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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

PART OF LEARNING to pray continually is to stay open in prayer. Sometimes after we say amen, we check off prayer on our to-do list and shut down the conversation. But God has invited us — called us — to pray without ceasing, to keep the conversation going all day, every day. The hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is absolutely correct: “What a privilege to carry every thing to God in prayer!”

– Jenny Youngman
Scrambled Starts

From page 67 of Scrambled Starts: Family Prayers for Morning, Bedtime, and Everything In-Between by Jenny Youngman. Copyright © 2015 by Jenny Youngman. 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 can you do differently to keep praying all day? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:3, 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

19 Comments

  • DARLENE Posted September 15, 2018 3:56 am

    To get into a routine every day where I will give my time to God. To read daily devotion and Journal and meditate on what I learned that day., and to thank God everday and share my story of how Jesus saved my life.

    • Connie Posted September 15, 2018 8:57 am

      Yes, Amen.

    • Marcy Posted September 15, 2018 5:00 pm

      Hi Darlene, this is how I started my regular routine years ago. Over time, when I wss still working, I found time throughout the day, just to add some quick prayers. Blessings to you, as you find your own rhythm in praying to God!

  • Jill Posted September 15, 2018 5:22 am

    An intentional awareness of His Presence – with me throughout the day. Gratitude for simple things, for a noticing of Spirit movement, appreciation for a “not me” reaction, but rather a reaction soft with love, encouraging in words. And in my school environment with colleagues – a resistance to go “there” – into the negativity.
    Grateful to have gotten through the work week. I encountered my first “bug” since being on my treatment medication – which compromises my immune system. I was fortunate to have some antibiotics to start on right away, and slowly but surely, my throat began to improve throughout the week. Even though I struggled to get adequate sleep, God sustained me with strength to get through each work day and gradually heal me. This weekend is low key and hope to get extra rest. My parents are coming over for dinner this evening – a little anniversary dinner for them. This coming Monday will be 63 years – pretty remarkable. Dad is trying to keep mom busy and distracted. Playing my part this evening.

    • Connie Posted September 15, 2018 8:59 am

      Happy Anniversary to you parents, Jill. Rest easy this weekend.

    • Marcy Posted September 15, 2018 5:04 pm

      Jill, wishing your parents a Happy 63rd Anniversary this Monday and praying you all enjoy yourselves this evening! Take good care of yourself. Praise God you are feeling better. Sending Love to you!

  • Julie Posted September 15, 2018 8:23 am

    Wow, I stand convicted. This reflection nailed the way I pray. Though I pray throughout the day, I do so at certan times and then, check, that prayer time is marked off. I will need to be less regimented in my prayer life and more spontaneous.
    Prayers for Marcy and Roger. May the migraine meds not cause the adverse reactions of the past.
    Prayers for Jill and her family. What a testament to love, devotion, and sacrifice ar Larry and Gloria. May their anniversary dinner be blessed and may Gloria enjoy the family love surrounding her.
    Prayers for Mary and her extra training on her weekend.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich. May they travel the path on which God is leading them.
    My daughter went to a Career Center yesterday. I was given the idea when I voiced my need for a job to the receptionist at my doctor’s (network network). I am very optomistic that we both will find work through this wonderful resource. We both intend to take the civil service test. They also told me about an agency that works with handicaped people to find them work based on their skills. I thought I would be overqualified but was assured that they find work for those with advanced degrees. I feel that God led me to this wonderful resource.
    Prayers for all of the UR family, seasoned posters and new posters

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 15, 2018 8:59 am

      Thanks dear Julie!

      Completed my first aid course and tests today.

      Grateful for God’s presence, leading and guidance!

      Thank you God for being my constant companion and the privilege of prayer.

      Blessings!

      • Connie Posted September 15, 2018 9:01 am

        Julie and Mary…..doin’ great!

    • Marcy Posted September 15, 2018 5:26 pm

      Dearest Julie, thankful for your prayers! When I was busier in life, after devoting a “main” morning hour for three devotionals, accompanying scriptures and prayer before work, I found probably a dozen times a day to “drop a line” to God. Whenever I was waiting or had a moment of stillness, I would pray a little prayer. This helped me through the stressful parts of the day, especially when we were understaffed.

      My dear little kitty is a orange tabby, named Lucy, after Lucille Ball, both because she’s a redhead and she is a ball of laughs! She’s also very loving and shows empathy. I love our mentioning our pets, because to me, Lucy is family. She loves apples! Every time I eat one, she begs me for some and I give her about for or five little pieces.

      I’m so happy to hear of your job prospects! The workforce needs highly skilled people right now. I continue to keep you in my prayers. Sending Love to you, my friend!

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 15, 2018 6:13 pm

      Julie, may you and your daughter be blessed with good jobs!

      Blessings!

  • Connie Posted September 15, 2018 9:11 am

    I keep my mind focused on God and His blessings. I see them everywhere and all around me. I have never been “out there” socially….mostly family and friends and I am somewhat isolated, but I have God’s presence always.
    Thankful for:
    Sunbeams shooting up from the clouds this morning. Beautiful.
    Honey home-produced by a friend. Delicious.
    A week that went very well. Contentment (albeit fleeting?)
    Posts from people I am interested in hearing from. Connectivity.

    • Marcy Posted September 15, 2018 5:34 pm

      Connie, I am thankful for being able to open the sliding doors and my window recently (not today) and breathe in fresh air, though I’m surrounded mostly by concrete. Asthma and allergies are a challenge on certain days. The sunshine and crisp air of the morning, enhance the time with God and His creation. I am keeping you and your family in my prayers and sending Love to you!

  • Kyla Posted September 15, 2018 4:58 pm

    I’m new what all takes place on Saturday?

    • Marcy Posted September 15, 2018 5:43 pm

      Hello Kyla, and welcome! Personally, Saturday is no different than Monday through Friday, for me. Sundays, I do some different things. I am disabled and older, so I have a lot more time than most.
      I read the day’s Reflection, then the day’s scripture. Then I read the day’s question and answer the best I can or pray, depending on the instruction for that day. Hope this answers your question. Have a blessed day!

  • Marcy Posted September 15, 2018 6:11 pm

    My praying has evolved over the years, as I guess is normal. On Sundays, I go to the Upper Room Audio Lectio, and pray after the scripture for the week is read aloud three times. There are different instructions after each reading. Each day, I pray intercessory prayer as part of the morning. I pray different ways throughout the day, depending on health and vision. The Examen method and the method named for Ignatius (can’t spell it right now), are also practiced at times. Mostly, though, speaking the scriptures out loud and listening in silence for God’s guidance through the word and the Holy Spirit is the best.

    As always, I’m keeping all the UR Reflections family and friends, new and old, and those beyond, in my prayers. May God bless all abundantly and answer prayers and hold all close to Him.
    “What a privilege to carry every thing to God in prayer!”

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

  • Darr Sigilman Posted September 16, 2018 5:56 pm

    I have personally felt the need to pray without ceasing. When I thought that I was going to fall into the hands of the mental health community for simply saying that I would like to have an exotic pet. The psychiatrist looked at me and said “what are you doing here?” And that was the last I ever heard from the mental health community. After that, they left me alone. Then my sister
    got me the computer that I’m using to write this and I discovered the church web sites. Ever since I have started visiting the church web sites
    I don’t feel all alone in the world. God bless the churches and the church
    web sites and continue the help A sick and ailing world.

    • Marcy Posted September 16, 2018 8:07 pm

      Darr, welcome! Yes, when we pray in patience to God, He sometimes leads us where we need to be. And you are not all alone in the world, because God is Love and He cares for each of us. Praise God!

    • Marcy Posted September 16, 2018 8:14 pm

      Sorry, Darr! I meant, “He always leads us where we need to be.” It took me awhile to find my church home. Try to see if you can find one where you feel at home. Being part of a congregation and checking into Bible Study groups are very fulfilling and God is worthy of our praise! I love it here at Reflections, but I wish I could get to church, too! Blessings!

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