Prayer for the week:
“Lord, take us – body, soul, and mind – and make us wholly
yours. So increase your grace in us that
not our own desires but your holy will may rule us all in all; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete
fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p. 185).
Bible reading for the day: Matthew 14.22-33
22 Immediately he made the disciples get
into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the
crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the
crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening
came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this
time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind
was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch
of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But
when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and
said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But
immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not
be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He
said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the
water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the
wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save
me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and
took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did
you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the
boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in
the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for being
the trustworthy one. Repent me and my
congregation of worrying about the wind and the waves and of doubting you.
Teach us to cry to you hourly… reach out and save us from ourselves and our sinking
faith. For only when you take hold of us, are our lives set on the solid confession
that Jesus Christ is your Son, our Lord.
I ask this in his name, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved, classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMapZB8qMk
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). (from The Small Catechism,
by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
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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