jeremiah 29:12 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

God, help me listen to—and learn from—what you are teaching my heart today.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Interested in online learning options based on your favorite Upper Room books? Check out The Upper Room eLearning.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

5 Comments

  • Jill Posted May 13, 2020 5:45 am

    “My future is in God’s hands, God has not forgotten me.” These words are haunting to me this morning. Our best family friends suffered a tragedy yesterday. I believe I told you about the drive by birthday parade my dad orchestrated about two weeks ago – for his best friend who turned 93. Late Monday evening his daughter-in-law was reported missing and she was found yesterday just before noon, dead…she had taken her life. Devastation can’t adequately express what family members and close friends are experiencing. I try to perceive the level of desperation she was feeling. How can the darkness reign so fully that the choice is made? Could the desperation possibly be so desiring to be with the Lord in glory that it overwhelms consideration of those left behind? I am grateful that it doesn’t make sense to me. It does make me think about mom and how she completely folded in on herself – unable to consider anyone else. Again, as these things rumble around in my mind, I am grateful that I can’t relate to this darkness, this spiraling – I praise You, God, that this is so foreign to me. Thank You for stability, a sure anchor in You. My heart just aches, as my friend calls me from across the country – just sobbing over losing her sister in law, asking me to fervently pray for her brother. More sobbing, saying she just wishes her mom could hold her. It is a lot. And pondering God’s sovereignty in this…how this is ultimately for good. What are we to take away from this…
    Thank you, UR friends, for holding this family in your prayers. For reading my disjointed thoughts. For entering this space.

    • Lou Posted May 13, 2020 10:00 am

      It is a lot dear Jill – so many struggling during this time and in “regular” times- I pray for you and your family and friends Jill- God’s peace.

  • Ally Posted May 13, 2020 8:26 am

    As Jesus told us to pray without ceasing, we can pray anywhere. I pray on my drive to work and as I walk across the compound to my office. Sometimes I pray for the inmates meet on my way. My dedicated prayer time is after I check work email. I read the Upper Room entry for the day and meditate on the scripture while I drink my coffee. Then I read the New Every Morning Reflection and connect with my UR friends. I pray vespers prayers in the evening after supper and bedtime prayers before retiring. As the writer of the UR devotion for today testified, I have seen first hand the power of prayer. I ask God to help me trust that all is in God’s hands.
    I am so excited that David is coming home tomorrow. Yesterday in therapy, he climbed steps on his own. I thank y’all for being with us though our journey.
    Jill, I will be lifting up your family friends and pray they feel God’s comfort as they mourn their loved one. My family has been touched several times by the same tragedy. There are no words to describe the pain and desolation. My heart goes out to you and your friends. May you feel this same comfort Jill, as you minister to your friends. Love to you this morning. Blessings to all who visit here. Have a good, Godly day.

  • Julie Posted May 13, 2020 8:44 am

    “I need to go to Gd again and again in prayer, until my scary, out-of-control spells pass.” These words reflect my own state of mind and my need for His peace. I pray each morning asking Him to use His “sword of peace” that we read about previously, to excise my burdens and leave His peace filling my soul.
    Prayers for Jill and her friend’s family as they grieve the untimely passing of a young person. I have felt this darkness, what I clung to was that I believe the Bible says that those who take their own lives are denied eternal life with God. I pray this is not the case for you friend and that she is at peace. Prayers for you again and again. May your pain find solcae in community with the family and your family and friends.
    Prayers for Ally and David and for their strength. Today’s UR Devotional was about a man on a ventilator after an accident whose doctor’s gave no hope of recovery. The author and his wife prayed for him and 2 days later he recovered! Bring your needs and fears and weakness to the Lord and if you believe He can then He will.
    Prayers for Robert and his family as they continue to nurture one another using social media.
    I do not believe h will return to work and I will lay down ground rules for moving forward in the hopes of relieving my stress. Jill, I am enjoying your photos and videos of Roger on Facebook. My kitties are stressed by h being home and by the roofers. Tazzie especially, who is very much my baby, has picked up on my stress and wanders the house crying and whining, loudly.
    Prayers and thank you and good health dear UR

  • Lou Posted May 13, 2020 10:07 am

    I pray often during the day – sometimes it is a prayer of thanksgiving for something that catches me in the moment – and sometimes it is a “help me Lord” prayer – but it is frequent. Dedicated prayer time for me also is in the morning after the dog walk and lately out in my patio if the sun is warm and usually with my coffee and my devotionals of the day. I set an alarm at 9am during quarantine which is the time my moms prayer group meets on thursdays and when it goes off I stop whatever I am doing and pray by name for all of the moms
    and their children and husbands in my prayer group- rituals like that give me comfort especially during this time. I pray for all of you daily as I read the concerns and joys shared here- thankful for Ally that David is returning home- truly a blessing. Prayers for all of you who are blessings in my life as I learn and grow from your faithful witness.
    Peace to all today-

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