He will spread his wings
over you
and keep you secure.
His faithfulness is like
a shield or a city wall. ~ Psalm 91:4 (CEV)
With God on our side like this, how can we lose? ~ Romans 8:31b (MSG)
KEY IDEA:
God is our protector so don't be afraid of whatever life throws at you.
PRAYER:
Almighty God, thank you for protecting me. There are times when I'm really aware of my need for protection. And sometimes I start to worry about how things will work out. I know that must be insulting to you. Help me to trust in the wings you have spread around me. I'm going to move forward knowing that I can't lose because of you. Amen.
You are right here among us, Lord.
We are known as your people.
Please don’t abandon us now! ~ Jeremiah 14:9b (NLT)
All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. ~ Galatians 3:26 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
God likes to hang-out among his children because he enjoys their faith.
PRAYER:
Indeed, Lord, I have faith that you are here among us -- even though I'm not so good at recognizing you. Reassure me of your presence -- especially when I am going through a rough patch. I'm going to revel in my status as one of your children. Amen.
God’s there, listening for all who pray,
for all who pray and mean it. ~ Psalm 145:18 (MSG)
If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for. ~ Matthew 21:22 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Those who live in faith can count on receiving from God whatever they ask for.
PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for listening and responding to our prayers. I confess that I ask for a lot of stuff from you -- stuff that is not rooted in a life of faith. But I'm just wishing that you'd join me in fulfilling my wishes. Mold my faith so that I'm joining you and asking for that which you are already in the process of delivering. I'm expecting great things because you are a great God who is saving the world through your Son Christ Jesus. Amen.
THE 3rd SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Let’s lift our hearts and hands at one and the same time,
praying to God in heaven... ~ Lamentations 3:41 (MSG)
Never give up praying. And when you pray, keep alert and be thankful. ~ Colossians 4:2 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Keep praying.
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for staying in touch with us. I do not take full advantage of my access to you. Prompt me to continue praying. I'm going to keep at it -- fully engaged in the process -- and thankful. 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)
