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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

WHEN YOU TRUST CHRIST as a source of light, he gives direction one step at a time. This can be frustrating, especially if you need to know where your steps will take you. However, if life is a journey and not a destination, then Christ determines “there.” It makes things easier. You don’t have to worry about where you’ll end up. You can focus on following directions.

Maybe that direction will be to take a step of reconciliation in a relationship. That may be an intimidating prospect. What if the other person is not receptive? What if your action makes things worse? We can’t know. We can’t see the end of the path, just the next steps.

– Rob Fuquay
The God We Can Know

From page 46 of The God We Can Know: Exploring the “I Am” Sayings of Jesus by Rob Fuquay. Copyright © 2014 by Rob Fuquay. 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 are you next steps with God? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.

Psalm 26:12, NRSV

This Week: pray for persons struggling with addiction. 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: Thérèse of Lisieux (October 1).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

8 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted October 4, 2018 5:33 am

    My next steps are preparations to move next spring. Many benefits come from this move.

    Thankful for a good checkup at the doctor’s office, shopping done, and squash for the chicken pie supper peeled. Erich made a peach pie and a long awaited Asian noodle dish. Peeling potatoes this morning, clean up after the supper tonight.

    Prayers for the needs of the UR family and friends. The Lord is with us always. Thank You, Lord.

  • robert moeller Posted October 4, 2018 5:42 am

    Yes, Connie, this country is very divided. Reconciliation, working across the aisle, and compromise are sorely needed. Praying for God’s guidance and wisdom in all situations.

    Prayers for those with any form of addiction.

    Prayers for prison ministry. In weakness God is strong.

  • Betsy Posted October 4, 2018 6:53 am

    My next steps are in my journey are centered on the ministry at hand. Trusting in God’s direction for me and my fellow team members as we prepare to welcome the women to join us. Right now we are preparing by praying, reading, and resting. Thank you, Lord, for allowing us the opportunity to serve you in all ways.
    A beautiful warm fall day here in the Midwest. My day will be filled with school volunteering and work around my house. Blessings to all our faithful UR followers.

  • Jill Posted October 4, 2018 6:54 am

    My next steps continue on this path with my parents. Yesterday on a blog post – the author shouted off the screen at me “I want us all to remember that we are called to so much more than a convenient life.” Yes – God stretches and pulls us out of our preferred comfort zones and into His more spacious realm – where discipline is required and produces endurance and patience within us. In that realm is peace and grace, blessedly so.
    Father, help me to mean more fully…”Have Thine own way.” I trust You to honor that prayer and to continue Your transforming work in me. Forgive my short-sightedness, draw me nearer…into fuller surrender.
    I stopped by my folks last night on the way to small group Bible study. It was the best I had seen mom in many weeks. So good for my soul. I took her a bouquet of gerbera daisies – and she just loved them. She and dad were headed to her sister’s to play dominoes. So glad my aunt is stepping up now that my sister has left town for about a month. So – super grateful for those noticings last evening. Grateful for transparency during study last night.
    I pulled up some of my flowers last evening as they are starting to get “that look”. Some in the back of my house are hanging in there, but for most, their time has come. Noticing some trees starting to turn.

  • Julie Posted October 4, 2018 8:01 am

    Yes, Jill, I too have been shouted at by God to get out of my comfort zone. Odd that this very thought has been part of my prayers regarding my present situation. I have felt that God wanted me to use the gifts He gave me to be of His use and that is why I am in this current situation. So God led me to the steps and now I ask Him to continue guiding me. I pray that He guides me to the job He has for me. Any thoughts from those here would be greatly appreciated.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich, their move and the upcoming pie dinner that I think is a church fundraiser. I pray it bring in needed funds.
    Prayers for Betsy and her team as they prepare for their ministry.
    Prayers for Jill, Gloria, Larry and all of the extended family. May Gloria remain upbeat and positive and may she continue to enjoy the love and attention of her family.
    Prayers for Connie and in her honor: I am thankful for sunshine for a short period this morning, for warm temperatures and STILL green leaves.
    Prayers for Marcy. Dear Lord hold Marcy close as I wish I could. Hug her for me.
    Prayers for all the UR family, those who share and those that don’t. Prayers for those in the grips of addiction and those who have fought the grips and won

    • Connie Posted October 4, 2018 8:54 am

      Yes, and still green grass!

  • Andrea Posted October 4, 2018 9:16 am

    Trusting Christ one step at a time – this is an especially powerful attitude for the season of aging, the body’s decline, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Trust is a way to counter anxiety, which I am prone to. I especially fear something happening to my husband, who is seven years older than me. I must remind myself over and over that life and death are natural occurrences and God will care for us until our last breath.

    Later this month, we will go to my nephew’s 40th birthday celebration. It will be a large gathering and I will see my siblings there. I got together with my sister several weeks ago to visit my uncle in hospice. While I will always find it difficult to trust my siblings, I feel strong and confident about joining a celebration for my nephew.

    With prayers for Jill’s strength, health, and support and for Gloria, Larry, and Becky, Robert and Erich and their planning for the future and for Anneliese’s health and pain relief, Betsy and her women’s ministry, Julie’s well- being and health through the divorce process and her guidance to a fulfilling job, Connie’s comfort and support in the difficult month of October, Marcy’s health and pain relief, Mary’s support at her job and for her parents, Lou and her children’s support as they live with the changes in their lives, and all the spoken and unspoken needs of UR friends and visitors. Blessings.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 4, 2018 7:54 pm

      Thanks dear Andrea!

      Praying for God’s guidance for the next step. Thinking of being a florist which I have gone for the interview but was told of the long hours during festive season.

      Grateful for good health, tenants and tuition.

      Blessings to all and may all be well!

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