Invitatory: 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: Luke 8.26-39
26 Then
they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27
When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from
the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not
lived in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried
out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do
with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29
For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many
a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and
shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the
desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said,
“Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him
not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of
pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter
these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of
the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the
lake and drowned.
34 When
the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in
the country. 35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and
they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at
the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36
And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been
healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the
Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear.
So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the
demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away,
saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done
for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much
Jesus had done for him.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, you know exactly what to do with demons: cast them out. Thank you!
Repent me and you church of wanting to tame or manage Jesus. Each day,
heal us and put us in the right mind: the mind that sits at your feet in
humble, fresh faith… and proclaims how much Jesus has done for us. I ask this in his name, amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to a beloved new hymn that gives further voice to today’s
conversation with the Lord: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E
benediction: The Lord
will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your
coming in
From this time on and forevermore. Ps 121.7-8
*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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