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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

We could certainly use a bit of peace. But we crave control—and we exercise it by relying on our own strength to create order. But this is not the nature of the revealed Ultimate Reality whom we worship. Our role as humans is to remain humble—trusting that God is powerful enough to create beauty from void and shalom from storm.

—J. Dana Trent, The Upper Room Disciplines 2021: A Book of Daily Devotions (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

How can you more deeply trust that God is working toward shalom? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

—Psalm 29:4 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

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.*

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Upper Room Disciplines provides an opportunity to look more deeply at scripture by offering a week of devotions by a single author on a particular theme. Available in a variety of formats: print, eBook, and digital subscriptions. Discover more.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

*Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved.

4 Comments

  • Jill Posted October 6, 2020 5:05 am

    Staying connected to Him…being in His Word, hearing stories of His faithfulness and provision in other Believers’ lives…there is abundant evidence of His ability to bring shalom out of dire circumstances. To bring us to rest in Him, Our Rock and Refuge. The greatest shalom possible.
    Father – please bring Your Shalom to Ally and the bitterness that she openly confessed to us and lays before You. Father, may the grip of this lose its strength, in surrender to You.
    Please bring Your Shalom to Julie, in the midst of circumstantial chaos…may You be her sure Refuge.
    Please continue to shower Your Shalom on Robert as he steadfastly provides for Erich.
    Father – bring Your Shalom to Lou, may it be real and reassuring as she considers her children and their future.
    And, Father – to those we miss hearing from – but You know intricately about each situation…rain down Your shalom on their circumstances…Rick, BJ, April, Marcy, Andrea, Connie. And those even further removed by time…Mary, Betsy, Rusty, and others.
    Father – may Your name be glorified today…in our actions and thoughts.

  • robert moeller Posted October 6, 2020 7:41 am

    Started this, then waned to read yesterday’s post and lost what I wrote. Surely understand your bitterness Ally, especially after the news of the past few days.

    These are among the toughest times I have endured despite having both physical and spiritual support, resources. Emotions are on a roller coaster. God will see us through, have been through a variety of tough for me times. Many others have had it far worse than me.

    Thank you all for your prayers, you are also in mine. Amen to Jill’s prayer for those we miss.

    Today’s Bible study looks at our Orthodox and Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ. I am still awaiting the book for the study. Should have made a different decision and would have had it already.

    Two short hikes yesterday, very enjoyable and pleasant. Time for breakfast and then I’ll be a listener at today’s Bible study.

    Thank You, Lord, with You all will be well.

  • Julie Posted October 6, 2020 8:40 am

    It is difficult to believe that I will ever experience shalom again. But from past experience and from social work schooling I am aware that the human mind and body cannot reside in this state indefinitely without one or the other breaking down. I read an interesting sentence in an Amish novel this morning: “God is the piecrust that holds the pieces of life together.” I thought this was a true and humble statement and just wanted to share.
    Thank you all for your prayers and kind words. They warm and sooth my heart and soul and help sustain me. My mom is relieved she will not have to go to a nursing home but has been approved to rehab in the hospital center for that purpose. I bought a freezer yesterday after the repairman said the old one would need a compressor. This is a small miracle as most stores said that freezers are back ordered for months due to the pandemic. The new one won’t be delivered until next Thursday but that was the earliest possible. Please continue to pray as I know you will.
    Prayers for Jill and her memories of commenters past. I would add Mary who I hope will return after her mission trip.
    Prayers for Robert and may he receive the book for his Bible study soon so that he can participate. Prayers continue for Jenny and her friend’s family.
    Prayers for Ally, I continue to pray that God soothes her (very justified!) anger. Life is not fair but the blatant disregard by the president of others suffering and losses while receiving the best possible care is galling. Rely on the ultimate Judge to oversee this situation and release it to Him.
    Prayers, thank you and be well of mind and body and soul UR

  • Ally Posted October 6, 2020 1:18 pm

    Jesus is peace. The only peace that I have comes from Jesus. I don’t always remember to claim that peace and sometimes work myself into a tizzy over something rather than trust God to work it out and guide me. I ask God to nudge me when I hold onto something I need to let go of and turn over to the Lord.
    The skin breakdown on David’s back looked somewhat better last night. He has been referred to a wound care specialist. We pray for a positive outcome. Please pray that I seek God’s peace and feel God’s presence and peace.
    Jill, thank you for your powerful prayer. Bitterness is a heavy burden to carry. God bless you, sister. Robert, Thank you for your prayers. You are so kind. I’m still praying for Jenny and for you and Erich as you minister to him. Hoping your book comes soon. It sounds like something I could learn a lot from. God bless you, brother. Julie, I pray that you will feel God’ presence and peace, even in the craziness. Praising God that your mom can recover at home and you can get a freezer. Thank you for your kind words and for your prayers. God bless you, sister. Lifting up our regulars and all who visit. May they encounter God’s grace here. Stay safe, everyone. Bless you all.

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