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.

When My Heart Becomes Proud--Oct. 16, 2014

[From Oct. 18, 2012 archives]


You feed me, O God; and I am satisfied,
and my heart becomes proud, and I forget you,

and deep in my heart, transgression speaks to me,
and there is no fear of you before my eyes.

No fear, until suddenly I am running into the rocks;
I let down my anchor; pray for day to come.

Then you remind me--to save my life
I must lose it, for your sake.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
Hosea 13:4-8
Acts 27:27-44
Luke 9:18-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 36:1
 Transgression speaks to the wicked
          deep in their hearts;
 there is no fear of God
          before their eyes.

Hosea 13:6
When I fed them, they were satisfied; they were satisfied, and their heart was proud; therefore they forgot me.

Acts 27:29
Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.

Luke 9:24
"…For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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