Friday, May 10, 2024

FOMO

LEVITICUS 26:9 (CEV)
I will treat you with such kindness that your nation will grow strong, and I will also keep my promises to you.

LUKE 12:32 (MSG)
Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Don't be afraid of missing out because God is eager to bless you with his greatest gift. 

DAILY FODDER
FOMO—fear of missing out. It's a real fear for many of us. What are you afraid that you'll miss out on? What can reduce or eliminate that fear for you? 

PRAYER
Generous Father, I'm thankful that you are not only all-powerful but that you also have our best interests in mind. Forgive me for the worry that drives me to work out my own solutions. Save me from the FOMO that distracts me from noticing your interventions. I'm going to trust you and your generosity. Amen.  

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

JOY

Ascension Day

EZRA 6:22 (CEB)
The LORD had made them joyful...

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16 (NLT)
Always be joyful.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
If we're in relationship with the Lord, we'll be living joyfully.

DAILY FODDER
What does joyfulness look like? Does it mean that you're always upbeat and bubbling with happiness or what?

PRAYER
Awesome God, you are setting a great feast to gather your people. Your activity should be the cause of a constant joy that transcends even the worst of situations. We can be joyful even when we're sad. I confess, though, that I allow the sin and negatvity of the world to suck the joy from my life. Restore the joy so that I'm ready for your party. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

RENEWAL

PSALM 40:3 (ABP)
God gave me a new song to sing—a praise song for him.

EPHESIANS 4:23 (NLT)
Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let the Holy Spirit renew you.

DAILY FODDER
If God is keen on giving us a new song to sing, what exactly is the old song he wants to replace?

PRAYER
Creator God, I'm jazzed by your endeavor to renew all of creation—including me. We messed things up by trying to play God—something we continue to do. Yet, that hasn't stopped you. Bring it on, Holy Spirit, I want to be a part of the new thing you're doing through Christ Jesus. I want to sing your new song. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

NOISY GOD

PSALM 50:2-3 (CEV)
God shines brightly from Zion,
   the most beautiful city.
Our God approaches,
   but not silently...


MARK 12:32 (MSG)
The religion scholar said, "A wonderful answer, Teacher! So clear-cut and accurate—that God is one and there is no other."

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The God without peers is in the neighborhood and he's not quiet.

DAILY FODDER
What do the biblical writers want us to think or do when they say that God is noisy?

PRAYER
Glorious God, you continue to interact with your creation. Thank you for settling in among us—one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You've boldly announced your presence but I admit that there are days when in spite of your loud voice I'm not such a good listener. Help me to truly notice you and join your parade of presence. I'm grateful that you're near. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. 
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 -- a 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)

NRSV = New Revised Standard Version (© 1989 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.)

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