The Lord says: I will instruct you and teach you
about the direction you should go. ~ Psalm 32:8a (CEB)
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ~ John 8:31-32 (NLT)
KEY IDEA:
We will come to understand the truth as we act on the Lord's instructions.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for your message to us. You have taught us but we really only start to get the truth while we are acting on your instructions. I confess that I am too often satisfied with knowledge of your message but lack the deep understanding that comes with faithfully acting on the message. I'm happy if people think I am a faithful follower. Help me to get beyond that self-focused short-sightedness. I want to enjoy the freedom that comes with knowing the truth. Amen.
Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine. ~ Isaiah 42:1b (CEB)
God has helped me up to this very day. ~ Acts 26:22a (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
There is no end to God's help for his people.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for making us feel special. There is no end to the ways that you help us.
Help me to remember your love for me -- especially on the days when I struggle with fear. Forgive me for being so afraid. I am confident that you are working out the best possible plan for my life. Amen.
There is no other god like you, O Lord; you forgive the sins of your people who have survived. You do not stay angry forever, but you take pleasure in showing us your constant love. ~ Micah 7:18 (GNT)
God canceled the unfavorable record of our debts with its binding rules and did away with it completely by nailing it to the cross. ~ Colossians 2:14 (GNT)
KEY IDEA:
God does not hold our sins against us.
PRAYER:
Loving God, you sent your Son Christ Jesus to wipe away the record of all our sin.
You really must love us. Sometimes, though, I have a hard time accepting your acceptance. I want to beat myself up over the wrong and stupid things I do. Help me to focus on your love and forgiveness so that I can begin to live as a fully loved and truly forgiven person. Amen.
The 14th Sunday after Pentecost
My people will live in safety, quietly at home. ~ Isaiah 32:18a (NLT)
Now may the Lord of peace give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NCV)
KEY IDEA:
The Lord gives peace to his people.
PRAYER:
Prince of Peace, thank you for sharing your peace with us so that we can get along with each other and the rest of the world. I admit, though, that I don't always tap into your peace. Sometimes I slip back into the old ways because I enjoy getting a reaction from the people who annoy me. Help me to take your peace more seriously.
Help me to share it more completely. I want to see the whole world experiencing the peace that comes from Jesus. Amen.
*ABOUT THE
DAILY TEXTS
The Daily Texts have been published by the Moravian Church since 1731. In 2011 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)
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)
