All his works are truth, all his paths are justice, and he is able to humble all who walk in pride. ~ Daniel 4:37b (CEB)
Jesus said: Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. ~ Matthew 11:29 (CEB)
KEY THOUGHT:
If you want to have a rich and wonderful life, walk in humility with Christ.
PRAYER:
Almighty God, you humbled yourself to walk among us as Jesus. I'm grateful for how he revealed your heart -- and in the process gave up his life to secure ours. I give in, though, and quickly embrace the popular notion that you have to seize more power and control to win. Help me to see how humility leads to true justice -- and to rest. I'm going to walk with Jesus. Amen.
The Lord is a fortress protecting my life.
Should I be frightened of anything? ~ Psalm 27:1b (CEB)
God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 (CEB)
KEY THOUGHT:
Because God is looking out for us, we don't entertain fear in our lives.
PRAYER:
God, you are powerful and compassionate -- a winning combination. Yet, even though there is no cause for allowing fear to control so much of my life -- I still do. Help me to trust that you have my best interests at heart and the power to execute your will. I am going to resist timidity and live boldly for Christ Jesus. Amen!
Instead, your sins have kept these good things from you. ~ Jeremiah 5:25 (GNT)
I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ~ Romans 7:19 (NLT)
KEY THOUGHT:
We have a problem doing good.
PRAYER:
Thank you God for the good that you send my way. I like to think of myself as good but when I step back to evaluate, I realize that I'm far from it. Through Christ restore me so that I am 100% good -- his good alive in me. Even though I realize that I fall short of good, I am trusting that the goodness of Christ will re-form me. Amen.
The 2nd Sunday in Lent
Don’t hold grudges. On the other hand, it’s wrong not to correct someone who needs correcting. ~ Leviticus 19:17 (CEV)
But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:44-45a (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
When we treat our enemies with grace instead of disdain we show that our Heavenly Father is living in us.
PRAYER:
Gracious Heavenly Father, I'm grateful that you welcome me into your presence -- even when I don't deserve it. I have trouble being so gracious to those around me -- especially those who are out to get me or who treat me poorly. Grant that I might have your gracious heart pumping in me. My first response to bad people will be to look for ways to love my enemies. 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)
