ISAIAH 44:8 (MSG)
Don’t be afraid, and don’t worry:
Haven’t I always kept you informed, told you what was going on?
You’re my eyewitnesses:
Have you ever come across a God, a real God, other than me?
2 CORINTHIANS 5:20 (MSG)
God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
We're called to be official representatives of Christ -- sharing his life-changing message.
PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the call to represent you. It is a privilege to participate with you in what you are doing through Christ to transform the world. Forgive me for trying to make so much of what I do as your representative about myself. When I lose focus I become afraid that I'll mess things up or I start to take myself too seriously. Help me to maintain my identity as your ambassador. I'm eager to see what you are going to do in the lives around me and the world as a whole. 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.
Since 2006, I've been modeling one way of using the MORAVIAN DAILY TEXTS* to maintain a daily conversation with God.
– Brad Boydston
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Friday, January 13, 2023
Thursday, January 12, 2023
ON TRACK
DEUTERONOMY 10:12 (MSG)
So now Israel, what do you think GOD expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve GOD, your God, with everything you have in you...
1 JOHN 2:5 (CEB)
But the love of God is truly perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know we are in him.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
We can know that we're spiritually on track if we're serving God and living in the way that he sets out for us.
PRAYER
Thank you, loving God, for showing us how to live and mature in our relationship with you. I confess that I'm pretty good at tricking myself into believing I'm in good shape spiritually. I can give all the right answers and advise others on what the Bible says, all while I'm woefully off course in my own life. Don't just show me what I need to do but please take my hand and lead me forward. That's the only way that I'm going to grow into a mature, convinced, and convincing follower of Christ Jesus. 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.
So now Israel, what do you think GOD expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve GOD, your God, with everything you have in you...
1 JOHN 2:5 (CEB)
But the love of God is truly perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know we are in him.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
We can know that we're spiritually on track if we're serving God and living in the way that he sets out for us.
PRAYER
Thank you, loving God, for showing us how to live and mature in our relationship with you. I confess that I'm pretty good at tricking myself into believing I'm in good shape spiritually. I can give all the right answers and advise others on what the Bible says, all while I'm woefully off course in my own life. Don't just show me what I need to do but please take my hand and lead me forward. That's the only way that I'm going to grow into a mature, convinced, and convincing follower of Christ Jesus. 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.
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
PRAYER
PSALM 6:9 (CEB)
The LORD has listened to my request.
The LORD accepts my prayer.
MATTHEW 6:6 (NLT)
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't let the naysaying voices (either in your head or in the community) keep you from taking prayer seriously; for God takes your prayers seriously.
PRAYER
God, at least YOU listen to me. I'm not just talking to air or a brick wall when I pray. I admit that I have moments of doubt but that's because I have some messed up expectations. I look for fireworks-type responses or flashing billboard messages. Help me to quiet myself and my expectations so that I can truly hear what you're saying. I'm going to take these conversations seriously because I know that you do. 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.
The LORD has listened to my request.
The LORD accepts my prayer.
MATTHEW 6:6 (NLT)
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't let the naysaying voices (either in your head or in the community) keep you from taking prayer seriously; for God takes your prayers seriously.
PRAYER
God, at least YOU listen to me. I'm not just talking to air or a brick wall when I pray. I admit that I have moments of doubt but that's because I have some messed up expectations. I look for fireworks-type responses or flashing billboard messages. Help me to quiet myself and my expectations so that I can truly hear what you're saying. I'm going to take these conversations seriously because I know that you do. 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.
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
UNFRIENDLY TERRITORY
EXODUS 3:11-12 (MSG)
Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
“I’ll be with you,” God said.
Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”
“I’ll be with you,” God said.
MATTHEW 10:16 (MSG)
Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
Much of what God assigns us to do happens in unfriendly territory.
PRAYER
God, I'm relieved when I'm reminded that you're always here with me. I shouldn't need such reminding. But I get so caught up in the drama around me that I forget who I am and your confidence in me. Help me to tap into your presence in my life, not only so that I can tackle the assignments you give me, but also so that I can truly know who I am. I'm going to stay alert to the drama around me as well as to your Spirit's indwelling presence in me. 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.
Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
Much of what God assigns us to do happens in unfriendly territory.
PRAYER
God, I'm relieved when I'm reminded that you're always here with me. I shouldn't need such reminding. But I get so caught up in the drama around me that I forget who I am and your confidence in me. Help me to tap into your presence in my life, not only so that I can tackle the assignments you give me, but also so that I can truly know who I am. I'm going to stay alert to the drama around me as well as to your Spirit's indwelling presence in me. 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.
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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)
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 Updated Edition (© 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.)
REB = Revised English Bible (© 1989 Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press)
TCEB = The Casual English Bible (© Stephen M. Miller)
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)
EXB = The Expanded Bible (©2011, Thomas Nelson Publishing)
GNT = Good News Translation (©1992, American Bible Society)
ERV = Easy-To-Read Version (©2006, World Bible Translation Center)
EXB = The Expanded Bible (©2011, Thomas Nelson Publishing)
GNT = Good News Translation (©1992, 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)
NTE = New Testament for Everyone (©2011 Nicolas Thomas Wright.)
REB = Revised English Bible (© 1989 Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press)
TCEB = The Casual English Bible (© Stephen M. Miller)