Then the neighboring nations that have survived will know that I, the Lord, rebuild ruined cities and replant waste fields... ~ Ezekiel 36:36a (GNT)
Simeon prayed: "With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
to save your people, and foreign nations
will also see this. Your mighty power is a light
for all nations,
and it will bring honor
to your people Israel." ~ Luke 2:30-32 (GNT)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord wants to get the good word out about his power and salvation to all the nations -- all people.
PRAYER:
Lord, your power and salvation are good news for all people. Thank you for calling me to be a messenger of this good news to the people around me. But I get distracted and sometimes I am afraid that your good news might not be received as good news. Please give me boldness and enough light to share. I'm going to draw everyone's attention to you. Amen.
God's signs are superb!
His miracles so powerful!
His kingdom is everlasting.
His rule is for all time. ~ Daniel 4:3 (CEB)
Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. ~ Luke 12:32 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
God is the greatest king ever -- and he wants to share his kingdom with those who follow Jesus.
PRAYER:
Great King! Your kingdom is everlasting and your reign is unending. You are worthy of all honor and recognition. Yet, even with all your power and wisdom you want to share your kingdom with your people. That is a wonderful gift. But I am still too attached to the kingdom of this world to take full advantage of your gift. Help me to trust Jesus more so that I become less attached to the things that the world system offers. Continue to set me free from the influence of the failing world kingdom. I'm going to serve Christ the King -- and him alone. Amen.
He was hated and rejected;
his life was filled with sorrow
and terrible suffering... ~ Isaiah 53:3a (CEV)
Pilate freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set free. Then he handed Jesus over for them to do what they wanted with him. ~ Luke 23:25 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Our Savior Jesus suffered a lot when he was carrying out his mission.
PRAYER:
Lord, I am so grateful for salvation. I am sorry that Jesus had to suffer so much for us --
for me. I take that suffering for granted and I even live as though suffering is not normal. I think that something must be wrong if I am having a hard time. Fix my thinking, please. And prop me up so that I can continue to stand when I encounter hard times, too. I want to live out the whole mission of Jesus in my life. Amen.
You make my life pleasant,
and my future is bright. ~ Psalm 16:6 (CEV)
God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God blesses us so that we can bless others.
PRAYER:
Lord, You make my life pleasant and give me a bright future. Thank you. I am so blessed. Help me to grow beyond just receiving the blessings. Nudge me so that I'm more into giving than receiving. That's why you bless me so that I can bless others. And I'm determined that with your help I'm going to live that way. 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)
