All Saints’ Day
And when your people meet, I will praise you and thank you, Lord, in front of them all. ~ Psalm 35:18 (CEV)
And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree, “Jesus Christ is Lord!” ~ Philippians 2:11 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Eventually it will be clear to all that Jesus is totally in charge.
PRAYER:
Lord, you are sovereign. You have even defeated death through the person and actions of Christ Jesus. But I still worry when the forces who do not yet accept your sovereignty raise their ugly heads. Calm me down and renew my faith so that I can boldly move with you into the future when everyone will declare together that "Jesus is Lord." Amen.
Moses tried to get the Lord God to change his mind: Our Lord, you used your mighty power to bring these people out of Egypt. Now don’t become angry and destroy them. ~ Exodus 32:11 (CEV)
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. ~ Romans 8:34 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
Because of our faith connection with Christ no one can condemn us.
PRAYER:
Thank you, for the freedom from condemnation that belongs to us because of Christ Jesus and what he has done for us. For me it is easy to accept that gift -- except I still accuse and condemn myself. I dwell on my sin and shortcomings. And that keeps me from experiencing the full freedom of Christ. Help me to stop taking myself so seriously. Save me from the conversations that take place in my head. I'm going to put my faith more fully in Christ. Amen.
Make your motions and cast your votes,
but God has the final say. ~ Proverbs 16:33 (MSG)
Make living out God's agenda and values your first priority. As you do that your needs will be met. ~ Matthew 6:33 (ABP)
KEY IDEA:
Allow God's agenda to be your primary concern because ultimately his agenda wins.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for taking me and my needs seriously. You are so busy with the entire creation but you still take me seriously. Forgive me for not taking you and your desires seriously. I think too much of my own plans and agenda. Help me to get my priorities straight so that I can join you in the winner's circle. Amen.
But you must prepare for battle and be ready to utter every word I command you. ~ Jeremiah 1:17 (CEB/part)
So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. ~ Ephesians 6:14-15 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
Even though we're dressed for battle, our mission is to spread the good news of peace.
PRAYER:
Prince of Peace, thank you for enlisting me into your army. It's very tempting to act like a regular soldier and to force people to accept your agenda. Help me to march in step with you and your peace-filled ways. I'm going to be a different kind of soldier. 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)
