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.

Your Eyes, O God, Keep Watch--April 10, 2018

[From April 25, 2006 archive]

We rejoice in you, for you will reign forever and ever.

May we never forget— your eyes keep watch
on the nations, including our own.
Forgive our rebelliousness,
our self-exaltation.

Prepare our minds for action
and give us self-discipline;
set all our hope on the grace
that Jesus Christ will bring
when he is revealed.

Give us your peace,
not as the world gives,
but as you give.
Then our hearts
will not be troubled,
neither will they be afraid.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116
Exod. 15:1-21
1 Peter 1:13-25
John 14:18-31

Selected Verses
Ps. 66:6b-7
There we rejoiced in him,
            who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
            let the rebellious not exalt themselves.

Exod. 15:18
“…The LORD will reign forever and ever.”  [the song of Moses and the Israelites]

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.

John 14:27
"…Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.  …"  [Jesus to the eleven disciples]

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