The Sixth Day of Christmas
But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—
the Lord above is mightier than these! ~ Psalm 93:4 (NLT)
I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world. ~ John 16:33b (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord defeats suffering -- commandeering it to accomplish his goals.
PRAYER:
Powerful Lord, even the suffering of life has to back down when you attack it. Thank you for being our defender. Help me to stop whining when suffering comes. Help me to embrace the peace that you give us -- especially during the difficult times. I'm going to live at peace because of you. Amen.
The Fifth Day of Christmas
And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken! ~ Jeremiah 1:8 (NLT)
The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them. ~ Luke 19:10 (NCV)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord looks out for his people.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for looking out for me. I feel loved. I know that it doesn't make any sense but even with you on duty I'm still paralyzed by fear at times. Help me to trust you. I'm going to live confidently. Amen.
The Fourth Day of Christmas
The Lord spoke to Jeremiah: I am giving you the words to say. ~ Jeremiah 1:9b (CEV)
The shadow of a cloud passed over and covered them. From the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, and I love him. Listen to what he says!” ~ Mark 9:7 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God speaks.
PRAYER:
Lord, I'm thankful that you have not left us in silence. I don't always listen as closely as I should. But you continue to speak. Please massage my ears so that I'm ready to listen. I'm planning that my life will be shaped by your words and your message. Amen.
The Third Day of Christmas
Return, O Lord, and rescue me.
Save me because of your unfailing love. ~ Psalm 6:4 (NLT)
Jesus turned. He saw the woman and said, “Don’t worry! You are now well because of your faith.” At that moment she was healed. ~ Matthew 9:22 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
The all-loving Lord saves those who exercise faith and turn to him.
PRAYER:
Lord:
THANKS: Thank you for loving us so much that you save us -- even though we do not deserve saving.
REGRETS: I do not fully appreciate all that you have and continue to do for me. My devotion to you is shallow. It goes up and down depending on circumstance and time available.
INTERCESSION: Help me to be more consistent.
PURPOSE: I'm going to become a faithful follower of Jesus -- someone fully shaped by your love.
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)
