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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

IN A CERTAIN SENSE, it doesn’t matter what you say in your conversation with Jesus. When it comes to the spiritual life, who you talk to is more important than what you say. Your questions aren’t as important as the person to whom you address your questions. Even if you use the Psalms as the words of your prayers, thinking that somehow these (or any other words) are the “right” words to pray would be foolish. Instead, the Psalms demonstrate that any words—even despondent, angry, or violent words—can be constructive if and when addressed to God. (Seriously, if you haven’t read the Psalms, take a look; they contain a full range of human emotion. Some of them are downright shocking.) As disappointed, frustrated, or lost as you may feel from time to time, dare to address your disappointment, frustration, and anguish in prayer to God rather than letting a sense of propriety or shame sucker you into letting the conversation lapse—either by putting on airs of piety or cutting off communication entirely. Candor with God is key.

—Matthew Croasmun

Let Me Ask You a Question: Conversations with Jesus, (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today's Question

When you speak to a your closest friends, do you worry about how you talk?  

Today's Scripture

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their cry.
—Psalm 34:15 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me know the difference between what you ask of me and what the world asks of me. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Something More

As Christians, we hunger to know and live out God's purposes for our lives. But how do we know for certain that our choices are moving us in the right direction? Learn more about Which Way, Lord?— a 6-session churchwide or small-group study that will help you understand God's desire for your life.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

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