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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

All of us can look back on our lives and identify red-letter days, events that mark the stages in our journey. Starting school, having our children, having our youngest child start or graduate from school, getting our first job, buying our first car on our own, buying our first home—remembering events such as these can help us reflect on how God has borne us along and move us to gratitude for God’s goodness.

—Mary Lou Redding, God Was with Me All Along: A Guide for Capturing Your Memories and Telling Your Story (Upper Room Books, 2021)

Today’s Question

How can you demonstrate your gratitude to God for being without you throughout life’s events? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

This has happened because of the Lord;
it is astounding in our sight!
This is the day the Lord acted;
we will rejoice and celebrate in it!

—Psalm 118:23-24, CEB

Prayer for the Week

You are invited to replace the below prayer with one you recall from your own childhood.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
Guide me safely through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.
Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

New Every Morning Readers,
The featured book this week, God Was with Me All Along, was written by Mary Lou Redding, who served as the editor of The Upper Room daily devotional guide for many years. We invite you to take advantage of a free 30-day trial subscription to the email edition of The Upper Room, the only daily devotional written entirely by its readers. To start your free trial, visit UpperRoom.org/welcome.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • Julie Posted March 12, 2021 8:22 am

    By being His representative on earth I emulate His love for me to others. I am recognizing the goodness in my life that He gave. As I am present to others, I am demonstrating that He is there for me and others. By praying for others, Iextend His love and care for me to others.
    Prayers for Ally and David as well as Lewis, may all be healing, growing stronger and restinig in His care and love.
    Prayers for April and her friends and family, may all be revived by the signs of spring around them and welcome the birds returning with rejoicing.
    Prayers for Lou and her family, may they find time and opportunity for visits soon.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry. May Jill’s meetings be short and succinct, neither wearing down her stamina or patience.
    Prayers for Marcy and Lucy, may Marcy continue to improve physically and emotionally.
    Prayers for Robert, may he be safe and well and comment soon.
    Prayers for the UR administration team.

  • Lou Posted March 12, 2021 9:33 am

    I praise God for being with me through my life’s journey- the hardest times of having my second child at 26.5 weeks – she was in the infant special care unit for 2 months and 4 days – the hardest time. And God sustained me and blessed me with a true miracle – no health problems she just needed to get big enough to come home – that child is now 24 and my biggest adventurer. Praise God. My other hardest time has been my divorce and God continues to walk beside me. I did things I can’t imagine that I did and I know I was able to do it because I wasn’t alone. God was with me and I know He won’t ever leave me.
    He is with you all today – through our joys and through our sorrows – He never leaves us.
    Blessings to all of you – it’s sunny but cold in the Midwest- prayers for all of those in the country experiencing blizzards and floods. God is near.

  • Jill Posted March 12, 2021 10:37 am

    The best way for me to demonstrate my gratitude is to live intentionally, daily. Even moment to moment. Not letting setbacks discourage me. Being resourceful. Being an encourager.
    God has blessed me with a thought this week – I think it came to me Sunday morning while I was jogging. While mom was struggling so – I so desperately wanted to honor her. What did that look like? Did it mean not praying with her, not reading the Word with her, not singing hymns with her – because she didn’t want that? I couldn’t imagine that neglecting these things was honoring God. I used to think about that quite a bit…had I sinned against God by not praying with her? And, then, out of nowhere on my run, I remember being at her bedside – prior to her surgery – and she was whimpering to my sister and me – you girls take care of your father. And that thought came to me – I have been trying very hard to look after him, to care for him. At times it is wearying. But – I believe I have done well in accompanying dad along this path of grief, extending into a pandemic. Who could have imagined? God gave me that thought, as I was feeling somewhat guilty about moving his date up to go to Florida. I am weary, and I am relieved that he is leaving Sunday, as I embark on the newness of returning to school. It is a relief and I felt guilty. I think God has shown me He is working all things together for good…for the general good…not necessarily my good, dad’s good, whoever’s good. But general good – and that good will be good enough for me.
    Tennis this evening at our home court. Dad is going to come and watch.
    Another day of radiant sunshine. Getting him ready for even warmer weather in FLA.

  • Ally Posted March 12, 2021 12:00 pm

    Sometimes one of those red letter days comes to mind and I stop and express my thankfulness to God again for His watchcare. Some of those events were difficult, but I look back and see the hand of God, even if at the time , it seemed God was far away. Thank You Lord, for “unanswered prayers”.
    David was scheduled for discharge tomorrow, but his care team felt he would benefit from a couple of extra days of therapy. He is doing extremely well, but this gives me a couple extra days to get ready for him to come home. I’m little behind schedule in that department, as I haven’t been feeling well due to these GI issues. I’m beginning to think it may be my gallbladder. Yesterday was a rough day. Kitty Lewis is progressing. Still sneezing , but breathing better, more active, and eating well. Update on Rachel: she remained in Charleston with her family, to be monitored after her surgery, but is going home to Birmingham next week. She is doing well, but still waiting for those islet cells to wake up and start producing insulin. She is managing her blood sugars better, fewer hypoglycemic episodes. We truly appreciate all your prayers.
    Julie, thank you for your ministry of prayer. Thank you for your care for others. Asking God’s blessings for you. Lou, thank you for the reminder that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. Thank you for sharing about your daughter: a beautiful testimony. Lifting up Marcy: may she progress in her healing. I miss Robert’s wisdom. May he be safe and well. Jill, prayers continue for your return to a physical classroom. I lift up our UR family daily. God’s blessings on us all.

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