Invitatory: Prepare the way of the Lord...behold,
the Lord comes with might.” Isaiah
40:3,10
Prayer for the 2nd week of Advent: “Lord,
accept our prayer and supplication, and grant that we may heed the call of John
to prepare the way for your Son, and receive him into our hearts, that we may
become your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (K. B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verlag, 1948)
Bible
reading for the day: Malachi 3.1-4
“Behold,
I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom
you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in
whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But
who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he
is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a
refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine
them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to
the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing
to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.
Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and
almighty Lord, thank you for sending the message of Christ for me. Repent me
and your whole church of thinking we can endure him, have him as our partner or
religious assistant…instead of our Lord.
Even as you take me down and reveal the frailty and failing of my own
faith, refine me and stand me up afresh in your righteousness… that I may be
pleasing to you. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Music: follow
this link to a beloved classic by G.F. Handel which gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ0ScF0qzBQ
The First Commandment
You shall have no
other gods before me. (Ex 20.2)
What does this mean?
We should fear, love, and trust God above all else.
(from The Small
Catechism, by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction:
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom
I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 147.10-11
*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.
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