[Membersandfriends] Friday, September 10, 2004

Thu Sep 9 22:02:23 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Friday, September 10, 2004

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POWER TO TRANSFORM
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Romans 12:1-2 and Psalm 119:97-103 (NRSV)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Oh, how I love your law! 
     It is my meditation all day long. 
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, 
     for it is always with me. 
I have more understanding than all my teachers, 
     for your decrees are my meditation. 
I understand more than the aged, 
     for I keep your precepts. 
I hold back my feet from every evil way, 
     in order to keep your word. 
I do not turn away from your ordinances, 
     for you have taught me. 
How sweet are your words to my taste, 
     sweeter than honey to my mouth!

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Says the LORD:  I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.
- Jeremiah 31:33 (NRSV)
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ONE day recently, I needed to be near God; but rather than entering the presence of the Creator, I found myself singing an advertising jingle.  Sometimes a disturbing scene from a movie, a bad joke, or a trite commercial gets stuck in our consciousness, like a bad dream that won't go away.  At other times, we become obsessed with anxiety, depression, worry, or fear. 

Paul recognized that the condition of our souls is closely related to the content of our minds.  But how are our minds "renewed"?

One means is meditating on scripture, to select a verse -- maybe the one featured in THE UPPER ROOM each day -- and perhaps even try to memorize it before doing anything else.  By the help of the Holy Spirit, as we continue to think about the verse and repeat its words, it will become imprinted on our minds and written on our hearts.  This can transform us.

Then, when we are in a crisis or simply need a reassuring voice, help will be readily accessible.  God's word, taken into us, transforms us.  It is grace-in-mind, exactly what we need to hear.

Prayer:  Loving God, renew our minds as we meditate on and memorize scripture.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The words of scripture have power to transform us.

-- Derek Maul (Florida, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Those desiring spiritual renewal

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RELATED READING ...

Taking readers through the chaos and confusion often felt in our lives, ABUNDANCE: Joyful Living in Christ shifts the focus from living a life of scarcity to a life of abundance. Marilyn Oden offers faith and inspiration to help deal with difficult issues and move us onward in the spiritual journey.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=85256

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.