Pentecost
So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle.
Do not correct me in anger, for I would die. ~ Jeremiah 10:24 (NLT)
The Spirit will come and show the people of this world the truth about sin and God’s justice and the judgment. ~ John 16:8 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
Corrective judgment is on the way.
PRAYER:
Lord, your word reminds me that my sin is real. I cannot hide from you. But your mercy matches your judgment and your loving Spirit finds and lifts me up. Renew and redirect me today so that I may serve you with heartfelt thanksgiving for all of Jesus' gifts. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
The Lord God is kind and merciful, and if you turn back to him, he will no longer turn his back on you. ~ 2 Chronicles 30:9b (CEV)
So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven. Then that time will come when the Lord will give you fresh strength. ~ Acts 3:19-20 (CEV)
KEY IDEA:
We can have a good relationship with God if we'll only turn away from the things he dislikes and back toward him.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, for your kindness and mercy. I know that I am undeserving yet you see something in me that I can't see. I confess that at times I'd rather wallow in my guilt and shame than to change. I need your help so that I can make the needed changes. And I am going to trust that you'll not only show me mercy but that you'll actually help me make the transition back to you. Amen.
You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. ~ Deuteronomy 4:9 (CEV)
Continue strong in your faith so no one will take away your crown. ~ Revelation 3:11 (NCV)
KEY IDEA:
Don't get sidetracked from your faith.
PRAYER:
Generous God, you have done so much for me that I have a hard time remembering it all. I quickly forget and become engaged in lesser matters. They aren't necessarily bad things but they distract me from running hard in the race you've picked for me. Keep cheering me on so that I am motivated to stay on track. Amen.
Fear-of-the-Lord—that’s Wisdom,
and Insight means shunning evil. ~ Job 28:28 (MSG)
God has called you to peace. ~ 1 Corinthians 7:15 (CEB)
KEY IDEA:
God is calling you to shun everything that is evil so that you can embrace a life characterized by peace.
PRAYER:
Lord, your wisdom is deeper than I can ever go. But I would like to have more of it. And I realize that only by staying close to you will I ever have access to it. Yet, it is really hard to live in this world. Even my responses to the evil around me are not characterized by the kind of peace that comes with your wisdom. Help me to do your will in your way -- to shun that which is evil so that I can embrace peace. 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)
