The stone rejected by the builders
is now the main foundation stone!
This has happened because of the Lord;
it is astounding in our sight! ~ Psalm 118:22-23 (CEB)
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:11 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
Christ Jesus himself is the only foundation for a life in harmony with the Lord.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for making sure that a solid foundation has been laid. I confess, though, that I often try to build my life on fads and trends rather than on Jesus himself. I know more about Star Wars than about my Savior. Help me to establish myself on the right foundation. I'm not going to take building short-cuts. Amen.
Epiphany
The boots of all those invading troops,
along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
a fire that will burn for days! ~ Isaiah 9:5 (MSG)
With the loving mercy of our God, a new day from heaven will dawn upon us... It will guide us into the path of peace. ~ Luke 1:78-79 (NCV)
KEY IDEA:
As the Lord establishes justice he makes a way of peace for us to travel.
PRAYER:
Lord, making peace and justice seems impossible to my way of thinking. But being that you are loving and merciful it starts to make sense. As a matter of fact I am counting on your love and mercy to see me through. Without your kindness I would not stand a chance. Help me to start to see things your way so that I can speak up for Jesus -- who is both the advocate for justice and peace. Re-frame my thinking so that your love and mercy defines it all. I pray this in the name of Jesus -- my Lord and Savior. Amen.
The 12th Day of Christmas
Peace-planning brings joy to the planner. ~ Proverbs 12:20 (MSG)
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God. ~ Matthew 5:9 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
God gives joy to those who work for peace.
PRAYER:
Lord,
THANKS: I'm thankful that you have embraced me as one of your children.
REGRETS: I'm passionate about peace -- but not always. I get tired and frustrated when I don't see results.
INTERCESSION: Please give me stamina so that I can continue to advocate for the peace that you provide when we are lined up with Jesus and his way of doing things.
PURPOSE: I'm going to work for peace -- without interruption.
Amen.
The 11th Day of Christmas
Even before sunrise,
I pray for your help,
and I put my hope
in what you have said. ~ Psalm 119:147 (CEV)
Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. ~ Philippians 4:6 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Pray that would God handle it.
PRAYER:
God, I am so grateful for the ways that you have responded to my requests in the past. Yet, even with that knowledge I'm slow to ask for help in the present -- at least until I'm desperate. So I am praying for your help to endure all the difficulties we will face in the coming year. Help me to be quick to turn to you. I'm putting my hope in you. 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)
