The 7th Sunday after Epiphany
The Lord will be happy to do good things for you, just as he did for your ancestors. ~ Deuteronomy 30:9 (CEV)
I also remember the genuine faith of your mother Eunice. Your grandmother Lois had the same sort of faith, and I am sure that you have it as well. ~ 2 Timothy 1:5 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord is happy to bless generations of genuine faith.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for my parents and their parents -- and all those who went before them cultivating faith in their lives. Sometimes I am so focused on the here and now, that I do not appreciate what you have given to us through the ancestors. I want to become like them -- models of faith for my children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and... I'm going to live my life with that legacy in mind. Amen.
I, the Lord, was ready
answer even those
who were not asking
and to be found by those
who were not searching.
To a nation that refused
to worship me,
I said, “Here I am!” ~ Isaiah 65:1 (CEV)
But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy. ~ 1 Peter 2:9-10 (GNT)
KEY IDEA:
God has chosen us to proclaim his wonderful deeds.
PRAYER:
Lord, even though I'm among those who have only halfheartedly sought you, you still chose us -- chose me -- to share your good news. Thank you for including me and trusting me with responsibility. Empower me to be a faithful messenger. This is my calling. Amen.
Israel, why then do you complain
that the Lord doesn't know your troubles
or care if you suffer injustice? ~ Isaiah 40:27 (GNT)
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ~ Hebrews 10:35 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
Continue to trust in the Lord in order to experience the reward of such faith.
PRAYER:
Lord, you are generous to provide and faithful to your promises. But you don't always do things according to my schedule. You must know more than I know. But I have a hard time admitting that -- after all, it's my life! Forgive my arrogance and impatience. Help me to see enough of what lies ahead so that I remain encouraged. I'm not going to let my troubles distract me or erode my faith -- for you are faithful! Amen.
God knows how we’re made,
God remembers we’re just dust. ~ Psalm 103:14 (CEB)
Jesus says: "Because I live, you will live too." ~ John 14:19b
KEY IDEA:
God gives us life even though we're weak because we are made from dust.
PRAYER:
God I am really grateful that you have given us life. And I am looking forward to an ongoing improved life. It seems that you are still in the process of creating us -- turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Forgive me when I doubt that you are at work. Sometimes I allow myself to be overwhelmed by my physical and spiritual weaknesses. Please strengthen me so that I can continue to live the Jesus life. 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)
NRSV = New Revised Standard Version (© 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.) NTE = New Testament for Everyone (©2011 Nicolas Thomas Wright.)