The document contains prayers for the morning, including a responsive reading of Psalm 130. It also includes a short bible passage from John 6:5-14 about Jesus feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. The thought for the day reflects on how the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers gives them the same power that Jesus had to perform miracles. It encourages asking and believing to be amazed by what the Spirit can do. The document closes with a prayer asking God to fill people with love, wisdom and to perfect what they have begun.

1. August 20, 2014
Morning
Prayers

2. Introduction
The night has passed, and the day lies open before
us; let us pray with one heart and mind.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and forever!
If you are praying with another person – read responsively
where appropriate.

3. The Psalm – Psalm 130
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
1
I cry out to you from the depths, LORD—
2
my Lord, listen to my voice!
Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy!
3
If you kept track of sins, LORD—
my Lord, who would stand a chance?
4
But forgiveness is with you—
that’s why you are honored.
5
I hope, LORD.
My whole being hopes,
and I wait for God’s promise.
6
My whole being waits for my Lord—
more than the night watch waits for morning;
yes, more than the night watch waits for morning!
7
Israel, wait for the LORD!
Because faithful love is with the LORD;
because great redemption is with our God!
8
He is the one who will redeem Israel
from all its sin.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

4. Short Reading and Meditation
5When he looked up and saw a large crowd
coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where
are we to buy bread for these people to eat?"
6He said this to test him, for he himself knew
what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him,
"Six months' wages would not buy enough bread
for each of them to get a little." 8One of his
disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to
him, 9"There is a boy here who has five barley
loaves and two fish. But what are they among so
many people?" 10Jesus said, "Make the people
sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in
the place; so they sat down, about five thousand
in all. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he
had given thanks, he distributed them to those
who were seated; so also the fish, as much as
they wanted. 12When they were satisfied, he
told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left
over, so that nothing may be lost." 13So they
gathered them up, and from the fragments of
the five barley loaves, left by those who had
eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14When the
people saw the sign that he had done, they
began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is
to come into the world.”
Thought for Today
We marvel as we read about
Jesus performing many miracles
exhibiting the power God had
given Him. Sometimes we think,
“That was then. This is now”.
But when Jesus left, God then
gave us the Holy Spirit and the
Spirit has the same power that
Jesus had. We grossly
underestimate the power
available to us today as
believers because the Holy
Spirit dwells within us.
Meditate on this, ask and
believe, and prepare to be
AMAZED!
John 6:5-14

5. Prayer
Pray Silently or Aloud for Others and Yourself
Look upon us, O Lord,
and let all the darkness of our souls
vanish before the beams of thy brightness.
Fill us with holy love,
and open to us the treasures of thy wisdom.
All our desire is known unto thee,
therefore perfect what thou hast begun,
and what thy Spirit has awakened us to ask in prayer.
We seek thy face,
turn thy face unto us and show us thy glory.
Then shall our longing be satisfied,
and our peace shall be perfect.
(Augustine, 354 - 430)