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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

On the journey of aging, you have learned that life’s more difficult questions are seldom answered with simple facts. These questions are nuanced and require wisdom and discernment. Though anyone can accumulate knowledge and facts, only God can give you true wisdom.

—Missy Buchanan, From Dry Bones to Living Hope: Embracing God’s Faithfulness in Late Life (Upper Room Books, 2021)

Today’s Question

How do you address life’s difficult questions?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
—Proverbs 2:6 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Gracious God, open our eyes to see the gifts in this season of life. May we seek your wisdom and pursue our holy purpose with authentic hearts. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

In his new book, Everyday Contemplative: The Way of Prayerful Living, Roger Owens invites us to pay attention to our longings and desires. In this brief exercise, he offers scripture, questions for reflection, and a journal prompt so that we might become more aware of our deepening longing for God.
Listen here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted February 19, 2022 5:55 am

    Have sought professional help, done counseling, talked with God and my children. I’m still working through the toughest problem I have faced. Solving it will be tough but very much worth the effort.
    On my way back to NH today, Prayers for safe travel. Thankful there will be a guest pastor leading worship on Sunday. Have a blessed weekend, prayers for continued healing, progress with health, well-being, and financial issues. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted February 19, 2022 8:43 am

    Similarly to what Robert describes, using logic and various research resources to try to determine the best response.
    Snow squalls and high wind today and unfortunately Megan and I have many places we need to go. It is cold as well. This has been an odd weather year with days of extreme cold and days of relative warmth.
    Prayers for Ally’s health, legal issues and finances. Prayers for Jill’s rest and day of taking Roger’s blood sugar levels. Prayers for safe travel for Robert and his big problem and resolution of issues with Erich. Thank you for prayers and may God bless all who visit here.

  • Jill Posted February 19, 2022 1:55 pm

    I address the difficult questions through prayer, searching Scripture and inquiring of wise companions beside me. I know at times I frustrate my friends with my questions and insistence on logical thinking. I try to step back, receive what they share and then ask the Holy Spirit to work an understanding and acceptance within me.
    Like Julie said, bitterly cold here with brutal wind. Uncomfortable to be outside. My doubles partner and I won our match last night and our first match today. We are in the championship match this evening. I came home to tend to Roger, have some dinner and do some schoolwork before this evening’s match.
    Spoke with dad and he is coming home a few days early, as he doesn’t want to be under the gun with the house closing so quickly. Mom’s sister and brother-in-law are passing through Florida – and stopped at my sister’s to have lunch and visit. Dad and Becky will go over to where we visit the Gulf one day this week to spend the day with them. This is the time of year I always went down and joined all of them for several days. It just wouldn’t work out with the school schedule this year and that is why we did Thanksgiving week there.

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