Christmas Eve
I was faithful to you
when I was suffering... ~ Psalm 116:10 (CEV)
If the Son gives you freedom, you are free! ~ John 8:36 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The freedom that Christ gives us carries us through even the toughest of times.
PRAYER:
Lord, we like to brag about how faithful to you we are. Even if we don't say it aloud we think it in our minds. But it's really you who has been faithful to us. Your faithfulness frees us to live as your people -- even during the difficult times. Thank you for being so faithful. Keep my focus on your faithfulness rather than either my successes or shortcomings. I desire to live with that kind of freedom -- the kind of focused freedom which Christ gives to all who trust him. Amen.
Everyone on this earth
will remember you, Lord.
People all over the world
will turn and worship you... ~ Psalm 22:27 (CEV)
The true light that shines on all people
was coming into the world. ~ John 1:9 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
The light of Christ is not just for me -- but for all the people of the world.
PRAYER:
Lord, I'm so excited to be celebrating the birth of Jesus again. I love this part of the good news. Sometimes I love it too much because I end up focusing on what I can get from the holiday. But as we prepare to celebrate help me to see and live into the bigger picture -- the global picture. You're not just interested in me but all people. I want to help focus the light so that all people in all places will turn to you and remember you, Lord. Amen.
I am the Lord All-Powerful. So don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit. ~ Zechariah 4:6b (CEV)
It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell... ~ Hebrews 11:30a (NCV)
KEY IDEA:
Depend only on the Lord.
PRAYER:
Lord All-Powerful, you are dependable -- like no other. Thank you that I can rely on you. Even when I fail to trust you, which is too often, you remain dependable. Help me to reject the commonly held idea that might is right and to march by faith in your power. I'm going to trust the Holy Spirit to make it all happen. Amen.
What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine
and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.
They take bribes to let the wicked go free,
and they punish the innocent. ~ Isaiah 5:22-23 (NLT)
For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. ~ Matthew 7:2 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
Be an honest and empathetic judge in your dealing with others and you will be treated fairly, too.
PRAYER:
Lord, you are totally fair. I don't always understand your fairness and sometimes wish you'd make things different. But I trust you and ask that you would help me to be
fairer and less reactive in my dealings with others. 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 — my own 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)
