Verse for the week: “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my
hope is from him.” Psalm 62.5
Prayer for this week: “Lord, open our ears and hearts, that we may heed
your hidden wisdom and let your word be a light to our path. Speak to us through your living word, that we
may obey your call and follow him whom you have sent, Jesus Christ our Savior,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(K.B. Ritter, Gebete für das jahr
der Kirche, 2nd ed.
Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.180 )
Bible reading for the day: I Peter
3.12-17
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous
for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer
for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of
them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your
hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a
defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do
it with gentleness and respect,16 having a good
conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good
behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it
is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for
doing evil.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Lord, thank you that your eyes
and ears know the truth. Repent mine from fearing it… from fearing anyone or anything
above you. Reign always in my heart – especially when my will doesn’t want you
to – reign always in me… that I may be prepared to gently, respectfully, and
with a good conscience give reason for the hope that is mine… and that reason
is named Jesus Christ… who in his mercy makes wrong ones like me righteous. In
his name I ask this, amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved, classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lelJPwbuFPQ
“Thy kingdom come…”
What does this mean?
The
kingdom of God comes indeed by itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this
petition that it may also come to us.
How
is this done?
God's
kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us his Holy Spirit, so that by his
grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly life now and in eternity. (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
T:
thanksgiving
R:
reget (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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