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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

AS YOU LISTEN TO OTHERS, trust that God will help you tune in to what they are really saying. Be still; allow your heart as well as your mind to open up to the person who is speaking. Pray for guidance and understanding.

– Patricia Wilson
The Mindful Manager: The God Factor at Work

From p. 130 of The Mindful Manager: The God Factor at Work. Copyright © 2009 Patricia Wilson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Try praying as you listen today. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
Psalm 62:5, NRSV

This Week: Pray for compassion. 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: Anthony of Egypt (January 17).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

24 Comments

  • Jill Posted January 17, 2018 4:24 am

    I don’t think I would be an effective listener if I tried to pray while listening. To really listen – I would need to give full concentration to the other person. I will pray this early morning that I will be fully with the person I am conversing with, most especially my students.
    This class of seniors that I have are particularly inquisitive. Their questions keep me on my toes and stretch me. I encourage them to keep doing this as ALL of us are growing, as we stay engaged with one another.
    Grateful for Denise – who listens intently during our conversations. Grateful for her love and concern. Grateful for some good days for my parents. Dad goes in the hospital tomorrow. The procedure is supposed to be outpatient, but he may need to spend the night, depending on the level of bleeding.
    Andrea – sorry to hear that things are still a mighty struggle for your daughter. We pray. Prayers, too, for those who are absent – for a few days, as well as an extended period of time. All parts of this UR family are precious.

    • Andrea Posted January 17, 2018 6:45 am

      Thanks, Jill. Prayers for your father and his procedure tomorrow.

  • robert moeller Posted January 17, 2018 5:48 am

    I agree with Jill, hard to listen and pray at the same time. That’s an interesting group of students. They are engaged in learning and feel confident
    to be able to ask questions. Thankful you have them, Jill. Yes, you all will learn.

    Prayers for your Dad as he goes to the hospital today. May the procedure go well and may he be able to come home the same day with no bleeding. Prayers for your Mom while she waits for your Dad.

    Yes, all of the UR family is precious and I pray for those from whom there have not been posts either recently or for some time. Prayers for the UR readers, thankful for their presence.

    Prayers for those in my boyhood town who have been flooded due to ice jams in the river. Prayers of thanks that Arnold is home. Bob Jones has hernia surgery and sometime later hip surgery. Prayers for success. Prayers for Congress, funding for children’s health insurance, the Dreamers, the people of Puerto Rico, those affected by fires, floods, and mudslides or recovering from hurricanes. Prayers for safety during the big storm coming up the East coast.
    Prayers of thanks for Betsy and her sister after their weekend together. Prayers for Marcy in rehab, Julie’s hands knee, Andrea’s daughter and grandson, Chloe and her daughter, Connie, Carol, and Mary teaching, her Dad recovering in the hospital, and her Mum at home. Prayers for Anneliese as she endures muscle spasms, thankful pain management is tomorrow. Prayers for wisdom, guidance, and support for Erich. Thankful for messages from my daughter and help from a railroad modeling friend. We all have a lot on our
    minds, thankfully God can handle all of it. Thank You, Lord.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 17, 2018 6:23 am

      Thanks Robert!

      Blessings

      • Andrea Posted January 17, 2018 6:51 am

        Thank you, Robert. Blessings and prayers.

    • Betsy Posted January 17, 2018 6:53 am

      Thank you, Robert! Your concern for all who gather here is a comfort.

  • Andrea Posted January 17, 2018 6:50 am

    This reading is exactly what I need. I pray to hear what my daughter is saying, what underlies her anger, and to respond sensitively. I pray to be there for her.

    From Psalm 62: For God alone my soul waits in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
    He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

    Blessings and prayers.

    • robert moeller Posted January 17, 2018 7:29 am

      Thanks Betsy and Andrea for your posts of support.
      Yes, I felt as if this reflection was directed my way as well.

      While I think the reasons, background may be different, Andrea, you and I both are having some concerns, problems, issues with either a daughter or in my case, a son. Listening, understanding, being there for them like Jesus is for all of us is what is needed. I’m trying very hard to do that and I think you are too. Keep the faith, love conquers all, and covers a multitude of sins. None of us are perfect, we strive, but without God’s grace we can’t make it. That’s why God sent a Redeemer and Savior.

      • Andrea Posted January 17, 2018 6:13 pm

        Thank you, Robert, I appreciate your very helpful words.

  • Betsy Posted January 17, 2018 6:57 am

    This is a timely thought today, active listening to others. I meet with my Wednesday morning Bible Studygroip today and pray that I listen to each small group member as they share.
    Jill, so glad you have students who challenge you and keep you on your toes! What a blessing. That’s what teaching is all about; learning from one another. I pray to learn from my fellow sisters in Christ today.

  • Trackback: Listening Prayer – College United Methodist Church
  • Joan Posted January 17, 2018 7:59 am

    Simply knowing you are both in God’s presence is a form of prayer. Prayer doesn’t need to be words spoken in the moment. Maybe it is a prayer for God’s presence to go ahead of you into a conversation and simply knowing God is there with each breath you take.

    • robert moeller Posted January 17, 2018 12:22 pm

      A very good and deep understanding, thanks so much for sharing.

  • Julie Posted January 17, 2018 8:06 am

    I agree, if we have a conversation with an individual we should be completely present to that person. As when we pray, we shpuld be completely present to God.
    Praayers for Robert and Eriich and Annaliese
    Prayers for Jill and her parents and her Dad’s surgery
    Prayers for Mary and her parents and her new job
    Prayers for Andrea and her daughter, Iknoow from experience how fraught with tension a relationship between mother and daughter can become
    Prayers for Betsy and Grace and the new opportunity for Betsy
    Prayers for Marcy and all other UR faithful
    Thank you for your prayers for my fingers and knees, they help
    Blessings

    • Andrea Posted January 17, 2018 9:51 pm

      Thanks, Julie. My prayers for your hands and knees, for you and your daughter, and for your difficult home situation. Blessings.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 17, 2018 10:37 pm

      Thanks Julie. My dad is doing physio and has taken his first four steps. Very tiring for him but he is trying his best.

      Praise God for all your prayers and his progress

      Blessings

  • Julie Posted January 17, 2018 8:08 am

    I agree with Jill and Robert and those who say listen don’t pray while listening

  • Lou Posted January 17, 2018 8:21 am

    Prayers for all- especially those with family tensions today – life is not easy and family relationships are not easy- God’s love is the only thing that gets us through. I saw a bumper sticker I want the other day- it said “People will let you down- God NEVER will”- how true. I pray daily for God’s guidance and I pray for all here who demonstrate God’s great love.
    Prayers for healing of physical and emotional afflictions- Marcy always ends
    Faith hope and LOVE-
    May God’s unending and unfailing and ever present love be with you all today. If our focus is on that – He will surely see us through.
    Thankful for everyone’s prayers, support and wonderful sharing here.

    • Andrea Posted January 17, 2018 12:15 pm

      Thank you, Lou, and good to see a post from you. Blessings and prayers for your family.

  • Marcy Posted January 17, 2018 9:08 pm

    Hello my UR Reflections siblings and family members. I am totally done in today. I will endeavor to make sense! There can be praying for guidance and understanding before or after listening, but I too, could not pray WHILE listening. I need all my senses to be tuned in to that person. I leave holding hands up to them, and how close we sit together. This communicating thoughts and prayers is very similar, because I don’t see you face to face with what I learned so very much by working with the elderly, when they were non-verbal as well as those able to speak, searching each person’s words, like I look to do here, then trying my very best to respond in the way I’m actually meaning to. I do so care for and have grown to love you all, and want you to be encouraged by God’s Holy Word, know how very much Jesus Christ loves each and every one of us, posting or not, and being led by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Which I’m pretty sure you all know, but some days, are harder than others, as I can attest.

    Jill, I will be sure to be praying for your Dad tomorrow as undergoes the procedure he is having. And if he stays the night, what better place to be than the hospital if there’s any question of his well-being. Please let us know how get is whenever you get the chance.

    Robert, praying for all in your boyhood hometown with all the flooding from the ice. I join you in praying for Arnold as he continues to recover at hime, Bob Jones for his surgeries that are upcoming. I praying to our gracious God, for Whom nothing is impossible, for this administration and Congress to pay for the children’s health insurance, PUERTO RICO, and some of the other islands there, U.S. Virgin Islands, whom mr. Trump spoke of as speaking to the “President of the Virgin Islands”– these are American citizens! Also praying for all the people who have been so terribly devastated out in California. Please God, comfort those who lost loved ones and make all those in need whole again.

    I am praying praying also for Andrea, her daughter and grandson, Chloe and Paige, Lou and her family, Julie’s hands and knee, Robert, Erich and Annaliese, Betsy and Grace, Mary, her Dad and her Mum, Jill, her parents and sister, Connie, Carol, Joan, and all of you, whose prayer requests are spoken or unspoken. God knows your needs and will help you. Thank you Robert and Julie and so many of you all, for your prayers for all of us, but I need those prayers today. I have had insurance kick in and was not notified by this rehabilitation facility, and ready or not, I am leaving Friday, January 19, 2018. The hallways have been flooded with water which shorted out many electrical panels, no t.v. since Sunday which is fine, I’m always in my Bible anyway. The fire department was here, the fire doors closed and no wsyer in the facility for a couple if hours. The insurance says the facility is breaking laws because on my sixth day here, they actually asked me for a check. I have been told it’s Illinois law that whether you are short or long term (I’m definitely short), the facility can take my SSI check minus $30. How am I supposed to pay my bills? And that’s not even the whole story. I’m so sorry. I’m losing focus and whining again. This day has been too long for me! I must remember, no matter what–

    And these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE!

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 17, 2018 10:41 pm

      Thanks Marcy. Keeping you in prayer too

      Also keeping Jill and her family in prayer.

      Robert and Andrea and their families too
      Blessings

  • Andrea Posted January 17, 2018 9:19 pm

    Marcy, what challenges you have faced at the rehab facility. My prayers are with you, that you will tolerate the major snafus and that you will continue to gain strength and recover.

    At times when I am with another person, or in a difficult situation among a number of people, I invite Jesus to sit with us, and I picture him right there in our midst. I will do that with my daughter from this point on, whether I am with her in person, or texting/ emailing with her. I am sure Jesus can deal with the internet and cyberspace just fine.

    Blessings.

    Blessings.

    • Marcy Posted January 17, 2018 9:45 pm

      Andrea? And I am in His Everlasting Arms, was that what you said? Everlasting Arms — may be able to get to sleep if I put myself there.

  • Andrea Posted January 17, 2018 9:53 pm

    Marcy, you are in Jesus’ Everlasting Arms, most certainly. He never leave your side, faithful Shepherd that He is.

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