The tumult of the peoples...

Verse for the week: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”  Isaiah 43.1

Prayer for the week: “O most loving Father, you want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing you, and to lay all our cares on you, knowing that you care for us.  Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide from us the light of your immortal love shown to us in your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.”  (Prayer for Trust, LBW #204, Minister’s Ed., p. 111).  

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 65.1-8

1 Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion,

    and to you shall vows be performed.

2 O you who hear prayer,

    to you shall all flesh come.

3 When iniquities prevail against me,

    you atone for our transgressions.

4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,

    to dwell in your courts!

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,

    the holiness of your temple!

5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,

    O God of our salvation,

the hope of all the ends of the earth

    and of the farthest seas;

6 the one who by his strength established the mountains,

    being girded with might;

7 who stills the roaring of the seas,

    the roaring of their waves,

    the tumult of the peoples,

8 so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.

You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

prayer (based on the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for choosing me and your whole church and bringing us near to you. In Christ you atone for our transgressions and promise that our iniquity will not prevail against us; thank you! Deliver us now from the tumult of the peoples and from our own small worries. Bring your due praise off my very own lips; in Jesus’ name I pray. 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=C6jslZT2aSM 

“I believe in the Holy Spirit…”

What does this mean for us?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith. In the same way, he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and preserves it in unity with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church, he daily forgives abundantly all my sins and the sins of all believers. At the last day, he will raise me and all the dead and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who believe in Christ. 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 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.