You let me rest in fields
of green grass.
You lead me to streams
of peaceful water, and you refresh my life. ~ Psalm 23:2-3 (CEV)
Jesus: "I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." ~ John 10:10 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
Jesus came to give people full and rich lives.
PRAYER:
Loving Shepherd, you guide our lives and lead us through your fields of grace. Thank you for surrounding us with your shepherding love that leads us on the path of life. I am sorry for the moments when I am led or lead others astray. Show me how to share the promise of abundant life with others. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord:
“He is so good!
His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” ~ Ezra 3:11 (NLT)
...all those in the crowd rejoiced at all the extraordinary things Jesus was doing. ~ Luke 13:17 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
Rejoice at all the great things Jesus is doing.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for the great things you are doing in and around me. I admit that much of the time I am so busy complaining about the negative things that I never get around to noticing, let alone acknowledging, the ways that you are shaping the world to house your kingdom. Give me eyes that see and a heart that cares so that I can rejoice in the restoration work that you are doing. Amen.
The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Nonetheless, the Lord is waiting to be merciful to you,
and will rise up to show you compassion. ~ Isaiah 30:18 (CEB)
Christ Jesus is kind, and you must let him make you strong. ~ 2 Timothy 2:1 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God acts toward us with kindness.
PRAYER:
Lord God, you are so merciful and kind. You are generous and giving. But I am still trying to earn your affection. I try to keep rules and show up for all the right events to prove either to you or myself that I am worthy. Silly isn't it? Help me to see how much you love me even though I can never become worthy. It's not about what I am -- but totally about what you are -- kind, merciful, gracious... Amen!
Don’t spread harmful rumors or help a criminal by giving false evidence. ~ Exodus 23:1 (CEV)
The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you. ~ Matthew 12:37 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
Words have consequences.
PRAYER:
God, thank you for sending your Living Word into the world and my life. I confess that I don't think much about the words I use and how they might affect people. I'm more interested in getting them out there to show the world what I'm thinking and how my thoughts are so much better than all other thoughts. Yet, at other times I become careless with my words because my brain isn't engaged in what I'm saying. Please, Living Word, guide my word choices so that they reflect your love and your agenda for the people with whom I interact. I'm going to become a better wordsmith. 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)
