Friday, October 25, 2013

Around the World


   Psalm 67[

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face shine on us—[b]
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
    your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you rule the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest;
    God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still,
    so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.Psalm 67:1-7

Jesus said, “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”  - John 17:21 (NRSV)
 

When I open my computer each morning I’m excited to read the meditation from The Upper Room. Not only do I get a message that guides or uplifts me during the day; I also have fellowship with Christians all over the world. I have a chance to pray for the circumstances of the authors — for their bereavement, struggles of faith, or rejoicing. I next pray for the country where the day’s writer lives. Recently I have prayed for Japan, Germany, Spain, Australia, Canada, and my own country, England. The various U.S. states have been featured in my prayers as well. On my wall hangs a large map of the world to help me locate the countries I’m not very familiar with.

Each morning I get a thrill as I realize that people all over the world are reading these same scripture passages and meditations and praying about the same concerns. Though we read and pray at different times, our problems, searchings, and rejoicings are similar, and we all can receive answers and help as we read.
And because we read and pray at different times, as we do a wave of prayer moves around the globe.

 

Prayer

All praise to you, faithful God, that you listen to us and have compassion on us. Amen.
 
Prayer focus  Those who write for The Upper Room
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