My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? ~ Psalm 22:1 (CEB)
While Peter was held in prison, the church offered earnest prayer to God for him. ~ Acts 12:5 (CEB)
KEY THOUGHT:
Sometimes it feels like God has abandoned us but in his time he comes through.
PRAYER:
Lord God, thank you for your reliable presence, even during the times when we can't sense that you're with us. Forgive me for allowing the angst of those moments to swallow me. Peel away the film from my eyes so that I can see enough to trust for the rest. I'm going to call out to you no matter what. Amen.
God saves me and honors me. ~ Psalm 62:7 (CEV)
God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. ~ Matthew 5:11 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
People are looking for ways to disrespect others but God is in the business of honoring his people.
PRAYER:
Gracious Father, it is so good to know you. Even though I let you down by attempting to be in charge, you continue to honor me. Thank you for these blessings and I ask that you would continue to shape my life through them so that all will see Jesus through me. That would be the greatest honor of all. Amen.
Ash Wednesday
Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees! ~ Psalm 119:5 (NLT)
As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. ~ Luke 9:51 (NLT)
KEY THOUGHT:
As followers of Jesus we resolutely set a course defined by what God says.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Lord, that your resolve sets me free from my unsteady yet stubborn ways. Forgive my insistence on keeping my approach.
Help me know my limitations, count my days, purpose my ways, and set out with you. In Christ's path, Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)
I’ll treat you better than I ever have. And you’ll realize that I am God. ~ Ezekiel 36:11b (MSG)
God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8 (CEV)
KEY THOUGHT:
God is looking for ways to bless people.
PRAYER:
God, you are very generous. If you blessed us with the gift of a Savior, it is clear that you always want the best for us. I confess, though, that my mindset is that of limitations rather than abundance. Help me to move beyond that so that I am trusting you for everything I need and more. 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)
