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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

SOMETIMES WE DO NOT CALL OUT IN BOLD FAITH like Bartimaeus [in Mark 4:35-39]; we scream (at least inwardly) in panic. When threatening, out-of-control events roar around us and the world rocks under our feet, we cry out in fear and outrage: “God, my life is going to pieces! Don’t you care? Are you sleeping?” …

When fear begins to overwhelm us, we can think of the living Christ, whose heart and voice are God’s heart and voice, speaking to us inwardly:

I am here. I will not leave you. Hold onto me. You are safe with me. Breathe slowly. Breathe deeply. My healing breath of life is flowing into you. Take my peace into your body. Take my peace into your heart.

– Flora Slosson Wuellner
Miracle: When Christ Touches Our Deepest Need

From pages 31, 34 of Miracle: When Christ Touches Our Deepest Need by Flora Slosson Wuellner. Copyright © 2008 by Flora Slosson Wuellner. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

If you find that you’re afraid, pray the prayer in today’s excerpt. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet.
Deuteronomy 18:15, NRSV

This Week: Pray for world leaders. 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: Agnus (January 21).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

14 Comments

  • Jill Posted January 22, 2018 3:28 am

    I read these words and pray specifically that Julie and Marcy will be able to sense them coming from our dear Heavenly Father. You are very near – may they sense Your Presence…healing breath…sure peace. Father, please provide Your daily bread for these sisters.
    Grateful for church yesterday, interactions with dear new friends, a lightened spirit. The remainder of the day was spent at home, doing laundry and schoolwork. Today marks the start of the second semester. So grateful for how God sustained me through the first.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 22, 2018 6:15 am

    The phrase, “you are safe with me” is so comforting.

    Yes, Lord, we are all safe with you!

    In your presence, thete is joy.

    Blessings to all

  • Betsy Posted January 22, 2018 6:57 am

    God is beside us, behind us and before us. Thank you for today’s reminder of that fact. Through all our struggles and concerns, Lord, we know we are safe with you.
    Marcy, Julie and Andrea, hoping you are feeling God’s comfort and presence at this time.
    So glad you were able to have some family time with your dad at home, Jill. It is hard to believe that the spring semester of school is here! Praying for a good start for you and your students.
    Warmer weather and rain is here today, washing away the last of snow and ice. A time of cleansing and refreshment.

  • robert moeller Posted January 22, 2018 7:01 am

    Thankful for a wonderful Sunday, a good breakfast, little tasks done at church before worship, a new hymn for an anthem, a good message, met a man returning to a church where he grew up, had a great lunch with my son, played a good and longer game of chess, watched football, had a nice supper, and finally fell asleep watching Victoria.

    Yes, prayers for Marcy and Julie. May their health concerns be addressed, prayers for well being, thankful for their prayers and witness. Lord, You are with them, thank You. Continued healing progress for Mary’s and Jill’s fathers. Thankful for the positive results. May Mary, Jill, Louise, and all teachers have the strength, wisdom, and courage needed as they continue the school year.Thankful for good news from Betsy, Andrea, and Lou. Continued prayers fir Chloe, Cherie, and April. Lord, Your reconciling power be with the and their families. Arnolds (his name has an s) is home and improving, Bob Jones awaits surgery. Missing those whose posts touched us deeply, praying that there is progress with the issues they face. Lord, send Your wisdom to the leaders of the United States that good, just, and wise solutions will be found and the government will be funded, restored. Thankful that the two Koreas have found peaceful ways to cooperate at the Olympic Games. Thank You, Lord for the blessings of the day. We need You every hour and You are there.

    • Connie Posted January 22, 2018 8:03 am

      I, too, watched “Victoria”. (The first hour I had seen last week). What a delight it is.

      • robert moeller Posted January 22, 2018 9:24 am

        Yes, it is a most definite delight. I’m a Downton Abbey, Poldark, and many other Masterpiece Theatre shows fan going way back to Alistaire (sp?) Cooke days.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 23, 2018 6:40 am

      Thanks Robert!

      Blessings

  • Andrea Posted January 22, 2018 7:46 am

    I often feel a resonance with the reflections taken from Flora Slosson Wuellner’s writings.

    Thank you Betsy and Robert. I am grateful for your prayers and those prayed by Marcy and all UR friends. I saw my daughter again yesterday and am greatly heartened.

    I pray my words will be well- thought out in my conversations. I pray God will guide me.

    Keeping you all in my prayers and sending loving thoughts.

    • robert moeller Posted January 22, 2018 8:01 am

      Yes, Flora’s writings touch me too. Thankful for the meetings you are having with your daughter, glad your grandson is well.

      Peace be with you.

  • Andrea Posted January 22, 2018 7:52 am

    Our God promises: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

  • Julie Posted January 22, 2018 7:56 am

    One line of the serenity prayer states
    “Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace”
    May we all be imbued with the Lord’s peace
    Prayers for so many in need here on this site and all over the world
    Blessings, prayers, and thanks to all of my UR friends and family

  • Trackback: You Are Safe with Me – College United Methodist Church
  • Chloe Posted January 23, 2018 9:59 pm

    Loving the reflection here today, pray I can and all endeavor to embrace these comforting words…..I am here, I will not leave you. Hold onto me. You are safe with me. Breathe slowly. Breathe deeply. My healing breath of life is flowing into you. Take my peace into your body. Take my peace into your heart.
    Thoughts and prayers for all…thanks for remembering me and daughters Robert in your thoughts and prayers….they are needed, but this mom’s heart surely healing, praise Him.

    • robert moeller Posted January 24, 2018 6:28 am

      Thankful to learn your heart is healing, continued prayers for you and your daughters. Yes, God is with you. That is the greatest blessing.

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