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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

FOLLOWING JESUS TODAY is challenging. We live in the midst of overwhelming need. The human cries of those who suffer confront us daily: cries of the desperate poor in need of food, shelter, and work; cries of the forgotten elderly in need of thoughtful care; cries of those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in need of affordable and accessible medication; cries of vulnerable, at-risk children in need of protection and nurture; cries of the violated whose lives have been ripped apart by crime . . . the list goes on. We cannot measure the depth of human need in our society. . . .

Does the Holy Spirit care about this kind of human need? Sometimes when we read books about the Holy Spirit, it does not seem so. But our answer must be a resounding yes. In the fourth chapter of Luke, we read that when Jesus began his ministry in Nazareth, the Holy Spirit anointed him to proclaim the gospel to the poor, freedom to the oppressed, recovery of sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free (Luke 4:18-19). Now if the Holy Spirit sent Jesus for this purpose, we can be sure that the same Spirit will draw us into similar tasks in our communities. For this reason I want to emphasize strongly: The Holy Spirit engages with suffering.

– Trevor Hudson
Holy Spirit Here and Now

From pages 139 and 141 of Holy Spirit Here and Now by Trevor Hudson. Copyright © 2013 by Trevor Hudson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Where do you see the Holy Spirit at work? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Mark 4:40, NRSV

This Week: pray a prayer of thanksgiving every day this week. 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: Ephrem (June 18).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

15 Comments

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 24, 2018 2:22 am

    Indeed there are many needs everywhere. We need the annointing of the Holy Spirit to reflect God’s love and power.

    May the annointing of the Holy Spirit be upon us so that we can go forth and reflect God’s love and power.

    Blessings

  • Jill Posted June 24, 2018 6:06 am

    I see evidence of the Holy Spirit continually working through my father as he cares for mom. How he remains so steadfast – it is certainly not in his own strength, it cannot be. I spent some time with them last evening and have been praying this morning for their new normal. It’s been four months now since her surgery and I am so grateful for how physically well my dad is doing. And he keeps his hand to the plow, in the midst of her negativity and sorrow.
    Father – may my mom see evidence of the Fruit of Your Spirit in us.
    Father – continue to strengthen Mary for her many responsibilities at school, as well as caring for her parents. So good that she has deep roots in You.
    Prayers for Robert, Erich and Annaliese; for Julie and her daughter; for Marcy and her physical needs.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 24, 2018 7:18 am

      Thank you so much dear Jill!

      May you and your parents be filled afresh with the fullness of the Holy Spirit and be empowered to live a victorious life!

      Blessings!

  • Betsy Posted June 24, 2018 7:16 am

    I see the Holy Spirit at work in the stories of concerned citizens who help others in their time of need, without the worry for their own safety (war riddled countries, refugees and their children, poverty in our country and abroad). Father, lead me to where I can be your hands and feet.

    Thankful to be safely back home after a beach trip with our family. So blessed to spend time with our children who are grown and on their own. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing that is parenthood. I’m still going back and reading past posts, so I’m not up on all our UR news. Lifting up payers for this special and spirit filled group of believers who are faithful to God and one another. Anxious to return today to church and worship with our church family.

  • Andrea Posted June 24, 2018 8:00 am

    May the Holy Spirit infuse our lives, mold us, use us.

    I give thanks for the many blessings in my life.

    Praying for all to have a Spirit- filled day.
    Blessings.

  • Julie Posted June 24, 2018 8:08 am

    I found frightening information about a divorce that my husband has.
    My daughter and I are very frightened.
    The information he has is VERY DIFFERENT from what my lawyer said to me.
    PLEASE PRAY FOR ME

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 24, 2018 10:34 am

      Julie, may you and your daughter draw near to God and not live in fear. I commit both of you in God’s loving hands. May God grant you peace and hope.

      Blessings

    • Andrea Posted June 24, 2018 11:15 am

      Julie, it sounds like your husband is trying to intimidate you. May you feel God’s protection and rest your fears in the safety of God’s arms. Prayers for you and your daughter. God bless you.

  • Julie Posted June 24, 2018 10:37 am

    Thank you Mary
    It is hard not to fear when so much is unknown and I am so vulnerable due to my disability

    • Pamela Posted June 24, 2018 5:02 pm

      Julie, where are you now?

      • Julie Posted June 24, 2018 6:29 pm

        Pittsburgh PA

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 25, 2018 6:30 am

      Dear Julie, it is only when we are desperate and realised that God alone can help us then miracles happen. I know of people in India at the villages where they have no doctors, many are healed because they pray and believe.

      May we have strong faith and be deeply rooted in God’s

      • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted June 25, 2018 6:31 am

        …Deeply rooted in God’s word

  • Lou Posted June 24, 2018 7:52 pm

    I see the Holy Spirit at work in this place where comfort is sought and offered and support and prayers are lifted up.
    I am thankful to have made it through the rain of this week- and thankful for the beautiful weather in Chicago today. I am thankful for my friends who have visited me and welcomed me with flowers and gifts for my new house. I am thankful that my son and his girlfriend went to outdoor worship in the park with me today and that we have instituted our summer practice of worshiping together and then having brunch at a new restaurant every week- it is good to spend time together as the work week is busy for all. I am thankful for a good job and a home and plenty in every area of my life. Thanks be to God for all of these blessings and more.
    Prayers especially for Julie – please God help her anxiety and ease her fears. I spent the first few months paralyzed by my fear and mainly sadness after it was apparent that my husband no longer wanted to be married – I never thought I would be ok. I’m definitely not the same person- I am forever changed – but I know I will be ok and I know that God will never leave me – and he won’t leave you Julie. You will be ok.
    Prayers for all who come here today looking for peace and comfort-

  • robert moeller Posted June 27, 2018 8:09 am

    Missed this reflection and have gone back to find, read, and post.

    Julie, prayers for your well being are a constant for me. Am thankful that Lou and her children are doing well, a family that worships together stays together.

    Missed the reflection after this one too, so I’m headed there next.

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