Christmas
I trust you (the Lord) completely.
You have helped me,
and I will celebrate
and thank you in song. ~ Psalm 28:7b (CEV)
As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said. ~ Luke 2:20 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Celebrate salvation!
PRAYER:
Lord, on this glorious day I want to celebrate your generosity. You sent salvation into the world through your son, Christ Jesus. And because I trust you and what you have done, I benefit. That is wonderful -- a glorious reason to join the Christmas celebration. Thank you! Amen.
Christmas Eve
I cry out to you, Lord. You are my rock; don’t refuse to hear me. ~ Psalm 28:1a (CEB)
This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. ~ Luke 2:11 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Christmas shows that God has responded to our call for a Savior.
PRAYER:
Almighty God, you hear our calls for help. Thank you for sending Jesus into the world to rescue us. Forgive me my doubts which overcome me when I am feeling stressed. Help me to realize again that you have a plan which involves the very best possible outcome for my situation. I'm going to continue to trust that your salvation will work for me. I know that you are listening. Amen.
If you honor the Lord,
his angel will protect you. ~ Psalm 34:7 (CEV)
All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy." ~ Luke 2:9-10 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Don't worry about the angels; they are working for God to benefit those who are open to his good news.
PRAYER:
God, you and your angels are both adorable and freightening at the same time. It is reassuring to hear that you love us and come into our lives with good news. I tend to be afraid of the unknown. Help me to get over that so I can join in the happy dance. I'm going to celebrate Christmas without fear. You and your messengers are on duty looking out for all who serve you. And that is good news. Amen!
All who take refuge in the Lord are truly happy! ~ Psalm 2:12 (CEB)
Paul writes: I’m convinced that God is powerful enough to protect what he has placed in my trust until that day. ~ 2 Timothy 1:12b (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord secures his activity so we live secure and satisfying lives as we align ourselves with him.
PRAYER:
Lord, I find that I'm the happiest when I'm busy carrying out an assignment from you. Yet I am still prone to accept the busy work that others think is important. Sometimes even I generate busyness apart from you. Help me to narrow my focus to the tasks entrusted to me by you. I'm going to live a blessed life. 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 — 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)
