Authority
ASCENSION DAY
God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
in times of trouble.
And so, we won’t be afraid! ~ Psalm 46:1-2 (CEV)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ~ Matthew 28:18 (NLT)
Powerful God,
THANKS: I am grateful that you use your power to help us.
REGRETS: I know that I don't have to be afraid. But sometimes I am afraid. I am afraid that things will not work out to my best advantage. I'm sorry that I let fear have such an important place in my life.
INTERCESSION: Remind me, please, of your power. I'd like to see a sign again -- just to recharge my faith. Help me to realize your authority.
PURPOSE: Since you are the power and authority over heaven and earth -- and everything in between -- I intend to live in a way that honors you. You deserve all honor and glory.
Amen.
*ABOUT THE
DAILY TEXTS
The Daily Texts have been published by the Moravian Church since 1731. In 2015 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.)