X

New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

Today’s Reflection

PRAYER IS coming into the presence of the One who loves us all the time – more than our parents ever loved us even in the best of times – and waiting in that presence, merely being there in that presence.

That’s all. Coming and waiting and being there.

Prayer, you see, is a fellowship, a meeting, a merging.

You don’t even have to talk when you don’t want to or don’t know what to say. All you have to do is to become aware of the fellowship, to pay attention to it the way you would if you were with an ordinary friend. …

God accepts you in silence as well as in words. All you have to do is feel God’s love for you, and when you feel it, respond in any way your heart wants. …

You do not pray in order to get something from God that God was going to give you anyway. You pray in order to feel God’s love and to give God your love.

– John Killinger
Beginning Prayer

From Beginning Prayer by John Killinger. Copyright © 2012 by John Killinger. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Think about receiving love from God and giving love to God during your prayer time today.  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

1 Samuel 3:10, NRSV

This Week: Pray for new beginnings. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Did You Know?

In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.

This week we remember: Emily Balch (January 9).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2018 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

15 Comments

  • Jill Posted January 8, 2018 4:02 am

    Yes, it is merely enough to be in His Presence. I have learned that simply providing a “blank slate”…a cleared, focused, open mind – is enough. Quiet, even non-verbal, expression of a breath prayer can be more beneficial than a 1000 non-intentional words.
    Grateful for church yesterday, a message to kick off the new year from Philippians 1.
    Supposed to be back to school today, but the sound of freezing rain stinging my window has heightened my hope of a snow day. Pretty pitiful, after having 2 weeks off. Shameless.

  • Trackback: Receive God’s Love – College United Methodist Church
  • Francesca Posted January 8, 2018 5:49 am

    It’s good to know that “God accepts me in silence as well as in words. ” Lord, please help me to still my mind my enough to receive your love and guidance.
    Jill, I’m feeling the same way . . . One more day!
    Praying for all teachers and everyone coming to the UR with petitions and praise: may you receive God’s love and give God’s love today and everyday.

    • Pam Posted January 8, 2018 8:32 am

      Jill, no shame at all! Francesca, my husband had disc repair surgery for his neck and felt so good after, now we’re back to have it for his BACK!

  • Connie Posted January 8, 2018 7:07 am

    Lord, be with Mary’s Father as he has his surgery. Let the pain be minor and his recovery complete. Give Mary strength. Amen

  • Julie Posted January 8, 2018 8:05 am

    Prayers for Mary and her father. Prayers for his doctors to be given the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful surgery.
    Francesca, prayers for your degenerative disc pain to be lessened.
    Jill and Francesca, please be careful if you must travel to school today.
    It is snowing badly here and this follows a period of freezing rain. There is a jacknifed truck on the interstate that is very near my home.
    Thankful to the Lord that I can stay home today.
    Blessings to all of the UR posters and readers

    • Marcy Posted January 8, 2018 4:11 pm

      Julie, I am so sorry your knee is giving you such pain. I pray that you see the dr if this continues as it might just be inflammation, which can take awhile to heal, but you may need prescription anti-inflammatory medication. Please take care of yourself and much love to you.

  • robert moeller Posted January 8, 2018 9:24 am

    Up early, Erich is home from work, he works 11 pm to 7 am. He’s checked Isis, had a good meal, watched a little tv, and is now asleep.

    Todays’s reflection had me very attentive. There are not many words but the ideas, concepts , and then actions we can take made me very appreciative.
    Being in God’s presence as we are 24/7 is a blessing, being aware of God’s presence is even more amazing.

    This reflection is a read, read again, and read again one for me.

    Yes prayers for teachers, many are here. Hope for a safe travel day IF you HAVE to go. A peaceful day, IF you are at home. Prayers for Mary, her mum, and especially her dad as he has hip surgery today. I echo the sentiments of the UR family. Knowing what is involved, I give some reassurance that it should go well. Prayers for Francesca’s degenerative disc pain. Hope there is treatment that will help you. Hope Julie’s knee is responding to prayer and physical help. Julie your hands are in my prayers too.

    The entire UR family is in my thoughts and prayers. We always need God and the UR family knows that truth very well.

    Thankful for help with my model and progress this morning. It has taken a long time to finish them and they are inching toward the finish line.

    As tax time approaches, I pray for guidance and wisdom that will enable me to pay my taxes.

    Blessings to all of you as we start a new week.

    • Marcy Posted January 8, 2018 4:59 pm

      Robert, thank you for your example of perseverance and staying hopeful. I’m so ridiculously happy to hear about the model trains, just can’t help it. Many good memories with my Dad always return.

      Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us, as I continue to learn and pray throughout the latest challenges. I love and trust Jesus Christ, our Savior and the Good Shepherd for never letting go of us.

      I had rehab today on the more difficult bike machine. The stats I did over the weekend showed 94% movement on the left leg, up from 61%, but the right leg remains weak in movement at 6%, down from 31%. Then I did some stepping in place with the walker with 2 1/2 lb weights on my ankles. I’m unable to start step therapy yet. Walked the perimeter of the rehab room twice. With everyone’s prayers and the work of Jesus, I believe I can succeed. I’m terribly tired, though. And still having issues with the facility.

      I’m not feeling well either. I’m praying for new beginnings. There is much I want to do. Waiting to hear from God! Throat feels raw and I am so tired, I want to sleep again, but am fighting it.

      • robert moeller Posted January 8, 2018 10:43 pm

        Glad and encouraged by the progress you made, praying for the issues with the facility. I’m familiar with the bike although I didn’t use it in my heart rehab. The tread mill, NU STEP, and rowing machines were what I used and am using. I think you are working on improving breathing. Get the rest you need. Just like the turtle and the hare, slow and steady wins. God is with you.

        Glad you enjoy the train modeling progress, finishing them has taken a while.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 8, 2018 2:54 pm

    Thanks so much everyone for your prayers for my dad. He is out of the operating theatre now.

    Blessings

    • robert moeller Posted January 8, 2018 3:01 pm

      Thanks for the update, hope the surgery went well. Continued prayers for a great recovery. Am sure you, your mum, and family are relieved. Blessings to all of you.

  • Marcy Posted January 8, 2018 3:19 pm

    O yes! Abba, Father You are faithful and true. I love your ways, Lord. I am enveloped in Your loving arms, come what may may, because of Your deep and abiding LOVE for us, Your children. I was happy to attend a church service and cannot wait until we all meet each other, showing love for one another, and trusting in God to help me actually help others. Jill, you have been an inspiration to me and I am thankful for your example of faith. I belong to You, Sovereign King. May we celebrate Christ with us forever and always!

  • Marcy Posted January 8, 2018 4:03 pm

    O Lord, please be with Mary as she is a caregiver to her father as he recuperated from his surgery. Mary, such a sweet sister here in the UR family, has the support and prayers of all of us . She is such a good daughter, dedicated teacher and all around caring person, Lord. Please heal her father and return him to health. We know she is blessed by You, O Lord.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 8, 2018 10:37 pm

      Thanks so much dear Marcy and Robert,!

      Blessings and have a wonderful week ahead every one

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *