Arise! Shine! Your light has come;
the Lord’s glory has shone upon you. ~ Isaiah 60:1 (CEB)
Jesus said: "I have come as a light into the world so that everyone who believes in me won’t live in darkness." ~ John 12:46 (CEB)
KEY THOUGHT:
Jesus is the light that has come into the world to light things up.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for leaving your safe and secure place to enter into our dark and dank world. Your presence here lights things up -- including my life. Forgive me for allowing the remnant of darkness to foster fear in my life. Guide me deeper and closer to the light-filled life. I'm going to bask in the light of your glory. Amen.
But for those who honor the Lord, his love lasts forever,
and his goodness endures for all generations
of those who are true to his covenant
and who faithfully obey his commands. ~ Psalm 103:17-18 (GNT)
Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. ~ Philippians 1:27 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Live to honor the Lord.
PRAYER:
Christ, you are worthy of all honor and all praise. Your sacrifice not only repairs our relationship with God but also models how to live in relationship with him and the world. I confess, though, that I have an agenda that does not always include you. I am way too concerned about enhancing my own reputation. I tend to be too self-occupied. Help me to embrace your sacrificial approach and to sacrifice my honor so that all the praise will be directed your way. I am going to live to honor you. Amen.
The 21st Sunday after Pentecost
Help me to speak, Lord,
and I will praise you. ~ Psalm 51:15 (GNT)
In a powerful way the apostles told everyone that the Lord Jesus was now alive. God greatly blessed his followers. ~ Acts 4:33 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
Those who speak for God enjoy God's favor.
PRAYER:
Lord God, you know better than any that I need help speaking. It's not just that I'm afraid, but when I hear my voice I start to talk more and more. I get off track and start pontificating about things that have nothing to do with your message. Help me to stay focused on witnessing to the power and hope that comes through the resurrection. In that way, I will praise you. Amen.
A gossip tells everything,
but a true friend
will keep a secret. ~ Proverbs 11:13 (CEV)
And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. ~ 1 Timothy 6:20 (MSG)
KEY THOUGHT:
Talk can drag you down.
PRAYER:
Lord, it is so easy to jump into the river of rumors and be carried away in its currents. Part the waters of gossip and hearsay. Destroy my urge to chase popularity. Let me walk on the dry ground of honesty. Lead me to the high plains of integrity. Then, without regrets, I will rejoice in your word. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
*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)
