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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

AT ITS ROOTS and foundation, both personally and with others, discernment calls to us through simple, raw desire—desire to find the right way, to choose the right path, to gain clarity about our God-given purpose and what we can offer to the world around us.

Even as discernment beckons through our inmost desires, it stretches out as a path before us and invites us to enter. The word discernment itself implies the existence of a pathway toward greater clarity in our times of wondering. It comes from the Latin discernere, meaning “to separate,” “to distinguish.” The word discernment denotes an activity or process. It suggests that when we yearn to find what is right and fitting, there will be a means to do so. On the most elemental level, to discern is to sort and sift through the possibilities when we face a variety of choices. It is to distinguish and separate the alternatives. The very word discernment thus suggests a helpful means of going forward.

—Marjorie J. Thompson and Stephen V. Doughty
The Way of Discernment Participant’s Book, Companions in Christ Series

From pages 16–17 of The Way of Discernment Participant’s Book, Companions in Christ Series by Marjorie J. Thompson and Stephen V. Doughty. Copyright © 2008 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What decisions in life are the hardest for you to discern?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
—Romans 12:2 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Creator God, Show me the way that is good and acceptable and perfect. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something More

Join the staff of The Upper Room in praying for the victims and their families of the mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.  Pray with us.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

8 Comments

  • Bj Posted August 5, 2019 6:22 am

    Good morning, UR Family! I am a regular reader for this group of praying people. I always, always look forward to reading these posts. Quickly, I have a tablet I use often. I of course have a laptop and desktop. But, I use this tablet this tablet all through the day. I sent a post, maybe early last week. It was a concern about late posts. I apologize for mentioning about it. At 6:00am for the past year, I take a pill. The posts use to come earlier. I said to my self, why are you concern about who post, why aren’t you posting. Then, I prayed about it. Thank you, Lord! I really, really love the UR Family. Have a blessed day!

  • Bj Posted August 5, 2019 6:35 am

    Thanks for the last week’s meditation from our young people. This is my Back-to-School Blessings from pre-k to college, to teachers and administrators. It says in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

    • April Posted August 5, 2019 6:20 pm

      Thank you BJ and welcome!! I enjoy your upbeat posts!! How important to pray for all students returning to classes as well as instructors and administrators. Blessings.

  • robert moeller Posted August 5, 2019 7:30 am

    This is a significant QUESTION. Looking back finding my life’s vocation and my life’s partner were the two biggest questions of my life.

    While aspects of the profession I chose were very rewarding, I’m not sure it was the right fit for me. Am not sure what would have been alternatives. Have an enormous interest in regional studies but no idea of occupations and also think this interest came to mind over time. My military career became more interesting, better suited, over time, but an exact fit was elusive.

    The greatest challenge for me was finding my life’s partner. My social skills, experience, boundary making, intuition, and confidence were less than what they should, could have been.

    Thankfully, aware or unaware of God’s presence I have made it this far in life. I don’t look back at my life as a disappointment. There have been many joys.

    Bj, glad you have become a poster after being a long time reader of the UR.
    It’s not necessary to be a poster, there’s great benefit from reading. As a poster you now contribute to other readers. God’s message is amplified and expanded. I appreciate your posts. Thank you!

    Prayer for the health and welfare of Marcy, Julie, Connie, Andrea and Lowell, Anneliese, Doris, and Meesook. Lord, may Your power work to relieve pain and heal illnesses according to Your will. I am thankful that there IS life after this earthy existence. Thank You, Lord.
    I’m certainly enjoying my hobby, activities in church, my new home and surroundings, and the blessings the UR have provided. Perfection only comes with God’s grace, mercy, and love. Thank You, Lord, for all You have done for me.

  • Julie Posted August 5, 2019 8:24 am

    I found it easy to shoose my initial career path and who I thought would be my life partner. Both I no longer have in my life. As we age we change and also get to know ourselves and others with more clarity. I went back to school to enter a different career, but medical conserns prevented me from utilizing my new degree. I learned information about my first husband that resulted in a divorce. I married again and have lived to regret both this marriage as well as the lose of my first career.
    Currently I struggle to discern the way forward in life given the unsettled life I live. Also, Megan and I are trying to discern a volunteer path e both feel passionate about to do together.
    Prayers and a heartfelt welcome, again, to BJ. I am so glad God led you to become a poster. I find your posts insightful and God based.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich, may Erich discern his path in life.
    Prayers for a warm visit with friends for Andrea.
    Prayers for an uneventful move for Betsy.
    Prayers for warm breezes and sunny skies for Connie and her hummers
    Prayers for Jill and Becky to find common ground.
    Prayers for Lou and her daughter, may they enjoy their time before college begins.
    Prayers for Mary and Molly, may they receive joy in abundance.
    Prayers for Marcy, may she be well.
    I spent yesterday with Megan shopping and visiting the library. We had a wonderful time browsing shops and checking out far too many books. Reading is a joy we share, and we often have ambitions without the time.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you dear UR family, paosters and readers both

  • Jill Posted August 5, 2019 10:37 am

    I suppose decisions regarding my parents are the most challenging for me. I so wanted to be able to speak truth to my mom, regarding spiritual matters and her cancer. But – felt that I needed to respect her desire to be non-communicative to me. I questioned whether I was obeying God…was He asking me to remain silent in such matters. I also struggle a bit, with how much to ask dad about his GriefShare group and how he is doing now, four months out.
    A verse, well two, which I clung to this past year plus are from Psalm 31. It starts in verse 14 and continues into verse 15…”But I trust in You, LORD. I say ‘You are my God’, my times are in Your hands.” All things are in His grasp.
    A beautiful morning for dad and I to enjoy golf. Hard to believe we are in the last month of summer and our golfing mornings are winding down. A former student is stopping by today to meet Roger – she will be cat-sitting and house-sitting for me as I leave for the beach Saturday.

    • April Posted August 5, 2019 6:28 pm

      Thank you Jill for sharing these verses. I saw your trust in God so many times as you posted and continue to post. I pray for you as your coming year of teaching is approaching. How blessed are your students as you teach them….not only studies but also living life/making decisions as you trust in God.

  • Donna Eemunchagote-Long Posted August 5, 2019 12:53 pm

    I am a regular attendee at Palmdale United Methodist Church. Yet, until the denomination clarifies its position on LGTBQIA Community I have NOT been led to become a member! I have been baptized Methodist and as an adult I have renewed my baptism! I have been set aside as a Deacon within Metropolitan Community Churches

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