JEREMIAH 29:7 (NLT)
And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.
MATTHEW 5:13 (CEV)
You are like salt for everyone on earth.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
Even if the world fails to treat you right, don't fail to contribute to the well-being of the world.
PRAYER
Loving God, you sent your Son Christ Jesus into the world to sacrifice his life for a world that would reject him. I confess that even though I claim to follow him I get thrown off by rejection. And I don't want to do anything for those who give me a rough time. Forgive me for my lack of fortitude and strengthen me so that I can work toward the well-being of all my neighbors -- even those who reject me -- and you. I'm going to follow the example of Jesus. Amen.
EXODUS 20:7 (ABP)
Don't casually toss God's name around. If you misuse his name he'll certainly hold you accountable.
LUKE 11:2 (CEB)
Father, uphold the holiness of your name.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
In all matters pertaining to God (and what matters do not?) speak and act in a way that throws honor at him.
PRAYER
Lord God, you are the real thing -- the only fully genuine being. Yet, I can get sucked into the casual approach that the world takes to you and even your name. Help us -- me -- to take you seriously. I want all of my words and actions to bring honor to you. Amen.
PSALM 71:16 (CEB)
I will dwell on your mighty acts, my Lord.
Lord, I will help others remember nothing but your righteous deeds.
EPHESIANS 2:10 (CEB)
Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let this fact define how we live our lives: our successes can all be traced back to God's doing.
PRAYER
Great God, through your grace we are what we are. I confess that I get carried away with my own successes. Refocus my life so that it is a reflection of your generosity. I'm going to live according to the purposes of Christ Jesus, the one who is busy remaking my life. Amen.
PSALM 75:1 (CEV)
Our God, we thank you
for being so near to us!
Everyone celebrates
your wonderful deeds.
ACTS 17:27 (CEV)
God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn’t far from any of us...
SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is near -- live accordingly.
PRAYER
God, thank you for the times when we can feel your breath, see your handiwork, and taste your delights! In Christ, you have prepared a feast, a mosaic of miracles. Forgive me when I ignore every present blessing. You are in every atom and individual. Use me to bring out your colors and melodies today. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)
*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)
