Verse for the week: For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you
are light. Live as children of light— Ephesians 5.8
Prayer for the week: “Lord God, whose strength is sufficient for all who lay hold on it,
grant us in you to comfort our hearts and be unshaken. Humility, temperance, purity,
largeheartedness, sympathy, zeal – grant us these evidences of faith, servants
of hope, fruits of love; for the sake of Jesus Christ, our strength, our
righteousness, and our hope of glory.
Amen. (Christina Rossetti, quoted in Fox, A Chain of Prayer, p.161).
Bible reading for the day: Genesis 15.1-6
After these things the
word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I
am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”2 But
Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless,
and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And
Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my
household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word
of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your
very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he
brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars,
if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your
offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord,
and he counted it to him as righteousness.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank for your promise
that you are indeed my Lord, now and unto eternity. Deliver me and my
congregation from the anxious impatience that distrusts your promise. When I
usurp your promise and displace my trust in you, speak to me afresh like you
did Abraham, let me know again that your promise is more vast than the stars
and you are the one to be trusted. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.
Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives
further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrJ3WKNeeRA
I believe in God, the Father almighty…
What
does this mean?
I believe that God has
created me and all that exists, that he has given me and still preserves my
body and soul, my eyes and ears, my reason and all my senses, together with
food and clothing, home and family, and all my property. Every day he provides
abundantly for all the needs of my life. He
protects me from all danger and guards and keeps me from every evil. He
does this purely out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not
deserve it. Therefore, I ought to thank, praise, serve, and obey him. This is
most certainly true! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther
©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
benediction:
Now to him who by the power at work
within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or
imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
*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
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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