The 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Our Lord, you are the one
who makes us rich or poor.
You put some in high positions
and bring disgrace on others. ~ 1 Samuel 2:7 (CEV)
We always carry Jesus’ death around in our bodies so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:10 (CEB)
KEY THOUGHT:
We gladly put up with the suffering and inconvenience that appears to be dragging us into an early grave so that the glorious life of the risen Christ can be seen through us.
PRAYER:
Our Lord, thank you for putting me in a position of responsibility. It's not big or flashy but I want to take your call seriously. Forgive me for whining when I have to put up with problems. Reshape my perspective and attitude so that people will see the life of Christ through the pain I endure. Amen.
Out of all the nations on this earth, the Lord your God chose you to be his own. You belong to the Lord, so don’t behave like those who worship other gods. ~ Deuteronomy 14:2 (CEV)
There is only one God, and he accepts Gentiles as well as Jews, simply because of their faith. ~ Romans 3:30 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
We relate to the one God through faith.
PRAYER:
Faithful God, thank you for recognizing my imperfect faith. Lead me into deeper and more mature faith so that I can live a life that is exclusively and fully dedicated to you. Amen.
At God's command amazing things happen,
wonderful things that we can't understand. ~ Job 37:5 (GNT)
For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen. ~ Romans 11:36 (GNT)
KEY THOUGHT:
Everything revolves around God and his agenda.
PRAYER:
Glory to you, God. Everything revolves around you and your agenda. But I'm still some what deluded enough to function as though it's all about me. Reshape my outlook. There is so much I'll never understand. It's best that I leave reality in your hands. Amen.
You sent war chariots.
We traveled through fire
and through floods,
but you brought us
to a land of plenty.
~ Psalm 66:12 (CEV)
Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. ~ 1 John 5:4 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
When we trust God we are victorious over our enemies.
PRAYER:
Powerful Father, thank you for including me in the victory that Christ wins over the ungodly things of the world. Forgive me for my defeatist mindset -- the willingness to give up so early in the battle. Strengthen my resolve so that I can trust you for even greater victories. I'm going to have a long list of battle victories to celebrate with you. 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)
