Angels
If you honor the Lord,
his angel will protect you. ~ Psalm 34:7 (CEV)
All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy." ~ Luke 2:9-10 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Don't worry about the angels; they are working for God to benefit those who are open to his good news.
PRAYER:
God, you and your angels are both adorable and freightening at the same time. It is reassuring to hear that you love us and come into our lives with good news. I tend to be afraid of the unknown. Help me to get over that so I can join in the happy dance. I'm going to celebrate Christmas without fear. You and your messengers are on duty looking out for all who serve you. And that is good news. Amen!
*ABOUT THE
DAILY TEXTS
The Daily Texts have been published by the Moravian Church since 1731. In 2011 I started posting these Bible verses for my spiritual formation students at Pacific Islands University. In the process of responding to the verses, I found the rhythm of looking for a common thread and writing a prayer based on that key idea to be helpful for my own soul. The prayers are more or less modeled on the TRIP method, which is what I ask my students to do in their journaling. ~ Brad Boydston
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase -- a freestyle biblical adaptation -- somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
