My people are crushed,
and so is my heart.
I am horrified and mourn.
If medicine and doctors
may be found in Gilead,
why aren’t my people healed? ~ Jeremiah 8:21-22 (CEV)
Jesus answered, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. I didn’t come to invite good people to turn to God. I came to invite sinners.” ~ Luke 5:31-32 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Jesus is the doctor who heals so we should look to him.
PRAYER:
Lord, since you are the great healer we should constantly turn to you so that we can stay healthy. But I have this thing about doctors. I continually put off going to see one. It's not that I'm afraid but it's a hassle to have all that poking and prodding. I just hope that if I leave things alone they will get better. But sometimes I need serious intervention so that I can make necessary changes. I'm going to rely on you for healing. Amen.
He has sent me to proclaim
That the time has come
When the Lord will save his people
And defeat their enemies. ~ Isaiah 61:2 (GNT)
Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news! ~ Mark 1:15 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
Since God's kingdom is close by we need to change our lives so that we fit in.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for the good news that the day of justice is close. I want to more fully align my life with your kingdom -- your regime of righteousness and justice that has come with Jesus and which is more fully coming. I know that I can't make such a big change on my own. I need your ongoing input into my life and the transforming action of your Holy Spirit. I'm going to stay aware of my need and of your salvation. Amen.
Please remember us,
and do not break your covenant with us. ~ Jeremiah 14:21 (NLT)
Our God has given us
a mighty Savior
from the family
of David his servant... God said he would be kind
to our people
and keep
his sacred promise. ~ Luke 1:69, 72 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Jesus is the proof that God keeps his promises.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for being true to your word. Remind me again and again of all the ways that Jesus fulfills the totality of your promises and purpose. I so quickly lose perspective when I'm caught up in the frustration of the world. I'm going to have to just keep focusing on Jesus. Amen.
Think about it—it’s easier to start a fight than end one. ~ 1 Kings 20:11 (MSG)
Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose. ~ James 1:19-20 (GNT)
KEY IDEA:
True heroes derail fights before they start.
PRAYER:
Prince of Peace, thank you for disarming evil at the cross. I want to do things your peaceful way but I have a lot of conflict and anger programmed into my head. My default approach is to react to everything with a fight. Please rewire my soul so that I respond in a new way -- the Jesus way. I'm looking forward to being slow to speak and slow to grow angry. 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)
