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 I Walk in Darkness--Sept. 1, 2018


Lord Jesus,
when I walk in darkness,
my soul thirsts for you,
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land,
and I speak in the bitterness
of my soul.

You are the light of the world;
you give the repentance
that leads to life;
let me follow you,
that I may walk
not in darkness,
but in your light of life.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Job 9:1, 10:1-9, 16-22
Acts 11:1-18
John 8:12-20

Selected Verses
Ps. 63:1
O God, you are my God, I seek you,
          my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
          as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

Job 10:1-2
"I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.  I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me. 
…"  [Job to his friends]

Acts 11:17-18
"…If then God gave [the Gentiles whom Peter baptized] the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?"  [Peter, to his critics] When they heard this, they were silenced.  And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."

John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

1 comment:

  1. Mea SententiaSeptember 1, 2018 at 9:20 PM

    Have you read Barbara Brown Taylor's book Learning to Walk in the Dark? Excellent book.

    It's always good to stop in and read your meditations, Elmer. Peace to you.

    Chris (onetime author of As the Deer)

    ReplyDelete

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