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.

The God Who Turns Hearts Back--Sept. 11, 2015


O God, you desire truth in the inward being;
create in us a clean heart; put a new and
a right spirit within us, that we may
bear fruits worthy of repentance
and so live that others may
know you as their God,
the God who turns
hearts back to
rejoice in
you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65
1 Kings 18:20-40
Phil. 3:1-16
Matt. 3:1-12

Selected Verses
Ps. 51:6, 10
You desire truth in the inward being;
          therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.  …
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
          and put a new and right spirit within me. 

1 Kings 18:37
"…Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”  [Elijah's offering prayer]

Phil. 3:1a
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.

Matt. 3:8
"…Bear fruit worthy of repentance.  …"  [John the Baptist to Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)