O Lord

The word “hope” seems to be experiencing a revival these days.  Thinking on that this morning these two quotes came to mind:

“So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”  2 Cor. 4:16

“This is another day, O Lord.  I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be.”  In the Morning – Book of Common Prayer

I have always liked the Book of Common Prayer passage, particularly for the versatility of the  “This is another day, O Lord” part.  Some days I say the “O Lord” in a prayerful way; on other days it comes out more as a statement of exasperation and dread. – “Oh Lord!”  It is particularly in those latter “O Lord!” days that I need to be reminded that while the “outer self” may, as I see it be “wasting away,” when it looks like things are really turning to (or already are) #%*!, I need that belief/hope that the “inner self is being renewed day by day.”

“So we do not lose heart.”