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.

Sustain in Me a Willing Spirit--Nov. 5, 2021

[From Nov. 10, 2017 archive]

 

When Jesus wanted to mourn over the death of John, 

he denied himself to care for the crowds.

I am not in the habit of denying myself before you,

O God, although I freely ask help of you. 

I ask it now: restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and sustain in me a willing spirit, a spirit 

willing to deny myself to be your faithful servant, 

for great and amazing are your deeds. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65

Ezra 7:27-28, 8:21-36 OR Ezra 5:1-17

Rev. 15:1-8

Matt. 14:13-21

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, 
          and sustain in me a willing spirit.

 

Ezra 8:21

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might deny ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions.

 

Rev. 15:3

And [those who had conquered the beast] sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: 
    “Great and amazing are your deeds, 
          Lord God the Almighty! 
     Just and true are your ways, 
          King of the nations!  …”

 

Matt. 14:13

Now when Jesus heard [that John the Baptist had been beheaded], he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself.  But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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