Invitatory: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,
says the Lord of hosts.” Zech 4.6
Morning prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the almighty God, send
your Holy Spirit into our hearts through your blessed word, that he may rule
and guide us according to your will; strengthen us in every trial and need; and
lead us, past all error, into your truth; that we may stand fast in faith,
increase in love and all good works, and by the sure hope of your grace, which
you have obtained for us by your death, be saved eternally; for you live and
reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. (Viet
Dietrich in Otto Dietz, Die Evangelien-Kooekten des Viet Dietrich, p.
57)
Bible reading for the day: Genesis 11.1-9
1 Now
the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people
migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled
there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks,
and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for
mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a
tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest
we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5 And the Lord
came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6
And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one
language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that
they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us
go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one
another's speech.” 8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the
face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore
its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all
the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the
earth.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you, you have
already given us the best name of all: Christian… follower of Christ. Thank you. Repent us of wanting to make a
different name for ourselves; repent us of all our “immortality tower”
projects. In the midst of a church and a
world that babel… put the clear name of Jesus on our lips and in our lives… so
that the world may know you. In Jesus’
name I ask this, amen.
“What is the significance of baptizing with water?
It signifies that the old
Adam in us, together with all sins and evil desires, should be drowned by daily
sorrow for sin and repentance and be put to death, and that the new person
should come forth every day and rise to live before God in righteousness and
purity forever.
Where is this written?
Saint Paul says in Romans,
“We were buried therefore with him by Baptism into death, in order that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might
walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 ESV).
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved, classic hymn which gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Vk59SHSWs
Benediction: The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in
believing, that we may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Romans
15.13)
*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
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.
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