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Today’s prayer is from the Book of Common Prayer

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. [Ephesians 5:15-20]

Written by Ruth Chou Simons, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her book “Now and Not Yet.”

In the Old Testament, we read of the forty-year journey God’s people, the Israelites, took in the desert due to their disbelief and disobedience even after God led them out of slavery in Egypt. While some deserts are the result of waywardness (like Israel experienced), oftentimes we find ourselves in parched and weary places unexpectedly. For some, it’s the wilderness of a chronic illness, a lifelong battle, or a life circumstance that feels like an endless desert with no oasis. For some, the desert is a spiritually dry place you wish didn’t exist. A barren place that tempts you to doubt and fear. A place that reads only lack and loss instead of freedom and flourishing…Each and every way God met the Israelites in the desert was for the purpose of showing them that they were secure in His care. That they need only to surrender their self-sufficiency and believe God to be who He claimed to be. To trust that He would do what He said He would do and, in response, obey Him because they trusted Him more than they believed in their own ways.

And He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. [Deuteronomy 8:3]

Written by Laura Bailey, a contemporary author.

Growing up in church, I often heard that God desires children to obey their parents. These verses were usually used to encourage good behavior, focusing on a child’s outward actions rather than the inward heart’s motivation…Children are to exhibit godly obedience, one that is not rooted in blind submission but in the heart’s desire to submit to the Lord and those whom the Lord places in authority over their lives. The family dynamic between parental authority and child submission is an allegory for the relationship we all should have with our Father in Heaven. Why should children obey their parents? Because it’s the right thing to do! … Children following their parents’ instructions isn’t just a suggestion; it’s an expectation. Yes, there will be times, countless times, when it will be difficult to submit to their leadership. Parents often give instructions, guidelines, and rules that are difficult for children to digest; they want to know why, and it’s in our human nature to rebel against authority.  But this command is given under the premise that parents love and protect their children and that children obey them until they live independently…The fifth commandment is the first one that comes with a promise—precisely when it was first given, the promise was to the children of Israel that they would live a long, blessed life in the promised land. However, in a broader application for us today, children who respect and honor their parents will likely have an easier time in life, as obeying our parents is the cornerstone of understanding submission to authority. 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first
commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. [Ephesians 6:1-3]

Written by Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932), a writer of Christian poems.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercies,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will
boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [2 Corinthians 12:9].

Written by Jennifer Tucker, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her book “Breath as Prayer.”

Sometimes we get this idea that if only we had more faith or if we just prayed enough or in the right way, all our suffering would go away, our sickness would be healed, and we wouldn’t struggle anymore. But God never promised this.  In fact, Jesus said that we will have suffering; we will have trouble. What He promises isn’t freedom from suffering but His presence and peace in the midst of it. We can have ultimate peace because He has already ultimately conquered the world.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.  [John 16:33]

Written by Stormie Omartian, a contemporary author and speaker.

God, I acknowledge You as Lord over every area of my life this day. Help me walk in Your perfect will in all that I do and everything that I say. Amen.

I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. [Isaiah 43:11]

Written by Timothy Keller (1950-2023), an American Calvinist pastor, preacher, theologian, and Christian apologist.

In 1971 I heard a talk—two illustrations—that changed my life. The woman, named Barbara Boyd, said, “If somebody says to me, ‘Come on in, Barbara, but stay out, Boyd,’ it’s a bit of a problem because I can’t separate them. It’s not like the top half of me is Barbara, and the bottom half of me is Boyd. So if you won’t have Boyd, you can’t get Barbara. If you’re going to keep the Boyd out, I can’t come in at all!” She continued: “To say, ‘Jesus, come into my life, forgive my sins, answer my prayers; do this for me, do that for me—but don’t be the absolute master of my life; Jesus, Savior, come in; but Lord, stay out,’ how can he come in at all? Because he’s all Savior, and he’s all Lord. He’s Lord because he’s Savior. He’s Savior because he’s Lord.”

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.  [2 Peter 3:18]

Written by Bryan O’Keefe, a contemporary lawyer and writer.

When you have true faith in Jesus, everything flips. Your life is no longer about your record or your achievement or trying harder but about HIS record and what HE did for you. And when you intellectually recognize the enormity of the sacrifice, you then more willingly obey the law, out of fullness of heart, to show love for the one who loved and died for you – despite all of your imperfections. This is the central message of Christianity. Its radical. It’s astounding. It’s different from every other religion which says “just try harder and God might reward you.” It might be different from the Christianity that you thought you knew…But this is the heart of the Gospel and it’s tremendously liberating…The secret to a better life is not endlessly trying harder—it is resting in the glory of what has already been done for you

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. [Romans 8:1]

Written by Clement of Rome (Unknown-c100 AD), a bishop of Rome known as Pope Clement 1, who is considered to be the first of the Apostolic Fathers of the Church.  This prayer is part of the Clementine Liturgy that was used in first century Christian worship.

O God, you are the ineffable Ocean of love, the unfathomable Abyss of peace, the Source of all goodness, and the Dispenser of affection. You send peace to those who are receptive to it. Open for us today the sea of your love, and water us with the plenteous streams from the riches of your grace.  Make us children of tranquility and heirs of peace. Enkindle in us the flame of your love, and sow in us reverence for you. Firm up our weakness by your strength, and unite us closely with you and with one another in a bond of indissoluble unity and firm accord. Amen.

Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually. [Psalm 52:1]

Written by Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932-1996), a Dutch priest, professor, writer, and theologian.  This is an excerpt from his book “Can I Drink the Cup?”

Action, just as silence and the word, can help us to claim and celebrate our true self. But here again we need discipline, because the world in which we live says, “Do this, do that, go here, go there, meet him, meet her.” Busyness has become a sign of importance. Having much to do, many places to go, and countless people to meet gives us status and even fame. However, being busy can lead us away from our true vocation and prevent us from drinking our cup.

I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God. [Ezekiel 11:19-20].