Invitatory: Come to me all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

Mt 11.28

Morning prayer: “Almighty God, grant to your church your Holy Spirit and the wisdom which comes down from heaven, that your word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve you and in the confession of your name abide to the end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Andreas Althamer, Katechismus,  1528 – first Lutheran Catechism – text in Alligemeines Evangelisches Gebetbuch, 1955, p. 435)

Bible reading for the day:  Psalm 92

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
² to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
³ to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
⁴ For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

⁵ How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!
⁶ The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
⁷ that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction forever;
⁸ but you, O Lord, are on high forever.
⁹ For behold, your enemies, O Lord,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.

¹⁰ But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over me fresh oil.
¹¹ My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.

¹² The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
¹³ They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
¹⁵ to declare that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

prayer(based on the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Father thank you, you have indeed made me glad by your work, especially your best work of all: Jesus Christ crucified and raised for sinners like us.  Thank you!  Repent me and your whole church of the stupidity that fails to know the temporary flourish of wickedness for what it is.  Grant always that we may be planted in your house, rooted in your word, and flourish even into old age… to the glory of your name, O Lord, through your Son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

“Hallowed be thy name…”

What does this mean?

God's name is indeed holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy also among us.

How is this done?

God's name is hallowed when his Word is taught in its truth and purity and we, as God's children, lead holy lives in harmony with it. Grant this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever teaches and lives in ways other than what God's Word teaches dishonors the name of God among us. Prevent us from doing this, heavenly Father!  (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

benediction:    May the God of peace himself grow you in his will entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.  Amen.  I Thess 5.23

*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.