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.

Wisdom in My Secret Heart--July 20, 2012


I want to have truth in my inward being;
give me your wisdom in my heart.
I want to have love that is genuine
so I am able to hold fast to what is good.

I want to know what you command me;
I want to find strength to follow.
I want to hate what in me is evil,
to say, "Surely not I, Lord," and mean it.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65
Josh. 4:19-5:1, 10-15
Rom. 12:9-21
Matt. 26:17-25

Selected Verses
Ps. 51:6
You desire truth in the inward being;
      therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Josh. 5:14b
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped [the commander of the army of the LORD], and he said to him, "What do you command your servant, my lord?"

Rom. 12:9
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good…

Matt. 26:22
And [the twelve disciples] became greatly distressed and began to say to [Jesus] one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?"
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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