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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

GOD’S GRACE of interdependence invites us to accept our own and others’ imperfections and to lean on one another and God to find our own personal healing.

Letting go of judgment does not mean we tolerate bad behavior, let criminals go free, or let down our nation’s defenses. Letting go of judgment means that we recognize our imperfections as the inspiration to affirm our common humanity with sinner and saint alike. Letting go of judgment enables us to see the divine in others, no matter their current behavior. Love joins us as we seek to respond with grace and helpfulness.

—Bruce G. Epperly, The Mystic in You: Discovering a God-Filled World (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today’s Question

Is it hard for you to face or admit your own imperfections?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?”
—Matthew 7:3 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Something More

The Academy for Spiritual Formation creates transformative space for people to be in communion with God, self, others, and creation for the sake of the world. Learn more.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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8 Comments

  • Julie Posted September 13, 2019 7:55 am

    As I have mentioned previously, I am not permitted by those closest to me to discuss myself per se. Others, who are friends, have asked me to share with them, but after a lifetime of hiding in the shadows it is difficult. As I age I have come to terms with my imperfections and shortcomings. I denied their existence in the past as I believe youth makes one shortsighted about oneself.
    Prayers for physical healing for Andrea, Connie, Erich, Marcy and Robert.
    Prayers for emotional healing for Jill, Larry and Lou.
    Prayers that Mary had a fruitful Friday.
    Prayers for April, Betsy, and BJ.
    Having trouble typing after a minor skirmish with h. Trembling hands are difficult with which to type.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you dear UR faithful

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 13, 2019 8:04 am

      Thanks Julie!

      May you have a wonderful weekend and may we all accept our imperfections!

      However, God is still working on us. He has not given up on us yet.

      Thank you God!

  • Bj Posted September 13, 2019 8:59 am

    Good morning to the UR family! May your day be blessed with joy and peace. Prayers for Julie in her weakness today. I think it is because she was the first to post. Mary, how are you?

    • Julie Posted September 13, 2019 9:02 am

      Not sure what your comment meant – weakness? Cuz of posting first?

      • Bj Posted September 13, 2019 10:36 am

        Ah, Julie! Your hands you said. I didn’t mean you were ill or nothing. I am sorry if this offended you. Again, I am up early every morning, but too weak in my mind to say good morning when the reflections appear for 6am central time. I lay in bed with my tablet mediating in the word. I thanked God last week for the blessing of the daily devotion that you made mention of. It meant so much to me that you was blessed and through Him I got a blessing. You are such a great prayer warrior.

        • Julie Posted September 13, 2019 10:54 am

          Ah, makes sense. But the shaking of my hands was due to the altercation with h.
          Glad you are enjoying the devotionals. You might like the sight psalm also.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 14, 2019 3:26 am

    I’m fine. Thank you, Bj!

  • Jill Posted September 14, 2019 4:31 am

    It has gotten better, but it is not easy to face, claim and admit to others my struggles, imperfections and weaknesses. But I continue to see that when myself or others do this – a whole new dimension of authenticity opens up. The ability to be transparent is key to establishing deep rooted, trusting relationship.
    This past Wednesday evening at small group, I confessed to the group that I was heavily convicted about not speaking up the prior week. It was God honoring to do this and I was only able to do it in His strength and knowing He wanted me to speak this truth. It is so freeing…very tenuous at first…but so good when done. Of course, the group was wonderful. I started by repeating what I had said the previous week – that I am an introverted soul. But then I also said I was convicted multiple times last week following our time together. I hope it encourages others to speak up when they need us to carry their burdens in prayer. One of the younger girls – well they seem so young to me – I would put her in her late 20s – came up to me afterwards and hugged me, saying she would pray for my dad.
    Today I will be spending time with my best friend and her daughter, my god-daughter. This is a rare opportunity for us to get this much time together. We are taking my god-daughter to a college for a basketball showcase. While she is participating, my friend and I plan to walk the town, do a bit of shopping and grab lunch.
    Had date night with dad last evening at a little hole in the wall Italian joint. He loves his pasta. We had ice cream afterwards and did a little shopping.
    Love to each one here in this UR clan. May your weekend bring you rest and time to ponder our Great God and His creation.

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