Daily Prayer for Tuesday, August 18, 2020

“Where streams of living water flow my ransomed soul He leadeth…”        
                                        —-Henry Williams Baker, 1868

Preparation for worship
Sit in a relaxed position. Take a slow, deep breath (or 2 or 3 or as many as needed) until you feel your body, mind, and soul begin to relax and rest in the Spirit.  Take time to reflect as you move through this time of worship…

Opening Sentences                                                             Proverbs 9: 2, 5
Wisdom had prepared a feast for us;
let us eat and drink of God’s gifts.

Prayer                                                                                            Martin Israel
Let the healing grace of your love, O Lord,
so transform me that I may play my part
in the transfiguration of the world
from a place of suffering,
obedient to your Spirit
that my life may become a living prayer,
and a witness to your unfailing presence.  Amen.   

Hymn of the Day
Psalm 121, by the Soma Trio.  Listen as you read and pray.

Reading of the Day                                                       Philippians 3: 12-21
    12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16 Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.
    17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

Prayers for self and others
Please pray today for those who are being affected by COVID 19. Please pray for Mark Sabala, working with Covid patients as a nurse, Marcy Szeliga, working as a case investigator and contact tracer, for Romie, whose father passed away recently and whose mother has now died of the virus, for Sylvia Washer, and for all who have been recently diagnosed with- or are recovering from- the virus.  Please pray for wisdom and compassion for corporate leaders, as they decide ways to keep their companies going with all the challenges to personnel. As we hear of more friends who are directly affected, or who are working in high risk places, we will list them here.  Use this time to lift your joys, concerns, and hopes to God.

Benediction
Whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God through him.
Amen.