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 Spirit Gives Life--Aug. 25, 2020

 

Lord God, when we have no help in us,

when any resource is driven from us,

 

when at last we put all else aside,

in despair kneel down to pray,

 

then we learn the flesh is useless

and that your Spirit gives life.

 

You are our strength and shield;

in you our hearts trust, and we

are helped. We exult, and

we give you thanks.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 54; 146; 28; 99

Job 6:1-4, 8-15, 21

Acts 9:32-43

John 6:60-71

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield;
          in him my heart trusts;
so I am helped, and my heart exults,
          and with my song I give thanks to him.

 

Job 6:12-13

“…Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?  In truth I have no help in me, and any resource is driven from me.  …”  [Job replies to Eliphaz]

 

Acts 9:40a

Peter put all of [the widows] outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. 

 

John 6:63

“…It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless.  The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  …” [Jesus, to his disciples]


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