I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

What We Ask For, What We Need--August 11, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 89:1-18, 147:1-11, 1, 33
Judges 13:15-24
Acts 6:1-15
John 4:1-26

II. Selections
Psalm 33:20-21
Our soul waits for the LORD
      he is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in him,
      because we trust in his holy name.

Judges 13:18
But the angel of the LORD said to [Manoah], “Why do you ask my name? It is too wonderful.”

Acts 6:6
[The whole community] had [Stephen and the six others chosen to be deacons] stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

John 4:11
The woman said to [Jesus], “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? … ”

III. Meditation

We ask for things too wonderful for us,
for things beyond our understanding;
yet we fail to act upon the things we understand.

We know you are our help and shield, and we can trust in you.
We know you will supply the living water for which we thirst.
That should be enough knowledge.

As Stephen and the other six stood before the apostles
to be ordained, strengthen us to take our stand, secure
in the assurance you have given us all the information we need.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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