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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

THE WILL OF GOD and the will of people do not always match. Happily, we do receive wise counsel from family members and friends who have lived life ahead of us. When that is the case, we receive their advice and put it into practice. But discernment involves praying to know and do God’s will, and sometimes that will mean disappointing others who have fixed ideas and opinions about what we should do with our lives. Praying to know God’s will is an act of courage, an act that sometimes compels us to swim upstream in order for the will of God to be born.

– Steve Harper
Walking in the Light

From page 26 of Walking in the Light: Knowing and Doing God’s Will by Steve Harper. Copyright © 2014 by Steve Harper. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Today’s reading mentions discernment. What spiritual practices help you discern God’s will? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16, NRSV

This Week: pray for those without enough to eat. 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 Woolman (October 7).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

6 Comments

  • Jill Posted October 12, 2018 3:10 am

    Prayer and being in the Word are essential. Joining the small groups, where transparency is evident has really helped me…to share openly, realizing being vulnerable is safe among these sisters in Christ. The deep dive into the Bible through these studies is beneficial as well. Investing time in deep conversations with a few treasured friends – sharing struggles, being sounding boards, walking alongside through life’s events. Trying to practice gratitude.
    Robert – praying for this new job of Erich’s. May this be the one!
    Grateful for Fall coolness – leading to blankets on the bed and Roger, too! Snuggly winter months ahead. He must have known I mentioned him, cuz he is now up here nuzzling, nose to nose. Grateful to know that the weekend ahead has just a few activities and I should have some much needed down time at home.

  • robert moeller Posted October 12, 2018 4:32 am

    Thankful for the prayers for Erich, Anneliese, and me. Erich’s new job, if all our plans remain the same, is a temporary one at best. It helps him earn money to take care of responsibilities and provides a way to ski. It may help as a reference when we move to the new location, the North Conway NH area. Where we are now, as beautiful and family connected as it is, does not provide as many opportunities for some one with a college degree.

    Anneliese is doing better thanks to physical therapy. There is strong hope that soon the condo will be sold, the prospective buyers have arrived and should soon be in the area. If all goes as planned, Anneliese will hold the mortgage and thus have income from the sale of the property.

    My financial situation has improved. I am waiting for paperwork that proves it. This will make the move easier.

    Erich and I saw two of the properties that have interested us. They are good houses, but more remote than we expected. Our new home search continues.

    Prayers for new member of the UR family, Ana, Mary’s new job, Connie’s tough October, dear Marcy from whom we wish a message, Julie’s job and church search, hands and foot, and well being in a tough home life situation, Jill’s hands, school, parents, and sister. Prayers for Betsy’s ministry and family, new posts from Dana Siligman. Blessings to you all. Thank You, Lord.

  • Betsy Posted October 12, 2018 6:59 am

    Reading familiar scripture and waiting …..that is my basic spiritual practice for following God’s will. It is hard to be patient, but when I try to intervene and speed up the process often times it is not good. “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.”

    So many new beginnings in our UR family these days. New jobs (Mary), moves, housing , new weather changes on the horizon; thank you, Lord, for the newness that surrounds us. May we use these changes to glorify you.

    Prayers for those folks in the Gulf Coast area, both residents and first responders. May your spirit fill those around them to be Your hands and feet. Amen

  • Julie Posted October 12, 2018 8:16 am

    Sometimes I feel that God has hit me over the head to get my attention. I pray often for Him to lead me: through my current situation, to the job He has for me, in His path for my life.
    Prayers for those affected by Hurricane Michael and its aftermath and current path of storms. Prayers for the residents and those responding too the needs of others. May they all be safe.
    Prayers for Jill and Roger and their nights to cuddle and keep on another warm.
    Prayers for Erich and his job, Robert and his improved situation and continued home search and Anneliese and her pain and improved finances.
    Prayers for Betsy and her fellow volunteers. May they be blessed and follow God’s leadings.
    Prayers for Connie. I am thankful for her and her example of gracious living.
    Prayers for Mary and her new skills of flower arranging that will bring joy to others as she brings joy to us. I would love to work online but have had trouble finding any. Suggestions are welcome.
    Prayers for Lou and her children and Andrea and her family. Prayers for April and her family.
    Prayers for Marcy. May she be well.
    I receive the shots of Botox in my hands today.
    Prayers for all my dear UR family members

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 14, 2018 8:37 am

      Thank everyone for your prayers.

      My tablet cannot be used. Need to get a new one.

      Praying that everyone is well and kept in the centre of God’s will.

      Blessings!

  • Connie Posted October 12, 2018 8:45 am

    I just pray “Thy will be done”. My mind is mush lately and my discernment is nil.
    Thankful for Julie’s faithful prayers for us.
    It’s very cold here, but no frost on the pumpkin yet!
    My Hummers come and sit at the feeder for a very long time. I wonder what their tiny brains are thinking. They take little sips and I hope the nectar is not too cold for their little bodies.
    Robert, Jill, Julie, Betsy and all reading this….God bless you with a pleasant weekend. Love to Marcy.

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