Holy and whole

The 14th Sunday after Pentecost

GOD guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
~ Psalm 121:7 (MSG)

Now, may the God of peace himself cause you to be completely dedicated to him; and may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God keeps us holy and whole.*

PRAYER
Glorious and powerful God, thank you for the protective bubble that you place around my life. You're safeguarding my soul so that I can remain spiritually healthy and totally dedicated to serving you. I confess, though, that I get restless at times and that I let foreign operatives into my life through the back door. Help me to relax in your care and to stay away from that door. I'm going to trust you to keep me holy and whole. Amen.

*Thanks to the late Eugene Peterson for "holy and whole" as it appears in The Message version of 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

God responds

You have been a place of safety
     for the poor and needy
     in times of trouble.
Brutal enemies pounded us
     like a heavy rain
     or the heat of the sun at noon,
but you were our shelter.
~ Isaiah 25:4 (CEV)

These are the words of the one who is the first and the last, who died and came back to life: I know your hardship and poverty... Revelation 2:8-9 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God understands and responds to our hardships.

PRAYER
Gracious God, you understand what I'm going through. Help me to trust you with my problems. I'm so eager to get everything fixed that I get ahead of you and start doing things my own way. But I know that you have experienced it all. Through Christ Jesus, you have defeated death itself. So I know that you are on task to defeat the vestiges of evil that I'm facing. Amen.

Blessings!

The LORD bless you and protect you. ~ Numbers 6:24 (CEB)

Because the resources of the living Word of God are so deep, we are all receiving an unending supply of blessing. ~ John 1:16 (ABP)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
There is no end to what God is doing for us.

PRAYER
God of fullness, forgive me for always trying to hold onto the wrong things. I grasp and grab but end up empty-handed. But you have not let go of me. You bless me, with grace upon -- and beyond -- grace. Teach me to unclench my fists and reach out to you with open, expectant hands. Fill me again today, Lord. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)

Kindness

Worry is a heavy burden,
     but a kind word
     always brings cheer.
~ Proverbs 12:25 (CEV)

Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ. ~ Ephesians 4:32 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Your kindness not only changes things in the lives of others but it is also a sign that the change God is making in you is taking hold.

PRAYER
Loving God, you have been kind to me. Your mercy and forgiveness change everything. I confess, though, that I am slow to accept this sort of change -- especially when it comes to paying forward the kindness I've received. It's so much easier to respond to stupid people with snarky comments or to ignore as invisible those who are hurting. Stir your kindness within me so that it flows out as a smooth and healing ointment. In the name of Jesus, let it be so!