When God created the human race, he made it godlike, with a nature akin to God. He created both male and female and blessed them, the whole human race. ~ Genesis 5:2 (MSG)
Be the best at showing honor to each other. ~ Romans 12:10 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
God made us so that we excel by honoring others above ourselves.
PRAYER:
Creator Lord, thank you for the unique calling that you have given to us as your people. I'm not so good at being the kind of human you have called me to be. I'm self-centered and will do most anything if I think it will make people respect me. But really, they don't so much respect me as they are afraid of me. Help me to realize the difference as I interact with people. Help me to honor others before myself. I want to live up to the humanity to which you have called me -- us. Amen.
How great are your actions, Lord!
How deep are your thoughts! ~ Psalm 92:5 (GNT)
Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful. ~ Colossians 2:7 (GNT)
KEY IDEA:
Sink your roots deeply into Christ.
PRAYER:
Lord, you are so deep. And I'm so content in my shallowness. Help me to plant my personal roots deeply into you and your ways. I'm eager to move beyond shallowness. I pray in the deep name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
So why did you ignore the Lord’s command? Why did you do what he says is wrong? ~ 2 Samuel 12:9 (NCV)
But the foundation that God has laid is solid. On it is written, “The Lord knows who his people are. So everyone who worships the Lord must turn away from evil.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:19 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God is solid, so stop doing the bad stuff and do what he says. You'll live better that way.
PRAYER:
God, your instructions are all that we need to live well. But I'm as guilty as everyone else of ignoring your commands. I'm pretty arrogant and full-of-myself -- thinking that my way is the best for me. Free me from this attitude so that I can live like one of your people. I'm looking forward to a change in my life. Amen.
But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved... ~ Joel 2:32 (NLT)
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ~ Luke 11:9 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord opens doors.
PRAYER:
Lord God, the power of your name astounds me. It opens so many doors, but how easily I forget.
Today I come knocking at your door, Lord. I welcome your invitation to ask you for anything I need for myself and for anyone else. Surprise me, Lord, so that salvation may abound for someone I meet today. Amen. (Mount Carmel MInistries edition of Daily Texts)
*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)
