X

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 felt fortunate for having this time, and I wasn’t going to take it for granted. Instead, I steeped myself in it, in the quiet of my home, in the freedom of my days, in the spaces to cry or pray or gaze as needed. I gave my imagination and my spirit permission to run wild during that year, to dream boldly, to confess my longings and desires to God without apology, and to openly acknowledge my times of spiritual sloth and struggle those many mornings when I resisted prayer or church.

—Enuma Okoro, Reluctant Pilgrim: A Moody, Somewhat Self-Indulgent Introvert’s Search for Spiritual Community (Fresh Air Books, 2010)

Today’s Question

What permission does your spirit need right now?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
—Galatians 5:1 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

God of hope, when we reach out to you with our dreams and our confessions, may we feel you reaching back out to us. Nourish our spirits, and nudge us to incorporate you into the rhythm of our days. Amen. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Do you love hymns? Join us for Listening through Lent with James C. Howell and The Upper Room, our Lenten eCourse featuring the book Unrevealed Until Its Season: A Lenten Journey with Hymns.
Register here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted February 12, 2022 7:21 am

    Persistent patience and continued effort are what I feel I need. So far the plan is doing what is needed. Hopefully the so desired single family house needed to make the plan a success will come along. It’s a tough market for buyers. Took steps yesterday to find counseling with the intention that my son will come. Made progress on East Swanton station model, the tower and its cone roof are being fine tuned. Have two more station sides to put in place. This is a mock-up to prepare for the for the actual model. Now to check the posts I don’t see and respond.

  • robert moeller Posted February 12, 2022 8:05 am

    We all enjoy positive news and I’m very glad Larry’s condo has sold and a new place to live in FL is being sought, Julie’s swelling is going down and she’ll have a tele-health visit with her doctor, Jill’s busy, hectic school week with increased treasurer work is done, and she can “be”. David is doing well, also Jeremy. Hopefully the lawyer working the disability case will bring success. Lots of activity
    in Atlanta.Here in the White Mountains I’m glad we will have guest pastors leading worship through Easter. Thank You, Lord. Prayers too for Larry’s mourning memories, Jill’s legal issues, Jill’s ability to be active with tennis and golf, and sound financial well-being for Ally & David. Global warming needs immediate attention, it has taken a while for the damage to be done and it won’t go away immediately either. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this problem. Thank You,
    Lord,

  • Julie Posted February 12, 2022 8:08 am

    To lament what has happened to my physical body. The swelling and the pain. To acknowledge that I am tired of the struggle every day to do even the small mundane things.
    Prayers for Allly, for improved finances and access to her family home. Prayers for Robert and Erich as they seek a house and counseling. Prayers for Jill, Roger, Larry and Becky. Thank you for your prayers and may God bless all who visit here.

  • Jill Posted February 12, 2022 7:11 pm

    The permission I need to give myself is to not accept responsibility…not really the right word…not take an added encumbrance of dad’s sorrow. Actually, the responsibility word fits for last Sunday – and his response to the cancer support meeting. The Spirit knew I needed this nudge and the following quote passed my way this week and I was grateful – “An action done out of pure intent to bring joy or to relieve suffering is never lost, even if the immediate outcome is not what we want, and even if it’s the opposite.” Having this quote pass before me at just the right time – this is God speaking to me.
    Tennis this evening, paired up with my friend from church. We lost a tight match. I am having discomfort in my hips. I am not sure if this is part of my arthritis, or something else. My injection was this evening, so will see if it helps. Then I will know. I have a check up with my rheumatologist this week. Actually, she is on medical leave and there is a nurse practitioner filling in for her. We’ll see how it goes.
    Looking forward to church in the AM.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *