Today’s Reflection

My definition of a soul reset is a hard stop of chronic busyness; a deep look inward and an intentional look to God; and a new, more holistic journey forward that more closely resembles an abundant life into which Jesus calls his disciples.

—Junius B. Dotson, Soul Reset: Breakdown, Breakthrough, and the Journey to Wholeness (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM1026 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

How does the idea of taking a pause, looking deep inside yourself, and reaching out for God resonate within your soul? Share your thoughts. Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

—Psalm 23:1-3a (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. —from Psalm 63:1 (NRSV)
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20
• Psalm 19
• Philippians 3:4b-14
• Matthew 21:33-46

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through November 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

Our faith commitment joins us to other pilgrims on the way, we are challenged to live the new life together. We become part of that continuing community of God’s people who exhibit willingness to listen to one another.

—Elizabeth J. Canham, Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today (Upper Room Books, 1999)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

Have you ever listened with love to someone who you disagreed with? How did their perspective change your heart? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other.
—Philippians 2:2-11 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

O God, you sow seeds of life and love in places where others have lost all hope for success. Give me the faith to plant seeds alongside you, even if I never see the harvest. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
• Philippians 2:1-13
• Matthew 21:23-32

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

Be where you are. Refuse the fantasy of “if only.” Remember that discipleship is about faithful living, not visible success. Be prepared to wait, sometimes a long time, to hear the word of God that tells you to move on.

—Elizabeth J. Canham, Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today (Upper Room Books, 1999)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

How have you remained committed to things that may have initially seemed hopeless? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Has God forgotten how to be gracious?
Has he angrily stopped up his compassion?”

—Psalm 77:9 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

O God, you sow seeds of life and love in places where others have lost all hope for success. Give me the faith to plant seeds alongside you, even if I never see the harvest. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
• Philippians 2:1-13
• Matthew 21:23-32

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

Our weekly gathering for worship recalls the need for rest, reminds us that God asks for a central place in our lives, and offers forgiveness for our failures, encouragement on the way, and grace to keep us from giving up.

—Elizabeth J. Canham, Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today (Upper Room Books, 1999)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

How do your weekly gatherings of worship remind you and encourage you in your faith? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Therefore, let’s make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.
—Hebrews 4:11 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

O God, you sow seeds of life and love in places where others have lost all hope for success. Give me the faith to plant seeds alongside you, even if I never see the harvest. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
• Philippians 2:1-13
• Matthew 21:23-32

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

God gives every moment and no activity is so mundane that it cannot reveal divine presence. . . This work, these hands are pregnant with Christ-life waiting to be born into awareness.

—Elizabeth J. Canham, Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today (Upper Room Books, 1999)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

What are you working on, even something mundane, that God is waiting to give life to? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.
—John 12:24 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

O God, you sow seeds of life and love in places where others have lost all hope for success. Give me the faith to plant seeds alongside you, even if I never see the harvest. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
• Philippians 2:1-13
• Matthew 21:23-32

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

[We sometimes assume] that only what is large and observable has value. When we begin to live a spirituality of simplicity, our primary concern ceases to be success and becomes faithfulness.

—Elizabeth J. Canham, Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today (Upper Room Books, 1999)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

It is difficult to remain faithful to something when it seems to be unsuccessful. Have you ever found fruit in remaining faithful to something God had called you to over the long haul? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

His master replied, “Excellent! You are a good and faithful servant! You’ve been faithful over a little. I’ll put you in charge of much. Come, celebrate with me.”
—Matthew 25:21 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

O God, you sow seeds of life and love in places where others have lost all hope for success. Give me the faith to plant seeds alongside you, even if I never see the harvest. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
• Philippians 2:1-13
• Matthew 21:23-32

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

The monastic community recognizes everything as gift and therefore worthy of respect; members of the community are welcome guests in God’s world, not owners who exploit it. . . No one owns anything privately; all is on temporary loans.

—Elizabeth J. Canham, Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today (Upper Room Books, 1999)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

How would you live differently if you viewed everyone and everything that came through your door this way? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common.
—Acts 4:32 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

O God, you sow seeds of life and love in places where others have lost all hope for success. Give me the faith to plant seeds alongside you, even if I never see the harvest. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
• Philippians 2:1-13
• Matthew 21:23-32

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

God is Mystery, inviting me in these sacred pages to take off my shoes and stand silent on this holy ground. God is always beyond my imagining while remaining inexplicably present, infusing me with hunger for the word that gives life.

—Elizabeth J. Canham, Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today (Upper Room Books, 1999)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

When was the last time you felt that you were standing on God’s holy ground? What did it feel like to know you were in God’s presence? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Then the Lord said, “Don’t come any closer! Take off your sandals, because you are standing on holy ground.”
—Exodus 3:5 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

O God, you sow seeds of life and love in places where others have lost all hope for success. Give me the faith to plant seeds alongside you, even if I never see the harvest. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 17:1-7
• Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16
• Philippians 2:1-13
• Matthew 21:23-32

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

The more you depart from yourself, the more you will be able to enter into [God]. As the giving up of exterior things brings interior peace, so the forsaking of self unites you to God.

—Thomas À Kempis, edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Thomas À Kempis (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

How near are you to God? How far have you departed from selfishness? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace,
in peace because they trust in you.

—Isaiah 26:3 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

God, you are selfless to the core. Your love for others transcends all bounds. Give me just a portion of your selflessness, and I will be made anew. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 16:2-15
• Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
• Philippians 1:21-30
• Matthew 20:1-16

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.

Today’s Reflection

How extremely necessary to me, O Lord, your grace is to begin any good deed, to carry it on and bring it to completion! For without grace I can do nothing, but with its strength I can do all things in you.

—Thomas À Kempis, edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Thomas À Kempis (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0926 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

How has God’s grace strengthened you this week? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me.
—1 Corinthians 15:10 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

God, you are selfless to the core. Your love for others transcends all bounds. Give me just a portion of your selflessness, and I will be made anew. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Exodus 16:2-15
• Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
• Philippians 1:21-30
• Matthew 20:1-16

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through October 15, 2026.