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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

TIME (or rather, the lack of it) is a great source of worry for many. For some reason, you may have the idea that there isn’t enough time to go around. Twenty-four hours in a day are too few to do what needs to be done. Twenty-five or even twenty-six hours would do the trick. Perhaps you wish for a forty-day month!

Where did we get the idea that time is a finite commodity? The psalmist says, “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night” (Ps. 90:4). God’s time is an infinite quantity. Time is a divine gift — limitless and beyond counting. How does that thought change your perspective on time? Are you suddenly feeling less rushed and harried?

When all is said and done, the only time you really have is this moment. The past moment is gone; the future moment is yet to come. A lot can happen between this moment and the next: a phone call could change your life; a heart attack could take it away. You have only this moment to concern you. If you’re feeling anxious about time, take this moment and pray that God will give you the time you need to do what needs to be done. Time is God’s gift, and when you become mindful of this gift, you’ll be surprised to find that the time you need is suddenly there. It’s as if the clock is slowed down or that the minutes stretch out before you, limitless and abundant.

– Patricia Wilson
Freedom from Worry

From page 43 of Freedom from Worry: 28 Days of Prayer by Patricia Wilson. Copyright © 2012 by 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

What happens in your life that keeps you from living in the moment? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20, NRSV

This Week: pray for people with chronic illnesses. 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: John Chrysostom (September 13).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

13 Comments

  • Marcy Posted September 11, 2018 4:23 am

    Hello to my UR Reflections siblings and friends….
    I am experiencing some issues sleeping tonight, so a bit early! Thank you for the prayers for the family of the young man who passed last week. My Pastor will let the family know and I continue to pray for them.
    I have a lot of time on my hands, and if my vision allows, I spend the days praying, reading my devotionals, and the Scriptures while studying the Bible, time goes by quickly. I’ve also spent hours and days with God when the pain is beyond description, just listening and praying. I get lost in the word of God and stop to pray often, moved by something I’ve read, or thinking of the people in my heart. So, I would say I live in the moment quite a bit, and I’ve always considered this the silver lining of being bound inside four walls. When I worked, I only had a day or two for full on study, but prayed, read three devotionals, and the accompanying scriptures each day before work. God’s word has a way of keeping me present, reaching the ocean depths of my very soul. (Has anyone had that feeling of being both deep in meditation with God and present and aware simultaneously? Hard to describe it.) As I would work, I’d share and apply God’s teachings. Then, as now, I am dependent on God’s will for all things and on His timing. I’ve learned patience because it’s all in God’s hands. After the darkness of the last week, letting being stuck in my apartment for so many months and hearing the heartrending news, I am thankful for God’s presence, gentleness and understanding.

    Lucy is wondering why I’m being nocturnal; after all, she is the kitty! I better try to get some sleep. The lady from HHS is coming today. I hope and pray I’m granted access. I take nothing for granted from the State, and am relying on God always!

    Sending Love and prayers to all my UR Reflections siblings and friends, and those I hope to meet soon! Will try to come back later!

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

    • Connie Posted September 11, 2018 8:04 am

      Thanks for sharing, Marcy. I wish there were more that could be done to return you to health. Time can go so slowly when you are in pain and isolated. FHL

  • robert moeller Posted September 11, 2018 5:27 am

    Thankful for this time, the QT that starts the day. Have an email from a good friend of Soo Ok’s. Last met her in 2007 in Seoul, It’s a very good feeling even though contact is not very often.

    I think I am content with the moment. My son is anxious for the move since he feels he is losing time here where jobs pay poorly. I can’t make the time go by faster, we will visit that area this week.

    Prayers for those with chronic illnesses, wisdom and guidance in Washington DC, people facing on coming hurricanes or storms. My prayers for the UR family continue.

  • robert moeller Posted September 11, 2018 5:44 am

    Thankful for posts from Connie, Julie, and Betsy yesterday.Glad to hear Julie is safe after that gas line explosion, Prayers for all involved, affected, hopw no one died. Wonderful that Connie and betsy have good news from their children, Betsy able to help prepare for the baby on the way. Yes, doubt can be a struggle, but Connie reassures that “on the solid rock I stand.” God keeps us all. Thank You, Lord. Prayers for Marcy, Julie, Gloria and Larry, Becky and Jill, Mary, Lou, Louise, Connie, Betsy, Andrea, Rusty and K, April, and Pam.
    Welcome to new and return posters, hope to hear more from you. God is with all of us and in God we trust. Thank You, Lord for Your presence. You are very much needed.

  • Betsy Posted September 11, 2018 6:55 am

    Time….so elusive. I find that with age, time begins to both speed up (watching children grow up) and slow down (with retirement, more time to accomplish tasks). I pray that I fill my time with things that glorify God. Good to hear from you, Marcy, and all our regular post-era, as well as new folks to this site.
    Grateful for tasks accomplished yesterday. The weather here is beginning a gradual cool down in the mornings,; Fall is around the corner? My thoughts and prayers go to those people in the path of Hurricane Florence. Hoping all will heed the warnings to evacuate and be safe.

  • Jill Posted September 11, 2018 8:09 am

    I have never been more aware of time than in the past 6 months or so. I can still flash back to the hospital and the agonizingly slow passage of time. And, I consider these past almost 7 months as somewhat of a blur – as today is mom’s scan. And perhaps the most ironic thing right now – is I don’t know what TIME the scan is today – because we can’t talk about this disease or treatment at any TIME. (Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…) And this expanse of time (a week) that lies ahead until we know the result of the scan.
    Julie – when I had an alert pop up on my screen yesterday about the explosion – I immediately thought of you and wondered how close it was to you.
    And, also, with regards to thoughts on time. A good friend of my god-daughter lost her sister yesterday. The sister and father were driving in rainy conditions and a tree fell on the car, the passenger side taking the brunt of the hit. 24 hours later, she was dead. Utter tragedy. My best friend is trying to console her daughter…what words are there for the tragic ending of an 18 year old’s life…two weeks into college. Indeed – things can change in the blink of an eye.
    Father – thank You for today, might we use it well to bring glory to You.

    • Julie Posted September 11, 2018 8:24 am

      Jill, it was very near as I wrote yesterday and no one was hurt, thank God. We did not get evacuated and we never lost power though some were evacuated and many lost power. We saw the flames and heard the roar.
      Prayers for your goddaughter and her friend’s family. Prayers for you as well. Prayers for the sorrow to be lessened by the support of loved ones surrounding this family.
      Prayers for Gloria and her scan, may it reveal good news.

    • Connie Posted September 11, 2018 8:28 am

      Prayers for your Mom and the family that lost their girl. “Time marches on” and it brings such sorrow and worry along the way. May God bless us and give us a touch of His joy to carry us through.

      • Connie Posted September 11, 2018 11:43 am

        Jill……..

  • Julie Posted September 11, 2018 8:18 am

    Time for me is slow now. waiting for each “shoe to drop.” I try to live each day and each moment and relish each as it flits by on the way to my unknown future.
    Today is 9/11 and the radio station I listen to had a tribute at the time the first plane hit the first tower. I sobbed. They played Alan Jackson’s “Where were you?’ One of the lines is the same as Marcy signs off each of her posts with. Yes, Alan and Marcy the greatest of these is LOVE. May this country remember this anew this day and carry it forward to replace the discord of late.
    Prayers for Erich and his impatience, Prayers for safe travel for Robert and Erich.
    Prayers for Marcy, may the meeting with HHS be successful for reinstating Marcy’s support.
    Prayers for Betsy and may her new grandchild be born in a world full of love.
    Prayers for all this somber day of remembrance, may God have mercy on those souls that joined Him that day

    • Connie Posted September 11, 2018 8:21 am

      What a great post. May the “other shoe drop” to your benefit.

  • Connie Posted September 11, 2018 8:18 am

    What keeps me from living in the moment? Well, mostly tasks that take me much more time than they used to. Frustrating to say the least! However, I am thankful that I can do them, even if more slowly.
    My husband and I had a “Day Date” yesterday, which is kind of rare lately. We had a nice lunch. I’d still rather spend time with him than anyone else.
    Remembering 911, but can hardly bear to watch coverage of it. Our great country survived and it will survive the turmoil going on now. “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray…….”
    Thankful for:
    Lovely weather all week is predicted.
    Thoughts of Fall making me happy. Looking for a pumpkin.
    My Hummers, who make me smile as they chase each other about, trying to get a good spot at the feeder.

  • Mike G Posted September 13, 2018 7:03 am

    Time, Time

    People need to take Time to ask Our Lord for needs and KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE RECEIVED IN TIME!! We have forgotten As A Nation how to PRAY TOGETHER! but it is Time we learn again.

    This hurricane should show this

    MEDIA vs GOD….so sensational say they, but in GOD’s TIME it is he who is master!! He determines, Not The Media, Not Trump, but GOD!

    Wake Up America, Save Your Soul

    God’s Time is infinite but so is his Patience!

    Take the Time to Thank The Lord

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