Translate

Monday, October 3, 2022

ALIGNED

ISAIAH 45:9 (ABP)
The presumptuous pot who argues with the potter is doomed. A pot can't approach the potter as though he were just another pot and question his craftsmanship or creativity.

MATTHEW 6:9-10 (ABP)
Our Father who is in heaven, you are a holy being. Extend your reign over the earth so that things are done here in the same way that they are done there in your heavenly kingdom.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
If you really want to live, align your life with what God is doing.

PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, you are the master craftsman. Forgive me for second-guessing what's best for the world and my life. I have these fantasies which place me at the center of reality -- and I capriciously work toward living them out. It's not that I plan it to be that way. Through my sin and weakness, I let it happen. So I am asking that your Holy Spirit, living in me, would realign my life to more completely function according to the ways of your kingdom. I'm going to simply trust that you know what you're doing. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Sunday, October 2, 2022

POSSESSIONS

The 17th Sunday after Pentecost

HABAKKUK 2:6 (CEV)
You're doomed!
You stored up stolen goods
   and cheated others
   of what belonged to them.


LUKE 12:15 (CEB)
Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions, even when someone is very wealthy.”

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Your life isn't defined by what you own so don't get greedy.

PRAYER
Lord God, giver of life and all that is good, I thank you for taking care of me -- even during lean times. I confess that when Jesus says we should guard ourselves against greed I'm overly certain that he is thinking of someone other than me. Greed isn't really my issue. Or is it? Help me to impartially examine my life for any signs of greed. Show me how even my honestly-acquired affluence is blinding me to the needs of those less fortunate. I'm going to define my life by something other than what I possess. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Saturday, October 1, 2022

CHRIST FREES US FROM SIN

ISAIAH 53:5 (CEV)
By taking our punishment, he made us completely well.

1 PETER 2:24 (ABP)
Christ used his own body to carry our sins onto the cross. With their death, we've been freed to live right.

SUMMARY SENTENCE

Through his mission at the cross, Christ freed us from the death grip of sin and we are now positioned to live healthy lives that align with his new resurrected life.

PRAYER
Doctor God, you came up with a solution to our greatest challenge. I confess, though, that I'm inconsistent in taking my medicine. Sometimes I don't even recognize the problems of sin and simply neglect to accept the need for your treatment. Keep me aware so that I can continue to receive the life of Christ into my life. I know that it's all about what you've done to keep me safe and alive. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Friday, September 30, 2022

A THOUSAND YEARS

PSALM 90:4 (MSG)
You’ve got all the time in the world—whether
a thousand years or a day, it’s all the same to you.


LUKE 1:50 (CEB)
He shows mercy to everyone,
from one generation to the next,
who honors him as God.


SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's perspective and patience are so vast that he can afford to extend his mercy to all who'd recognize him as their God -- without the constraints of time or borders.

PRAYER
God of creation, you stand watch always, never losing sight of those you love. When I feel lost, remind me of the grace shown to the saints who came before me. Teach me to live for those who will come after me. Give me the faith to remember that all of my days are held in your eternity. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

DAILYTEXTS.ORG

*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)

EEB = EasyEnglish Bible (©2015, MissionAssist)

ERV = Easy-To-Read Version (©2006, World Bible Translation Center)

GNT = Good News Translation (©1992, American Bible Society)

MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)

NCB = New Catholic Bible (©2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp.)

NCV = New Century Version (©2005, Thomas Nelson Inc)

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)

NRSVUE = New Revised Standard Version (© 2021 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

NTE = New Testament for Everyone (©2011 Nicolas Thomas Wright.)

Blog Archive