Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Faith

Abram left just as the LORD told him... ~ Genesis 12:4 (CEB)

The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. ~ Galatians 3:7 (NLT)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Those who act in faith are those who inherit the blessings of God.

PRAYER
Gracious God, thank you for calling us all to faith. I get excited when I see how the earliest promises apply to even me. I confess that in spite of this good news, I'm prone to wander and apply my faith in unreliable people, institutions, and things. Draw me even closer so that trusting you becomes more natural. I want it to be my default attitude and action. I'm looking forward to where you are leading. Amen.

Monday, September 14, 2020

Pride

You'll be giddy with glee because the LORD is your God. You'll be proud of the fact that you, Israel, are associated with the One and Only. ~ Isaiah 41:16 (ABP)

We even take pride in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the one through whom we now have a restored relationship with God. ~ Romans 5:11 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Take pride in the relationship that you have with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

PRAYER
Dear God, you sent your Son into the world to restore our relationship with you. That you'd want to relate to us is unimaginable -- especially considering that we are so messed up. When I look at my life I realize that I tend to be proud of all the wrong things. Need I go into detail? No, but I do ask that you'd help me sort through my pride. Help me to find my sense of self -- my confidence -- my pride -- in what you are doing for me. I'm going to build my happiness in your gift. Amen.

Sunday, September 13, 2020

God reigns

The 14th Sunday after Pentecost

LORD God, you created heaven and earth by your great power and outstretched arm; nothing is too hard for you! ~ Jeremiah 32:17 (CEB)

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.” ~ Matthew 28:18-20 (MSG)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God reigns over everything and he's assigned us to share that good news.

PRAYER
LORD God, thank you for including us and giving us responsibility as you oversee the world. I confess that I don't always prioritize that responsibility. I let my own life preferences get in the way of yours. Help me to sort through all of that so my life is totally aligned with your priorities. I'm going to share the good news of Jesus and the kingdom of God way of life. Amen.


Saturday, September 12, 2020

Live wisely

The earth and everything on it
     belong to the LORD.
The world and its people
     belong to him.

~ Psalm 24:1 (CEV)

So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly. ~ Ephesians 5:15 (CEB)

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Make the most of your life by living wisely -- as someone who belongs to God.

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for creating a world where your blessings can be shared. Forgive me for mistaking my foolishness for wisdom, and for calling your wisdom folly. In the wisdom of your cross, you have claimed me as a forgiven child of God. Teach me to live under your cross for this world and all who dwell here. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel Ministries edition)

DAILYTEXTS.ORG

*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)

EEB = EasyEnglish Bible (©2015, MissionAssist)

ERV = Easy-To-Read Version (©2006, World Bible Translation Center)

GNT = Good News Translation (©1992, American Bible Society)

MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)

NCB = New Catholic Bible (©2019 by Catholic Book Publishing Corp.)

NCV = New Century Version (©2005, Thomas Nelson Inc)

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)

NRSV = New Revised Standard Version (© 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

NTE = New Testament for Everyone (©2011 Nicolas Thomas Wright.)

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