Saturday, January 6, 2024

REDIRECTION

Epiphany

PSALM 25:12 (CEB)
Where are the ones who honor the LORD?
God will teach them which path to take.


MATTHEW 2:12 (NLT)
When it was time to leave, the magi returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God continues to redirect his followers.
 
DAILY FODDER
Like the GPS in my phone, constantly recalibrating which route to take based on current conditions, God's leading is dynamic. The magi, who received their initial directions to find Jesus through a star, were tuned in enough for some follow-up redirection that came through a dream. 

PRAYER
Loving God, I appreciate the fact that you've given us some extensive directions for life through your Word—living and written. I admit, though, that I get stuck in the well worn ruts along the path you've provided, and that I have trouble making some needed changes. Continue to lead me through your Holy Spirit and grant me a flexible heart. I want to be responsive to your ongoing redirection in my life. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

DAILYTEXTS.ORG

*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)

EEB = EasyEnglish Bible (©2015, MissionAssist)

ERV = Easy-To-Read Version (©2006, World Bible Translation Center)

GNT = Good News Translation (©1992, American Bible Society)

MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)

NCB = New Catholic Bible (©2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp.)

NCV = New Century Version (©2005, Thomas Nelson Inc)

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.)

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