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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

Each reflection this week features a meditation written by teens for other teens. Listen for words of wisdom from another generation.

WHEN I THINK about my future and what the rest of my life will hold, my mind starts going a hundred miles an hour! It’s not that I don’t know what I want to do; it’s that I don’t know which idea I should choose. There are so many opportunities and hopes and wishes floating around in my head that I don’t know what I want to do the most. But I have confidence that God will lead me in the direction that God wants me to go.

—Christy Lee, age 17 (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Stepping Out on Your Own: Devotions for High School Graduates

From page 28 of Stepping Out on Your Own, introduced and compiled by Kara Lassen Oliver. Copyright © 2010 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What do you do when you are confused about what God is calling you to do?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
—Ephesians 4:1b, NIV

Prayer for the Week

Lord, lead me to still waters and restore my soul. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something More

Interested in resources for the young people in your life? Sign up for Rising Generations, The Upper Room’s newest newsletter offering. Whether you’re a church leader or parent, this bimonthly newsletter provides tips and tools for ministry with children, youth, and young adults.

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

  • robert moeller Posted August 4, 2019 6:38 am

    I don’t pray enough. God definitely has help me on my way and I am grateful.
    Every journey in life is nothing compared to the going home journey. It can come anytime. It’s like hide and seek. Here I come, ready or not!

    Having wonderful weather, could use some rain, but otherwise it’s great.
    Church, communion, and a round table discussion on the future of the UMC
    today. I pray for God’s wisdom and guidance that God’s will is done.
    Have a blessed Sunday!

  • Jill Posted August 4, 2019 6:45 am

    My counselor gave me a new idea to consider – what to do when struggling, when faced with a hard decision, etc. She mentioned the “three taps” and to make sure they were “wide open”. First – be in communication with God. All. The. Time. Second – be in His Word. Third – be in community with the Body of Christ. Be receiving from these three – let Him run through all three of these. Yes and amen.
    Father – I pray for this community here. Thank You for this space, to share, to pray, to comfort. With gratitude, I praise You for Robert and Erich’s move to this new home, for his new church and for employment opportunities for Erich. May Annaliese continue to receive sufficient health care to assist her in managing her pain, and may Erich’s skin continue to improve. I pray for Julie and Meghan (and their furry companions) – may there be a positive change coming in their living environments and might they continue to comfort each other. I pray for comfort for Julie as the seasons change. Oh how we long to hear a good word from Marcy. Please bless those who assist her, especially Mary. I pray for Mary and Molly as they continue on. Thank You for Mary’s vibrant spirit, full of positivity. Send someone in her path today, whom she can touch with Your love. Thank You for Betsy and her husband being able to move back to the city where her children are, and for so much more opportunity to be involved with Harrison as he grows. What a blessed gift. I pray for Lou and her three children, especially the youngest as she goes off to college. As Lou adjusts to this new phase of her life, may she be gentle with her memories. Thank You for how Andrea has recovered from her injury. Continue to grant her bountiful time with her grandson and guide her daughter as she continues to parent. Continue to bless Connie and her husband, as they enjoy the surroundings of Your creation…including the hummers and the flowers. Thank You for Bill’s recovery and for Edy’s care. I think also of Rusty and K – we miss them too, Rusty’s wisdom. I also pray for April, for BJ and Freddie – welcome, and for others who I do not intentionally omit. Father, thank You for weaving us together here in this space.
    May this Sunday be an oasis for all.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted August 4, 2019 8:12 am

    Thank you Jill for such a beautiful prayer.

    May God bless you and your family abundantly!

    When I am confused, I will pray and seek God’s guidance and direction. I will pray for His will to be done.

    Blessings and amen to Jill’s prayer!

  • Lou Posted August 4, 2019 8:24 am

    My mind can still go miles a minute thinking about all that lies ahead – and I know my daughter’s mind is also doing that. I’m trying to help her but the wisdom of my years let’s me know that I cannot do much- I’ve learned that God’s peace and the assurance of life in Him is the only thing that carries us through. I do not know if I truly understood that at age 17- so I continue to do the best I can to remind her of that and and try to help her through these next steps. It is a journey- I pray for God to lead us and to still the waters.
    Thankful for all of the prayers offered here – especially on my family’s behalf. My oldest daughter has finished a summer of travels and is preparing for an early start to a new school year. Thankful for my son who came to visit me yesterday and spent some nice time relaxing and talking on the porch. Thankful for beautiful weather. Thankful for the opportunity to worship outdoors this morning with my children. Thankful for good work and the resources to help my children. Thankful for a new day and all that it brings. Thankful for this group of pray-ers. But most of all thankful for God who loves us all.

  • Connie Posted August 4, 2019 8:35 am

    “Oh God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come
    Our shelter from the stormy blast and our Eternal home.”
    Beautiful thoughts expressed today and more to come I know.
    So many innocent people going about their daily tasks brought down by Evil. Texas and then Ohio. God have mercy on their beautiful souls.

  • April Posted August 4, 2019 9:56 am

    Good Morning UR Family!! How wonderful to wake up and see so many have been up and going, posting prayers that I too prayed and added “Amen”.

    Catching up from yesterday’s “Finding Peace” and reading how each of us has a special way. I thought of Julie’s posting “ God’s word is what I take with me. I have memorized several verses pertaining to strength and His proximity always.” I remember the time we shared hymns that we liked and I wondered if you/others might share Bible verses that we turn to? I was reminded that I often say, “this too shall pass” and wondered what Bible verse that was. My google search resulted in saying that there is no such verse, but many think that this is where the saying comes from:
    2 Corinthians 4:17-18 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
    That was surprising to me, but a good reminder to return to the Bible which I did as I had recently come across a note card with this verse on it:

    2 Chronicles 14:11 New International Version (NIV)
    11 Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, “LORD, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.”
    After verifying that it was a Bible verse, I thought back on the years when life seemed overwhelming and how I said that verse several times every day. I titled it “my walking prayer” as recited it when I exercised our dog every evening after work. Somehow, I stopped saying this prayer. Why? I am not sure, but I believe I came to trust and realize that God had helped me and continues to do so everyday whether I recite that verse or not. (but I just said it and it felt soooooooo good)

    As for my thoughts on today’s topic of Chaos and the question,” What do you do when you are confused about what God is calling you to do?”, I see that prayer is mentioned already and tapped out by Jill ) Yes, I do pray, try different actions that I thought I had heard and then listen for answers, “let Him run through all three of these.” Answers such as affirmation from others, sleeping soundly, more energy. Even when I do not get the job I apply for, I know that God has something better for me, as has happened several times.

    As the day unfolds, I pray that each will feel the hugs of love shared here and know that you are a beloved child of God.

  • Lou Posted August 4, 2019 6:24 pm

    Thank you April- my go to is Jeremiah 29:11

  • April Posted August 5, 2019 6:18 pm

    Thank you Lou, that is a favorite of mine too. Blessings to you and your family.

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