Tuesday, April 13, 2021

WASHING

JEREMIAH 4:14 (CEV)
But Jerusalem, there is still time
for you to be saved.
Wash the evil from your hearts
and stop making sinful plans.


LUKE 3:8 (CEV)
Do something to show that you really have given up your sins.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Genuine faith always involves turning away from the things which are contrary to God and toward him and the things which are important to him.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the forgiveness which was established through your Son Christ Jesus. I welcome him into my life -- yet, I confess that I struggle to give up some of the attitudes and behaviors which are more closely aligned with the old pre-Jesus way of life. Guide me through the process of washing those things from my life. I want his presence in my life to be obvious. Amen.

Monday, April 12, 2021

REVEALING

JEREMIAH 33:9 (NLT)
Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.

LUKE 2:29-32 (MSG)

God, you can now release your servant;
release me in peace as you promised.
With my own eyes I’ve seen your salvation;
it’s now out in the open for everyone to see:
A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations,
and of glory for your people Israel.


SUMMARY SENTENCE
Let the whole world see and revel in the generosity of God.

PRAYER
Glorious God, thank you for lifting up the people of the world as you raised Christ from the dead. I don't give you enough credit for the ways that you continue to bless us through him and the gospel. I'm inclined to see myself as the primary character in your story for our time when in fact I'm a minor, yet loved character. Help me keep things in perspective so that I can join you in revealing your light to the world. Amen.

Sunday, April 11, 2021

TOO MUCH

The Second Sunday of Easter

PSALM 62:10 (NLT)
And if your wealth increases,
don’t make it the center of your life.


MATTHEW 6:21 (CEV)
Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
We tend to adjust our lives so that they support what we've invested in.

PRAYER
Generous God, you've blessed me with more than I can handle. So I am turning to you to handle the blessings in my life. Show me who you want to bless through me. Help me avoid getting stuck with too much. Amen.


Saturday, April 10, 2021

AGING

PSALM 71:9 (ABP)
God, don’t throw me out with the trash just because I've gotten old. Now that my strength is waning I need you more than ever.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 (CEB)
So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Even when our health starts to fail we trust that God will be with us.

PRAYER
Creator God, I am made in your image. You are the potter; I am the clay. As years roll into decades, I sense the Holy Spirit stronger within me. Encourage this strength in us as we grow up into eternity. Keep us close to your heart. Renew us daily in your love to serve you. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace 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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