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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

ATTACHMENT TO THE way things once were causes us to suffer. If we focus only on the way we lived and worshiped in the past and feel that changes have destroyed these old ways, we cannot move with courage and adventure into the future. Throughout the scriptural record of God’s activity amongst us, God is out ahead of us, leading us out … and dispersing us into the world.

When we see the hand of God in the changes in our world, we can celebrate the continuing creativity of God. Jesus proclaims that the movement of God’s Spirit is toward a grand feast of abundant life and community for all people. So we sing praises to God’s creating Spirit for this creation, even when it is not yet fully revealed.

—Tom Camp, Upper Room Disciplines 2019 (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today’s Question

How can prayer and song help you receive change as a sign of God’s creating Spirit?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

—Isaiah 43:18-19 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, thank you for all the ways you are present in my life.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

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4 Comments

  • Julie Posted October 2, 2019 8:26 am

    I do tend to live too much in the past. I try to remember that we often remember the good only and forget the pain. I know I should look ahead, but mine is so uncertain it is difficult to dwell there. I do pray about this to the Lord and remembering His words bring some comfort.
    Prayers for April, BJ and Betsy.
    Prayers for healing for Andrea, Connie and Marcy.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry. May God support and sustain Jill as she listens to Larry with love and compassion. Jill, your father lost his life partner and she kept him from fulfilling his own spriritual jouney. Now, he has found in you a willing participant in his spiritual development as well as a fellow sufferer of a great loss. Perhaps he seek a spiritual grief counseling center.
    Prayers for Lou and her girls as they visit together.
    Prayers for Mary, may she be blessed with joy and spiritual purpose.
    Prayers for Robert, may he find a new counselor in his new town who can assist him as much as his old one did.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you for your insights and prayers and sharing your stories

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 2, 2019 9:17 am

    Thanks Julie!

    Having problems with my internet access the past few nights in my room. I actually posted but did not see my post.

    Blessings to all and may we be filled with the fullness of the Holy Spirit!

  • robert moeller Posted October 2, 2019 11:18 am

    Our lives are ever changing, we can not stop the change our bodies are on. Accepting change that God has planned for us, knowing that God is always good, is a great blessing. Old prayers and hymns have their place, we wouldn’t give up the Lord’s Prayer or Amazing Grace, but there are and should be new prayers and hymns that help us on our way. I am thankful for both.

    Anneliese seems to be doing better after her recent PM treatment. Doris is having problems with an infection, pain in her abdomen, and will receive more antibiotics. A former student returned from caring for her parents in California, she was exhausted and slept a lot. I need to reach out to Meesook to see how she is doing. Chris, who had a defibrillator implanted is doing fine.

    Prayers for Marcy’s health and well being, Julie and Jill’s hands. Thankful for progress on projects and the completion of the deck refinishing. Have connected with a new counselor, but have a 2 month wait to meet.

    Thank you Julie for your prayers. God’s will be done. That is that is the best that can happen. Lord help us fulfill your plan. Thank You, Lord.

  • Jill Posted October 3, 2019 4:39 am

    In prayerful submission, I am able to open myself to God’s movement, God’s ways. When I cease with my lists and requests or ultimately end them with “not my will, but Thine be done” – I return to being clay, moldable in His creative hands.
    Had a very meaningful appointment with my spiritual director yesterday afternoon – so very timely following the previous day’s discussion with dad. Even in the timing of this – I see God’s direction and provision.

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