Invitatory:  “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3.19c

Morning prayer:  Dear Lord, the sacrifice acceptable to you is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.  Now teach me this Lord, for I cannot learn it on my own.  I ask this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Today’s Bible reading:  Romans 5.1-11 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method):  Gracious and almighty Father, thank you that you know exactly how to deal with your enemies: you reconciled us to yourself through the death of Jesus and you saved us by his life.  Thank you!  Now, while we live on the battlefield of daily life in this world, assure us of the hope that is ours in you…and through our suffering produce endurance, not the endurance of our will, but the endurance of faith that clings to Christ crucified and raised for us.  In Jesus name I ask this.  Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a contemporary Christian hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxB9VH3cCN4 

Benediction:  “May the Lord have mercy on you, according to his steadfast love; according to his abundant mercy may he blot out your transgressions.”  Psalm 51.1

*There are many patterns for devotions.  This pattern has been followed by God’s people for centuries.

**The T.R.I.P. approach to prayer is based on the way Martin Luther prayed and taught others to pray.  It was later developed by Walter and Ingrid Trobisch and then adapted by Mount Carmel Ministries (Alexandria, MN www.dailytext.com).  The method is founded on scripture and easy to remember:

T: thanksgiving

                                                                R: regret (repentance)

                                                                I: intercession (asking God to take a specific action)

                                                                P: plan or purpose

Reading a biblical text and then applying this method gives one a sound, simple way to form one’s prayers...not to mention that it helps one learn how to faithfully reflect on God’s Word and talk to God.