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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

AT TIMES you may have treated God like a bubblegum machine. You dropped a coin in the prayer slot and expected an answered prayer to roll out. But perhaps the answers that tumbled out were not always what you expected. In fact, God hasn’t always acted the way you thought God would or should.

At other times you wondered if God was listening at all. Silence left you thinking God had abandoned you. Sometimes you even prayed as if it was up to you to tell God what to do. Now that you have grown older, there are days when words for prayer just won’t come. You struggle to string thoughts together in a way that makes sense. But deep down inside, something stirs your soul and prompts you to keep praying. …

Prayer and aging go hand in hand. An active prayer life provides you a constant source of friendship. Nothing is too insignificant or too overwhelming to tell your heavenly Father. Walk closely with God and feel divine goodness all around you.

– Missy Buchanan
Aging Faithfully

From pages 52-53 of Aging Faithfully: 28 Days of Prayer by Missy Buchanan. Copyright © 2011 by Missy Buchanan. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What prompts you to keep praying when you find prayer difficult? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

Acts 3:2, NRSV

This Week: pray for increased faith. 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: Dietrich Bonhoeffer(April 9).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

10 Comments

  • Lou Posted April 12, 2018 5:55 am

    I keep praying because I need Him and I know that He walks beside me and in Him I am never alone. I know that through it all He leads me and He gives me strength to get up each morning. Thank you God for your many blessings. With Him I have everything – without Him I have nothing.
    Prayers for Jill and her mother and family – I miss her posts- prayers for Marcy and Rusty and all those who have not posted recently- prayers for Mary and her parents – she always has an upbeat and cheerful response and I’m grateful for her joy that she shares. Prayers for Robert, Erich and Annelise- and for the family affected by the fire, prayers for Andrea and her daughter, grandson- her husband and son in law, prayers for Betsey and her family for Louise, Chloe and Paige, Julie and her family, for Kenneth who always reminds us to keep faith alive, for Connie and her family, For Pam and her generous heart, for Francesca and her husband and son here in Chicago – my son travels the same roads to work each day- please keep them safe Lord. Prayers for all who I have failed to mention by name but pray for daily. Prayers for my son in his new job- praise God he is doing so well. Prayers for my oldest daughter as she writes her honors thesis and concludes her undergraduate studies. Prayers for my youngest daughter who was very angry at me last night- send her your peace and your calm dear Lord. Help her through her junior year stress. And help me dear God as I try my best to support them all and try to continue to maintain a strong sense of faith and family for them. I am tired Lord- please give me strength today.
    Blessings and peace to all who come here today –

    • Andrea Posted April 12, 2018 9:19 am

      Thank you, Lou. Blessings and prayers for you and your family.

    • Mary ng shwu ling Posted April 12, 2018 9:48 am

      Thanks Lou!

      Yes, keep praying until something happens!

      May our faith increase!

      Blessings

    • Betsy Posted April 12, 2018 12:47 pm

      Thank you, Lou, for your sharing and prayers for all!

  • robert moeller Posted April 12, 2018 6:25 am

    This portion of today’s reflection reverberated with me. “Now that you have grown older, there are days when words for prayer just won’t come. You struggle to string thoughts together in a way that makes sense. But deep down inside, something stirs your soul and prompts you to keep praying. …

    Prayer and aging go hand in hand. An active prayer life provides you a constant source of friendship. Nothing is too insignificant or too overwhelming to tell your heavenly Father. Walk closely with God and feel divine goodness all around you.”

    It’s a new day, new mercies from God. Thank You, Lord. Off to check on a job today, billing being paid, I’m alive and well, able to help.

    Prayers for Gloria, Larry, Jill and Becky, our friends Marcy and Rusty, Betsy and her family, Francesca’s husband and son, Andrea, Lowell, Andrea’s daughter, grandson, and son-in-law, Julie, her hands, foot, and safety, Lou and wisdom to make good decisions. Thankful for Ken and Mark, God’s blessing on you both for your faith and comments.

    Prayers that our faith is strengthened, we need You so much Lord. In Jesus’
    name I pray. Amen.

    • Andrea Posted April 12, 2018 9:17 am

      Thank you, Robert. Blessings and prayers for you, Erich, Anneliese and Pearl.

  • Julie Posted April 12, 2018 7:54 am

    Yes, t is vital to my well being to pray to the Lord and ask Him to be with me during the day. My situation demands that I rely on Himand His peace and HIs strength. I need to feel that He is near, keeping me safe.
    Prayers for Lou and her children. Prayers of thanks and for safety while traveling for her son. Prayers for insight and perseverance for her middle child. Prayers for kinder words and reflection prior to speaking for her youngest. Lou, prayers for you as you juggle their concerns while moving and buying a new home. Bless you aand know that HIs ove and mine envelope you in love and support.
    Prayers for Robert, Erich and Annaliese. Prayers for a new job that is well received.
    Prayers for each and every one of the UR visitors. Please know that I remember each of you and your individual concerns and lift each to the Lord daily and out loud.
    Blessings and prayers for and thanks to all of this warm family of spiritual faithful
    The world is good-natured to people who are good-natured.
    William Makepeace Thackeray

  • Connie Posted April 12, 2018 8:32 am

    You, my friends, have covered all very well-and I will add my AMEN.

  • Andrea Posted April 12, 2018 9:16 am

    When I have difficulty praying, I inwardly recite my Lectio Divina passage. I often fall asleep in the middle of it.

    Prayers for your house transaction, Lou…prayers for Erich (I wish I could hire him), and Robert, I am SURE you are making a difference in his life. Prayers for all of you, my UR friends. May we all grow in faith.

  • Pam Posted April 12, 2018 4:42 pm

    May God richly Bless and reward ALL of you for your steadfast love and support, especially you, Lou, for your constant uplifting words of kindness! It is apparent in your posts how far you have come on your Spiritual journey! (God ALWAYS takes what was meant for our harm and turns it to our GOOD!)

    Great idea, Andrea! How far away ARE you from me, Robert? Is Erich handy? Strong? My husband could ALWAYS use some help around our little Farm!

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