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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

WE ARE CREATED in God’s image. Just as the Jews invest a great deal of time, thought, and resources into building the Temple, God invests a great deal—God’s own image—into the creation of our physical bodies, which serve as the vessels for our spirits. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you? Don’t you know that you have the Holy Spirit from God, and you don’t belong to yourselves? You have been bought and paid for, so honor God with your body” (CEB). Seeing our bodies as holy may not come easily to us. Even in Jesus’ time, there are many rules—particularly for women—that can make it sound as if physical bodies are dirty or defiled. In our time, cultural messages about weight and ability and sexuality and color make it even more difficult to love our bodies. But when we question the holiness of our physical bodies, we need only remember that God becomes human in the form of Jesus and then declares Jesus to be God’s Beloved. Part of being beloved is recognizing the sacred value of our bodies and honoring them as such.

—Kristen E. Vincent, We Are Beloved: A Lenten Journey with Protestant Prayer Beads (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today’s Question

Does knowing “your body is a temple” affect your view of the human body? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”
—1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

I love you, Lord.
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Lectionary Readings

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6 Comments

  • Jill Posted October 12, 2019 7:12 am

    I am quite quick to judge someone else and what they are “doing” to their body. I am less quick for myself. I easily tell myself I am being good to my body by running, staying active. People will comment – oh you are so disciplined. The truth of the matter is – I am so undisciplined in my eating, that I run to manage my weight. That potato chip binge eating thing…
    Julie – I was in Columbus on Wednesday for that roundtable meeting.
    Reflecting on yesterday’s question – where have I seen/sensed God this week? My time away on Wednesday was very good. I connected with a friend on the way down, in a non-rushed phone conversation. Usually, when we speak – it is for a significant amount of time and we almost always end it in prayer. This call seemed especially filled with holy moments – and I carried them with me throughout my day.
    Robert – we have our first frost warning out for this evening/tomorrow morning. We had a very warm week, but the rain came through last night and the temps have plummeted. More blanket time for Roger and I.
    Looking forward to a non-rushed day today. Lots of grading to do and will meet up with a friend for dinner. But taking it nice and slow this morning.

  • Julie Posted October 12, 2019 8:35 am

    I have been told this as part of therapy I underwent in the past due to body image issues I have. I have trouble internalizing this truth. Another Bible message I know intellectually but not in my soul.
    Prayers for Jill, yes, we have your exact weather and the same frost warning. Prayers for you and Roger, may you enjoy the warmth of one another. My two are cuddled up on their own electric blanket.
    Prayers for BJ anf her kind and loving words whhich touched my heart and soothed my soul.
    Prayers for Connie and the soon to be end of her garden weather.
    Prayers for Andrea, may her cold be better.
    Prayers for Lou and her new life direction.
    Prayers for Mary and Molly and their close relationship.
    Prayers for Marcy’s safety.
    Prayers for Robert and his train hobby that brings him so much joy.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you for your patient spiritual tutelage UR posters

  • Andrea Posted October 12, 2019 9:14 am

    Thank you for your prayers, Lou, Julie, Jill, Mary, and Robert.

    My body has changed as I’ve become older. I remember my 90 year old grandmother telling me, “When I undress at night and look in the mirror, I just laugh.” I believe it honors the body to accept its physical changes as natural, even though it’s not easy for me to like them. I need to remind myself of my grandmother’s wisdom and “just laugh.” It is also difficult to accept the aches and limitations that come with aging. May I do so with grace.

    Fine particles of snow are blowing outside my window against a backdrop of oak, birch and cherry trees with yellow, green, and golden leaves. Autumn beauty. Thank you, God, for Your creation. May we care for it wisely.

    Prayers for UR friends and visitors. Wishing all a blessed day.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 12, 2019 9:20 am

    Yes, knowing “your body is a temple” affect my view of the human body. I take good care of it and ask God for His protection. I also eat well so that i’m nourished and also eat in moderation. I go for my morning walks too. And exercise regularly.

    Thank Julie and all for your prayers.

    May we glorify and honor God with our bodies!

    Blessings!

  • richard hochsprung Posted October 12, 2019 9:41 am

    For many years until very recently I have not honored my body with love and respect when it comes to loving my whole being. There is always been part of me that rejected my sexuality. No one ever taught me a healthy sexuality and I had shame and guilt over my body’s natural urges. It is important to share a message with our children that our bodies are a temple for our spirit , and should be treated with respect and care and love. It is important to feel comfortable and at home and encourage others to know and respect their bodies through exercise, proper eating and mindfulness meditation practices.
    ❤️

  • Robert Moeller Posted October 13, 2019 2:52 am

    I think, especially in old age, it is too easy for us to consider our bodies as not being holy, yet despite hearing and vision loss, the need for oral surgery, and aches and pains, it is amazing what I am still able to do. Thank You, Lord. I can still go to the gym and walk.

    Since the hard frost, temps have stayed out of the 30s and we have had highs in the 60s. Slowly, steadily the plywood is being secured, track work will be next.

    All Things Apple was well set up yesterday morning.

    Have a blessed Sunday.

    An outing with my son today, should see the mountains in all their finest.

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