Thursday, February 8, 2024

QUIET HOPE

LAMENTATIONS 3:26 (MSG)
It’s a good thing to quietly hope,
quietly hope for help from God.


HEBREWS 12:1-2 (NLT)
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Persevering through all the obstacles life throws at us, we quietly wait with confidence for the moment when God will show his hand.

DAILY FODDER
What does it mean to "quietly hope"?

PRAYER
Savior of the world, thank you for the goals you've established. Forgive me for getting all worked up and losing hope when the world seems overwhelming. Restore my confidence in you and what you're doing. I'm going to continue running in your race; for your goals are now my goals. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

HEALING

PSALM 118:18 (ABP)
GOD definitely punished me; but he didn't let me die.

JOHN 5:5, 8-9 (NLT)
One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years... Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Regardless of the cause for our infirmities, God's goal for us is healing.

DAILY FODDER
What kind of healing are you trusting God for?

PRAYER
Great Physician, thank you for your gentle care. Like the man who was ill for so many years, I too have struggles and obstacles to overcome. Help me to conquer them, Lord. I lay them at your feet. I trust in you. Heal me. Fill me with your peace and joy. Amen. (Daily TextsGround Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

SERVE

EXODUS 19:6 (CEV)
You will be my holy nation and serve me as priests.

2 TIMOTHY 4:8 (CEB)
At last the champion’s wreath that is awarded for righteousness is waiting for me. The Lord, who is the righteous judge, is going to give it to me on that day. He’s giving it not only to me but also to all those who have set their heart on waiting for his appearance.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
The lifetime achievement award goes to those who serve the Lord with righteousness.

DAILY FODDER
What do you expect to receive when Christ reappears?

PRAYER
God, I want to thank you for such an honorable calling—to live in your service. Forgive me for the times when I lose track of this vocation. I'm depending on you to manifest your righteousness in my life and I'm looking forward to the award assembly. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

Monday, February 5, 2024

GOD'S PATIENCE

ISAIAH 30:18 (MSG)
But GOD’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you.
He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you.


ACTS 15:11 (NLT)
We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God is patiently waiting around until the time when we'll be receptive to his grace.

DAILY FODDER
How does it make you feel to know that God is waiting for you? Grateful? Anxious? Fearful? 

PRAYER
God, I for one find it comforting to know that you're patiently waiting for me. You must care a lot. Thank you. Forgive me for my slowness to totally embrace your kindness. Help me to release those things on my personal agenda that get in the way of receptivity. Even so, I'm celebrating your undeserved grace and am looking forward to the time when I'm mature enough to more fully appreciate it. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.
Give us enough food for today.
Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you would protect us from all forms of evil. 
Amen.

DAILYTEXTS.ORG

*ABOUT THE
DAILY TEXTS

The Daily Texts have been published by the Moravian Church since 1731. In 2015 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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