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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

Most of us have people in our lives whom we do not like or who do not like us. Enemies are those toward whom we feel hostile and who sometimes feel hostile toward us. Often our enemy can be within our own family, just like it was for Cain. Through the question “Where is your brother?” God invites us to recognize that we have a responsibility toward that person. We take our first step in choosing to acknowledge this when we begin to see our enemy as our brother or sister.

—Trevor Hudson, Questions God Asks Us (Upper Room Books, 2008)

Today’s Question

How can seeing an enemy as brother or sister change your perspective? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

“But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.”
—Luke 6:27-28 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

God, help me hear what you are asking of me.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Learn from this week’s featured author, Trevor Hudson, and other spiritual guides at our virtual event, RESILIENCE | Healing Practices for Mind, Body, and Spirit. On September 30–October 2, 2021, we will explore a fresh array of spiritual practices to help with healing from trauma. Early registration pricing is ending soon on August 30. Learn more at UpperRoom.org/resilience.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Preorder the 2022 edition of The Upper Room Disciplines and save 20% plus receive free shipping. Use promo code DPRE20 in our online store or call 800.972.0433. Offer expires September 1, 2021. Good only on the print editions, and subscription purchases do not apply.

5 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted August 25, 2021 7:35 am

    Dealing with those who we see as challenges is difficult. Trying to find God in them is a good way to start. I find that helpful and doing so enables me to continue my effort. Thank You, Lord for empowering me in this work.
    A church member has a relative in Kabul, a US Army soldier helping with the evacuation. Prayers this challenging work goes well. Thankful for the increased numbers of those evacuated. May the mission be completed and successful.
    Julie and Megan, Jill, Larry, and Roger; Ally & David, Lou and your children, April, and all the NEM family, you are lifted up to the Lord, your needs, concerns, friends and relatives, as well as your blessings and thanksgivings are prayed for in Jesus’ name. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, thank You, Lord.
    A pleasant morning in the White Mountains, it will be a warm day by New England standards.

  • Julie Posted August 25, 2021 8:40 am

    God keeps placing these admonishes in my path. I know they are convicting me regarding my feelings about h. However, my apologies to God…it is too present, maybe after the divorce. I am also only human and finding compassion for the person who tried to leave me penniless and destitute is beyond my humanly capabilities currently. Especially given the fact that my lawyer emailed the completed discovery documents. H has far more money than I thought and he is making more per month now than he did working and he isn’t even receiving social security yet! I should receive half of what he gets each month…this is my current understanding. Hopefully that is the case still.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich and their relationship and mental health. It is going to be a hot one here as well, in fact it is an ozone action day with a code orange alert. Prayers forAlly’s and David’s health and finances, Jill’s, Larry’s and Roger’s health and safety, and Lou’s and her daughters safety and mental health. May God bless Marti and her staff.
    Thank you so very much Robert and Jill for your kind, caring and soul soothing words of comapssion. The touched my heart and helped a great deal as I have no one in my life that talks to me with such love and kindness. I am humbled and will keep the email to refer to again and again. May God bless you both greatly.
    May God bless all who visit here.

  • Jill Posted August 25, 2021 1:55 pm

    It takes great maturity and God sustaining faith to see an enemy similar to a loved family member. We humans are unable to do this on our own. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we begin to make this shift. For me, it is an ongoing surrender and plea for assistance.
    Things are coming together at school, both through meetings and in my classroom. Next week is still sketchy in my mind, as I don’t know if I will be at school or at the courthouse. Monday and Tuesday are freshman and sophomore orientation – and activities are planned and teams of teachers organized to run the activities. I tried to not join a team, but eventually was added to a team and I had to remind the assistant principal in might be a substitute teacher, not me.
    I couldn’t face another morning on the elliptical, so I got out for a brisk walk between thunderstorms. There was a rainbow on the way to school. It is currently storming again.
    Roger got sick last evening and still isn’t right. He is acting very well. I have changed foods and am hoping going to even “more natural” food will help. I also am considering that I may need to cook up a batch of chicken for him to see if this will calm his stomach. If he was acting lethargic or not himself, I would take him to the vet. But, last night he was racing around, jumping in and out of his boxes, acting like his spry self.

    • Julie Posted August 25, 2021 3:21 pm

      Megan asked me about roger. I gave her the update you gave up just now. She relates that there is a woman on tiktok that reviews all pet food and recommends what ingredients to look for. You don’t have to have tiktok to access these videos. Let me know if you want her tiktok name

  • Ally Posted August 25, 2021 4:53 pm

    Sometimes we pray for the willingness to love. I ask God to help me love. Unfortunately, I am not as obedient as I should be. Sometimes I ask God to help me not dwell on people and things from the past. Its the best I can do. I’m thankful for God’s grace.
    I still have a nagging on and off cough. Staying close to home in case I came in contact with delta variant. I know several sick people and 2 are on a ventilator. Its scary. Please pray for these folks. My cousin Brad, who had quadruple bypass surgery, is progressing and has moved from CCU to stepdown cardiac care. He is receiving physical therapy and doing well. He is also receiving speech therapy because he had 2 small strokes after surgery, probably due to a piece of plaque which broke off when they repaired a valve. He’s been seen by a neurologist, who expects him to regain full neurological function. Please pray for Brad’s wife, son and daughter and his parents, who are pretty stressed over Brad’s illness.
    Julie, I’m much in prayer for your situation with H. Like Robert, I’m glad for the progress. It sounds like you are doing your best regarding your feelings for H. I pray for God to hold you close in this dry season. Sending love. Robert, prayers for your friend’s son who is in Afghanistan. Prayers for safety and for the work he is doing. I too am glad progress is picking up. Prayers for you and Erich continue as well. Your weather sounds lovely. Jill, I’m glad to hear that your school schedule is smoothing out. Praying for Roger and that a new diet will straighten out his tummy. I thank God for this group and for your prayers. Please be safe and be blessed.

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