Why should the nations ask,
“Where is your God?”
Our God is in the heavens,
doing as he chooses.
~ Psalm 115:2-3 (CEV)
God’s eternal power and character cannot be seen. But from the beginning of creation, God has shown what these are like by all he has made. ~ Romans 1:20 (CEV)
SUMMARY SENTENCE:
Don't bother second-guessing God; he's already shown us all we need to see.
PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for setting up my life in the midst of your wonderful creation. I confess that I act like I know more about you and your creation than I do. I even fool myself into thinking that I know more than everyone else -- including you. Use the mysteries to drive me to know you better through what you have revealed in nature, the prophets, and Christ himself. Amen.
Our Lord, you bless those
who join in the festival
and walk in the brightness
of your presence. ~ Psalm 89:15 (CEV)
So act like people of the light and make your light shine. Be good and honest and truthful... ~ Ephesians 5:8-9 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
As people formed by the light of Christ we reflect his brightness.
PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for your shining presence. You are here -- glorious pulsating light. Forgive me for my ho-hum response. Continue to remake me in the light of your brightness. I'm going to shine the light of Christ through my life. Amen.
O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. ~ Psalm 71:17 (NLT)
Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,
“Lord, I am your servant,
and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept
your promise to me.
With my own eyes I have seen
what you have done
to save your people..."
~ Luke 2:28-30 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Those who wait it out will see the wonders of God.
PRAYER:
Lord God of peace, thank you for bringing us salvation. This is a day to honor you and lift up your greatness. You have kept us in the faith from the time of our baptism and opened our eyes to see all you have accomplished in Jesus. Until our eyelids close, may we always give you thanks. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
I will... be glad about my people. No one will ever hear the sound of weeping or crying in it again. ~ Isaiah 65:19 (CEB)
So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. ~ John 16:22 (NLT)
KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus is the source of our joy.
PRAYER:
Compassionate God, thank you for being here for us in the midst of trying times. I confess that I let it all get to me sometimes and I get discouraged. Fill me with the joy that comes through Jesus -- the joy which transcends even pandemics. I'm going to allow your joy to overcome the sadness and discouragement. 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)
