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.

Prayer Powerful and Effective--Nov. 24, 2018

[From Nov. 22, 2014 archive]

Lord Jesus, you have built your church 
to be like a city that is bound firmly together. 

Forgive us when we hold one another in contempt; 
teach us how to speak to one another in your love, 

confessing our sins to one another, praying 
for one another that we may be healed 
and forgiven; for the prayer of the 
righteous is powerful and effective.

Lectionary Readings 
Ps. 122; 149; 100; 63
Mal. 3:13-4:6
James 5:13-20
Luke 18:9-14

Selected Verses 
Ps. 122:3 
Jerusalem--built as a city
          that is bound firmly together. 

Mal. 3:16 
Then those who revered the LORD spoke with one another. 

James 5:16 
Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 

Luke 18:9 
[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt…

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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