This Is Another Day: Reflections on Scripture, Faith, and Prayer for Action

By Deborah A. Lee

This Is Another Day is a collection of daily meditations crafted to be a companion on your spiritual journey. Written from the heart, these devotional reflections invite us into God’s word in order for us to speak a shared language of love, inspiration, sustenance, and even challenge as we journey together into unknown seasons. Buoyed by the overwhelming grace of Christ, we are called by Jesus—whose resurrection transcends death and fear—to keep our hearts and minds set on hope, love, mercy, justice, thanksgiving, and reconciliation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9781664292413

Deborah A. Lee

THE REVEREND DEBORAH A. LEE is an ordained Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and parish ministry leader. In addition to her Master of Divinity degree, she holds a Master of Arts degree in counseling and worked as a mental health therapist and educator. She joined forces with several non-profit social justice organizations in the United States and internationally, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco. Deborah is a true foodie, enjoys the art of photography, relishes travel and the outdoors, and loves to sing. She can be contacted at www.revdeborahlee.com.

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Copyright © 2023 Deborah A. Lee.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-9240-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9242-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-9241-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023903663

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/18/2023

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

All Scripture marked with the designation GW is taken from GOD’S WORD®. © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

Scripture marked (ISV) taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.0. Copyright © 1996-2013 by the ISV Foundation. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture marked (NKJV) taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

INTRODUCTION

These daily reflections began as a video outreach ministry as churches were figuring out how to navigate the uncertainty of life together in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. I began writing and recording these meditations when we could not be near one another in church for in-person worship, or able to fellowship with one another due to quarantine protocols. Even though the coronavirus kept us physically apart, our hearts could still be knit together in Spirit. During this time, these two- to three-minute daily videos emerged from the unpredictability we faced as a way to anchor us in the midst of so much change.

The title of this collection comes from a prayer in the Episcopal tradition:

This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, page 461)

Much to my surprise, these video meditations resulted in a twelve-month pilgrimage of prayer and faith, reaching and traveling way beyond any scope I could ever have imagined, like wafting incense. I was deeply moved and humbled by the many messages of encouragement I received about how helpful this or that reflection had been from people around the country and even from other parts of the globe, with thousands of views by people on social media platforms.

This Is Another Day is a collection of daily meditations crafted to be a companion on your spiritual journey. Each Bible verse is accompanied by a short reflection and a prayer to help encourage and strengthen you as God transforms your contemplation into action. Written from the heart, these devotional reflections invite us into God’s word in order for us to speak a shared language of love, inspiration, sustenance, and even challenge as we journey together into unknown seasons. Buoyed by the overwhelming grace of Christ, we are called by Jesus—whose resurrection transcends death and fear—to keep our hearts and minds set on hope, love, mercy, justice, gratitude, and reconciliation.

This is another day to continue the work of faith and prayer through the offering of these reflections. American gospel singer and activist Mahalia Jackson said, Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; [we] cannot live in health without them. So, my friends, let us never neglect to take our daily vitamins!

Lord, as we continue to journey forward as your people, keep us grounded in prayer and faithful action according to your will and for the setting forth of your glory.

For Mom –

My soul is rich

and my life is beautiful

because of you.

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I long, yes, faint with longing to be able to enter your courtyard and come near to the Living God.

—PSALM 84:2

I must admit that on a regular basis, I don’t practice a display of earnestness about God that God truly deserves. How often do I faint with longing for God? How much of the time am I truly in awe of God? We use the word awesome a lot, as in You got free tickets to the game? Awesome!

This is another day for me to be in awe of God in my daily steps, like when I wash my dishes or pour coffee into my mug. It’s not just the big things—seeing the Milky Way or fireworks over the Hudson River—that should bring forth awe. Awe is being aware of God’s magnificence and presence everywhere, at any time . . . because God is magnificent and present everywhere and at all times. Living in awe is to be able to breathe in a Thank you, God and breathe out a You are breathtaking. Even when the coffee spills and the dish shatters. Or the virus strikes. That doesn’t change the fact that God is awesome.

Lord, we pray for you to show us your awesome wonder today.

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I am with you to protect and deliver you.

—JEREMIAH 15:20

We have two choices when we read those words: either we believe them or we don’t. When I lose sight of my inner compass and the truth that I know and instead fall prey to what I feel and see, it is tough for me to believe them. Yet the words are there, day after day, beckoning me to believe.

This is another day for me to take those words to heart. God doesn’t make promises lightly. I can trust God’s words, for they are for me—for us all. And God is for me—and for us all. I can trust them because they originate in the deepest place of love.

Lord, enable us to grasp the truth of these words today.

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O Lord, I know it is not within the power of a human being to map their life and plan their course.

—JEREMIAH 10:23

These are humbling words, especially in this culture of independence in which we live and in the face of the unpredictable. I know that I try to control things in life that I have no business trying to control. But I think this verse is about something different. I think it’s about recognizing that God is God, and that we are not. I don’t know about you, but for me that brings a huge sigh of relief.

This is another day to remember who is boss—that I don’t have to know it all, do it all, plan it all. My strategies, blueprints, and designs for my day are, at best, God’s grace in lending me God’s creative genius. At worst, they are the web I get trapped in when I foolishly believe I know better than God does about how my day is supposed to go.

Lord, show us your desires for our day today.

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Be careful how you listen.

—LUKE 8:18

I needed to be reminded of this today. We allow words to enter into our consciousness and permit them to steer the course of our day. It makes me think how I can allow words that hurt or impoverish me to rise, while the words that nourish somehow become buried. And then I need to ask myself how I have been listening as words trip off my tongue. Many of us listen indiscriminately, but as we well know words have power.

This is another day to pay attention to what I allow to enter in . . . and how I let it enter. Are the words coming through ears that are full of frustration, irritation, or disappointment? Or will I receive them with ears full of peacefulness and compassion? How I listen depends upon my attitude at any given moment.

God, please show us how to listen to you today.

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Jesus went out into the mountains to pray, and prayed all night.

—LUKE 6:12

In New York City, our mountains are skyscrapers. How can we transform our offices and homes into mountain prayer caves where we can pray throughout the day? Between meetings, reports, phone calls, homeschooling, and emails, prayer is often the last thing on our minds. Jesus didn’t have to do business calls, but he was interrupted a lot. Hence he often prayed at night while everyone else was asleep.

We can follow his example, even in our present day. We can bring God into our days through prayer as we make our bodies into movable altars. We can have those times when we look up to God with our hearts, even in the middle of a meeting, and think, Lord, I know you are there. Let your grace lift me up.

This is another day to have a prayerful mind and to seek the sustenance Jesus sought from his Father.

Lord, remind us today that you are enough in any given situation.

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God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble!

—PSALM 46:1–3

And so we need not fear. Fear can become a daily companion and is many times my default mechanism instead of faith. But it need not be so. God is tested help. I can look back upon God’s past faithfulness to me and know that God will always come through victoriously on my behalf. It may not be on my timetable or look like what I want it to look like. I may not recognize or fully understand, but I can know that God’s help is sure and perfect because we are loved.

Today is another day to rely upon this tested help. To climb into that refuge and experience that strength. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, confused, or just plain weary of the fight, to know that fear does not have to have the last word is soul-nourishing.

Lord, help us to focus today upon your faithfulness and not upon our fear.

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Your words are a flashlight to light the path ahead of me.

—PSALM 119:105

Well, thank God for that! There are some days when I don’t know whether I am coming or going, especially when one is working from home and the days seem to all run together. But God always knows what day it is and my exact coordinates. And God’s words guide me, challenge me, soothe me, ignite me. And that light orders my steps and makes my way clear through the confusion and the chaos.

Notice that it is only the compact glow similar to that of a flashlight that I am given in order to see just a few steps ahead, and not an intense, wide-angle spotlight that would uncover way more territory than I could handle at any particular moment. Mercifully, God gives me wisdom about what I need to know, how much I need to know, and when I need to know it. I don’t get or need to know the whole story all at once, and that’s probably a blessing.

This is another day to trust in God’s words and promises. God’s words are sure, and they make my steps secure. When I am in doubt today, I can turn on the flashlight of the promises found in God’s words.

Lord, direct our path with the truth of your Word today.

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This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.

—ISAIAH 55:8–11

How often do I ask, Why are you allowing this to happen to me, Lord? Whatever this is, it usually isn’t a plan that I would work out for myself. Rather, I am humbled because no matter if the situation is something I would label positive or negative, or disheartening or joyous—the fact is that it remains squarely within the hands of God, and so do I. That never changes.

This is another day to remember that whatever happens to me during the next twenty-four hours, God is big enough, powerful enough, and wise enough to handle it, to care for me in it, and to bring me through it. Whatever the storm raging around me, God can say Peace, be still into my heart. And whatever the joyous surprise, God can celebrate with me in my gratitude. For God’s ways and thoughts are higher than mine.

Lord, help us to lean upon your more than capable shoulders today, no matter what may come.

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When God’s children are in need, you be the one to help them out.

—ROMANS 12:13

We are Christ’s hands and feet. But giving help to others need not only come from our hands and feet alone. A word that richly blesses; a smile that soothes; ears that are attentive to another’s plight; the loving silence of being present in companionship; a simple phone call. These are ways that can help God’s children in need. In difficult days of isolation and separation, we can still bless the space between us, to borrow the title of one of my favorite books by John O’Donohue. When we do this for others, we remind another of God’s presence and God reaches through us to say to that person, I see you and I love you.

This is another day to help in ways that may seem insignificant or minor but can mean a world of difference to someone in need of the love we have to offer through these tiny acts of service.

Lord, show us opportunities to show your love to those whom we encounter today.

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Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?

—PROVERBS 20:24

Most of the time I just want to know why, why, why? Why did this happen? Why did that happen? What’s going to happen? And most of the time, these questions stem from a genuinely inquiring and curious mind searching for understanding.

But I admit that many times, the underlying motive for the question is just plain old fear. I’m scared of what could happen, and so I begin to obsess over all the possible outcomes. I forget that I have already asked God to direct and order my steps every day, that such a prayer is always answered in the affirmative, and that God really knows what God’s doing. So why do I have to understand everything and worry about what I do not understand?

This is another day to chill out. Not a very theological concept, but it captures what I think the above scripture verse conveys. If I have asked the Lord to guide me, then I can trust God even in the ambiguities of my day.

Lord, help us to remember today that you really do know what you are doing, and that you are good.

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Not one sparrow (What do they cost? Two for a penny?) can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t worry! You are more valuable to him than many sparrows.

—MATTHEW 10:29–31

Every time I (vainly, I admit) pluck out one of my gray hairs (yeah, they’re in there!), I think about this passage. Wonder what the new hair count is now, I muse. Only God knows. And the fact that God does know this astounds me. I forget that there is nothing that escapes God’s knowledge. With God, nothing—and no one—falls through the cracks. Sometimes, though, it feels like God is awfully silent—as if I have disappeared off the divine radar screen. Yet Jesus tells me that without a doubt, that is definitely not the case.

This is another day to go about my daily round remembering that I am very valuable to God. That I matter to God. That I am known, seen, and fully understood by God, even when I don’t understand. That God walks with me today and always.

Lord, help us to recognize your constant and loving presence with us and in us today and always.

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You have become living building-stones for God’s use in building God’s house.

—1 PETER 2:5

Even during times of economic strain I can always still see several major ongoing construction projects happening in New York City. A new floor is added to one; restoration is occurring on another. The city continues to be built up and made new with each addition. I want to be like that—continually being made new and built up by God. I want to always be under construction. God is not done building God’s house, and God invites us each day to be a part of God’s architectural plans. How am I answering the call?

This is another day for me to be attentive to how God wants to use me as a living building-stone for God. Who will God place in my path today? On what task does God want me to focus? In the process, I will be made new and will be transformed, for God is the master builder.