Epiphany
You people of Israel, say,
“God pays no attention to us!
He doesn’t care if we
are treated unjustly.”
But how can you say that? ~ Isaiah 40:27 (CEV)
But the foundation that God has laid is solid. On it is written, “The Lord knows who his people are...” ~ 2 Timothy 2:19 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
God is faithful to his people.
PRAYER:
Ever faithful God, thank you for the people who live into your promises. They exemplify godly living. They surround me with your love. Bless the lonely and forgotten and provide them with a community that upholds them in love. Help me to know how to help those who want to be in your fold, but are floundering. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
The 12th Day of Christmas
There are some who ask,
“Who will be good to us?”
Let your kindness, Lord,
shine brightly on us. ~ Psalm 4:6 (CEV)
Once again Jesus spoke to the people. This time he said, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life.” ~ John 8:12 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
God has given us a light to illumine the way for us.
PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for sending Jesus to not only rescue us from darkness but to also be the light for the way forward. Forgive me for straying from the beam and trying to make a way on my own. Help me to recognize my limitations. I want to walk in the light for the world. Amen.
The 11th Day of Christmas
You shall not murder. ~ Exodus 20:13
This is what I say to all who will listen to me:
Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you. ~ Luke 6:27-28 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
When we live according to God's way we will be kind to cruel people.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, your kingdom stands the world on its head. Thank you for including me in your scheme to overthrow the existing order. For me, the hardest part is loving bad people -- people who are undeserving of kindness -- people who should be put in their place. Help me to embrace your agenda for the transformation of the world -- and your radical way of implementing that agenda. I'm going to look for ways to be kind to the people who least deserve kindness. Amen.
The 10th Day of Christmas
Help us, Lord our God, because we rely on you... ~ 2 Chronicles 14:11 (CEB)
Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. ~ Matthew 7:8 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
God will respond to your requests.
PRAYER:
Thank you, God, for listening. Sometimes I am reluctant to ask you for things. I feel that my requests are insignificant or that they're off base. Both are probably true. Help me to tune into you so that I'm asking for all the right stuff. And help me to trust in your wisdom and mercy so that I'm no longer fretting over the possibility of offending you. I'm going to trust that you genuinely want to hear from me even when I don't know what I'm talking about. 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)
