Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine. ~ Isaiah 42:1b (CEB)
God has helped me up to this very day. ~ Acts 26:22a (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
There is no end to God's help for his people.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for making us feel special. There is no end to the ways that you help us.
Help me to remember your love for me -- especially on the days when I struggle with fear. Forgive me for being so afraid. I am confident that you are working out the best possible plan for my life. Amen.
There is no other god like you, O Lord; you forgive the sins of your people who have survived. You do not stay angry forever, but you take pleasure in showing us your constant love. ~ Micah 7:18 (GNT)
God canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. ~ Colossians 2:14 (GNT)
KEY IDEA:
God does not hold our sins against us.
PRAYER:
Loving God, you sent your Son Christ Jesus to wipe away the record of all our sin.
You really must love us. Sometimes, though, I have a hard time accepting your acceptance. I want to beat myself up over the wrong and stupid things I do. Help me to focus on your love and forgiveness so that I can begin to live as a fully loved and truly forgiven person. Amen.
The 14th Sunday after Pentecost
My people will live in safety, quietly at home. ~ Isaiah 32:18a (NLT)
Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NCV)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord gives peace to his people.
PRAYER:
Prince of Peace, thank you for sharing your peace with us so that we can get along with each other and the rest of the world. I admit, though, that I don't always tap into your peace. Sometimes I slip back into the old ways because I enjoy getting a reaction from the people who annoy me. Help me to take your peace more seriously.
Help me to share it more completely. I want to see the whole world experiencing the peace that comes from Jesus. Amen.
Lord, look down from heaven; look from your holy, glorious home, and see us. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? ~ Isaiah 63:15a (NLT)
I came to set fire to the earth, and I wish it were already on fire! I am going to be put to a hard test. And I will have to suffer a lot of pain until it is over. ~ Luke 12:49-50 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Jesus' passion is going to set the world on fire.
PRAYER:
Jesus, the fire of your love burns throughout creation. My life, it seems, is little more than a dim bulb. You are zealous and mighty; I am zoned out and muddled. Kindle anew your Spirit within me. Break through my distraction and free me to focus on you. In all that I do, inflame me for you. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mt Carmel Ministries edition)
*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)
