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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

Prayer is not bending God to my will but bringing my will into conformity with God’s so that God’s will may work in and through me. . . . Prayer is not bending the universe to your will, making God a cosmic bellhop for your purposes; prayer is cooperating with God’s purposes to do things you never dreamed you could do. The highest form of prayer comes in Jesus’ words in Gethsemane: “Yet, not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

—E. Stanley Jones, How to Pray, with commentary by Tom Albin (E. Stanley Jones Foundation and Upper Room Books, 2015)

Today's Question

How often do you pray for God's will to be done? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

[Jesus prayed,] “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
—Luke 22:42 (NLT)

Prayer for the Week

Gracious Christ, teach me to pray. . . . Give me the mind to pray, the love to pray, the will to pray. Let prayer be the aroma of every act, the atmosphere of every thought, my native air. In your name. Amen. [Prayer by E. Stanley Jones]
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Something More

The Upper Room has a long history of supporting The United Methodist Church General Conference in prayer. We are seeking volunteers to serve in our prayer ministry at General Conference in Charlotte, NC, April 23-May 3, 2024. Apply to be a Prayer Room Volunteer by March 24. Learn more here!

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Liturgy of the Palms

Liturgy of the Passion

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

0 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Prayer tones up the total life. . . . I am better or worse as I pray more or less. If my prayer life sags, my whole life sags with it; if my prayer life goes up, my life as a whole goes up. To fail here means I fail all down the line; to succeed here means I succeed everywhere.

—E. Stanley Jones, How to Pray, with commentary by Tom Albin (E. Stanley Jones Foundation and Upper Room Books, 2015)

Today's Question

How would you describe your prayer life? If you don't have a set time to pray, consider starting with 10 minutes a day. Write it on your calendar. Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

Gracious Christ, teach me to pray. . . . Give me the mind to pray, the love to pray, the will to pray. Let prayer be the aroma of every act, the atmosphere of every thought, my native air. In your name. Amen. [Prayer by E. Stanley Jones]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Upper Room has a long history of supporting The United Methodist Church General Conference in prayer. We are seeking volunteers to serve in our prayer ministry at General Conference in Charlotte, NC, April 23-May 3, 2024. Apply to be a prayer room volunteer by March 24. Learn more here!

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Liturgy of the Palms

Liturgy of the Passion

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

1 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Paul reminds us to do two things when fears and anxiety consume us. First, Paul calls us to pray. . . . He calls us to frame our prayers with thanksgiving, and he encourages us to make known our needs to God. Then the peace of God will stand guard over our thoughts. Second, Paul encourages us to meditate on the things that are worthy of praise. Paul believes that by letting our minds dwell on these thoughts, we will turn our lives toward praise.

—Max O. Vincent, Because of This I Rejoice: Reading Philippians During Lent (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today's Question

What do you do when fear and anxiety consume you? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
—Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

Free me, Lord Jesus, from anything that obstructs my way to you. Create space in my life for more kindness, greater generosity, and fewer self-centered needs. Enlarge my heart with a spirit of gratitude this Lent. Help me to recognize the simple gifts that lie in abundance all around me. In your sacred name, I pray. Amen.  [adapted from “A Prayer for Lenten Simplicity” on sharecatholic.com]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Help us unite the world in prayer and purpose through The Upper Room daily devotional guide. Your gift to the international editions of The Upper Room will make a significant impact. Give today.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

2 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Christian stewardship is born in joyfully receiving, in giving thanks for what God has already done for us. We give not to earn God’s benefits or to help God in God’s endeavors. We give as a joyful response to what God has done in our lives and as a joyful way to take part in ministries that we may never see or participate in physically but that still bring an awareness of God’s love into the minds and hearts of others. . . . Giving is a joyful way to respond to God’s grace at work in us and to join God in work around the world.

—Max O. Vincent, Because of This I Rejoice: Reading Philippians During Lent (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today's Question

How much of your giving is motivated by gratitude for what God has done for you? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
—Philippians 4:17-18 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

Free me, Lord Jesus, from anything that obstructs my way to you. Create space in my life for more kindness, greater generosity, and fewer self-centered needs. Enlarge my heart with a spirit of gratitude this Lent. Help me to recognize the simple gifts that lie in abundance all around me. In your sacred name, I pray. Amen.  [adapted from “A Prayer for Lenten Simplicity” on sharecatholic.com]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Help us unite the world in prayer and purpose through The Upper Room daily devotional guide. Your gift to the international editions of The Upper Room will make a significant impact. Give today.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

2 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

We do not have to travel to foreign lands and serve in another culture to practice the self-denial Paul believes is part of Christian living. . . . He wants us to give up our practice of score-keeping when it comes to our religious observances and our subtle beliefs that there are Christians and then there are superior Christians who have done more, know more, or have accomplished more than others. Paul does not recommend that we give up our spiritual disciplines like reading scripture, prayer, fasting, or giving, but that we give up the idea that these practices somehow earn us more credit with God than those who practice them less. Paul calls us to use these disciplines to train our body, mind, and soul to be more aware of God’s grace at work in us. We practice spiritual disciplines to gain greater awareness of God, not to master the discipline.

—Max O. Vincent, Because of This I Rejoice: Reading Philippians During Lent (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today's Question

In what ways do you focus on other people's needs rather than your own? Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

[Jesus] said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
—Luke 9:23 (NLT)

Prayer for the Week

Free me, Lord Jesus, from anything that obstructs my way to you. Create space in my life for more kindness, greater generosity, and fewer self-centered needs. Enlarge my heart with a spirit of gratitude this Lent. Help me to recognize the simple gifts that lie in abundance all around me. In your sacred name, I pray. Amen. [adapted from “A Prayer for Lenten Simplicity” on sharecatholic.com]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Help us unite the world in prayer and purpose through The Upper Room daily devotional guide. Your gift to the international editions of The Upper Room will make a significant impact. Give today.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

5 Comments | Join the Conversation.

 

Today's Reflection

Hospitality helped grow the early church. Members with large houses provided the first gathering places for congregations. With few inns for travelers, early Christian missionaries relied on other Christians opening their homes to them as they traveled between congregations in different towns. We see this reflected in the instructions Jesus gives to the disciples regarding their missionary journeys. . . . Jesus sends the disciples out with an expectation of hospitality. We read injunctions in Romans 12:13 and 1 Peter 4:9 about entertaining other Christians. Hebrews 13:2 reminds us that hospitality allows some to entertain angels without realizing it. Hospitality becomes one of the responsibilities of church leaders by the time some of the latest New Testament books are written.

—Max O. Vincent, Because of This I Rejoice: Reading Philippians During Lent (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today's Question

When have you received Christian hospitality? When have you extended it to others?
Join the conversation.

Today's Scripture

Welcome him [Epaphroditus] in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him.
—Philippians 2:29 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

Free me, Lord Jesus, from anything that obstructs my way to you. Create space in my life for more kindness, greater generosity, and fewer self-centered needs. Enlarge my heart with a spirit of gratitude this Lent. Help me to recognize the simple gifts that lie in abundance all around me. In your sacred name, I pray. Amen. [adapted from “A Prayer for Lenten Simplicity” on sharecatholic.com]
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Help us unite the world in prayer and purpose through The Upper Room daily devotional guide. Your gift to the international editions of The Upper Room will make a significant impact. Give today.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments | Join the Conversation.