LAMENTATIONS 3:25 (CEB)
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, to the person who seeks him.
HEBREWS 10:35 (MSG)
It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
You'll not be sorry if you stick with God and his plan.
PRAYER
Good and gracious God, you repeatedly show how you work things together for good. I am sorry I get impatient when I don't know what to do or a door closes on my plans. Help me to wait in quietness and trust. I am confident you will fulfill your plans and purposes for me. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)
The Third Sunday after Pentecost
PSALM 13:6 (CEB)
Yes, I will sing to the LORD
because he has been good to me.
JAMES 5:13 (CEV)
If you are having trouble, you should pray. And if you are feeling good, you should sing praises.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
Regardless of the circumstances turn to the Lord in song.
PRAYER
Merciful God, receive these words as a song of praise, for you have been exceedingly good to me. Your faithfulness is beyond measure. Sometimes, though, when things aren't going well I turn inward and wallow in pity rather than turning to you in prayer. Reorient my life so that regardless of the circumstances I'm turning to you. Amen.
PROVERBS 16:18 (MSG)
First pride, then the crash—
the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
LUKE 6:41 (MSG)
It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.
SUMMARY SENTENCE
When we focus on the shortcomings of others we're setting ourselves up to crash and burn.
PRAYER
Lord, you have graciously given us the gift of observation and discernment. But we take things too far when we start measuring others against ourselves. I make my own life the gold standard by which others have to live. Grant me the additional gift of humility so that I can kindly give a hand to those who need a lift up. I'm going to measure everything and everyone according to your standard of grace. Amen.
ISAIAH 33:22 (CEB)
The LORD is our judge;
the LORD is our leader;
the LORD is our king—
he will deliver us.
LUKE 9:20 (CEV)
Jesus then asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Messiah sent from God.”
SUMMARY SENTENCE
Jesus, sent from God, is the one who saves us.
PRAYER
I'm grateful, God, for the gift of Jesus, sent into the world to save it. This is good news -- yet, I'm slow to share it. I worry that people might think I'm some kind of religious fanatic. Give me the boldness to speak the right words at the right time. I'm going to be more open about my relationship with you and who you are. 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)
