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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

God is the giver of life and breath. Miraculously, your breath flows in and out of your body, offering life. You live in the physical sense with your body and in the spiritual sense with your spirit; yet, no life exists—either in the body or spirit—without the starting point of the breath. While there are surely moments in this life that literally take your breath away—some good, some not so good—each breathtaking moment can only occur because of the moment when God first gave you breath. Since that first breath, each moment has shaped you, molded you, and made you into the person God created—one breath at a time.

—Whitney R. Simpson, Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit (Upper Room Books, 2016)

Today’s Question

What are some experiences that have shaped your life? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
—Job 33:4 (NRSV)

Breath Prayer for the Week

Inhale: Jesus
Exhale: Give me peace.
Whitney R. Simpson, Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

As the war in Ukraine continues, we invite you to join us for a special Prayer Summit in The Upper Room Chapel on May 25, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. (CDT). We will hear firsthand stories from Ukrainians and from those serving Ukrainian refugees. Together, we continue to pray for peace and an end to violence in Ukraine and around the world. Please plan to join us on Facebook Live and YouTube.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted May 17, 2022 5:35 am

    Growing up in a Christian home, living in Vermont, watching trains, interest in my family’s genealogy, learning German, finding relatives in Germany, being sent to Korea, returning to Korea. the passing of my wife, 10 years in a Korean Methodist church, returning to Vermont, living in New Hampshire, Bible study, and NEM.
    Am very pleased with the condo listing, many views and some saves already. Bible study, food shopping, and a meeting with a friend today. Thankful for your prayers, you are in mine. Thank You, Lord

  • Julie Posted May 17, 2022 9:18 am

    I have had many experiences that have shaped me… too many to list.
    This morning I woke up to no water. Work is being done to a water main on a major road and so the work is done at night. Thank goodness it was restored before I needed to take my shower. Also, h’s car broke down over the weekend and the garage just called to say that they cannot find the issue and that it works for them. So I am in a quandry as to what to do. Should I have him take it to a different garage or take a chance and just have him use it. The garage they suggested is a luxury car specialist.
    Prayers for Ally’s appointment with the new lawyer, may all go well. Prayers for April as she continues to be a caregiver. Prayers for Lou and her daughter, for safety as they travel. Prayers for Jill, Roger and the vet to finally determine the proper insulin dose to resolve Roger’s diabetes. Prayers for Rick and his husband as they enjoy being in their home city. Prayers for Robert’s sale of his condo, may all go smoothly.

  • Jill Posted May 17, 2022 10:53 am

    Being raised in the church definitely impacted me significantly. Being surrounded by such a “cloud of witnesses” impacted my thinking, my believing. And my teachers – from the youngest age – impacted me, in that I knew I wanted to be a teacher in the 2nd grade. Coaches also significantly impacted me – teaching what things I should do, as well as things which should be omitted from my character. God placed all of these people in my life at specific times to shape me into the person I am today.
    I received a call from my sister, saying dad fell playing pickle ball this morning. He skinned his knee up and since he is on blood thinners, it was a challenge to get it to stop bleeding. He insisted on continuing to play. Becky is uncomfortable with how steady/unsteady he is when he is backing up. I have mixed feelings. He is in phenomenal shape and wants to stay active – which I think is healthy. But he has a hard time drawing back, when it is called for. He sees how his best friend has “atrophied” as he calls it, and doesn’t want to become immobile like him. But there must be a happy medium. Becky and I are both amazed at his level of stubbornness.
    It’s wonderfully sunny here, but cooler. May try to get some flowers planted this evening before tennis – a later match at 8:00.

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