Verse for the week:
“May you be strengthened… according to his glorious might, giving
thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the
saints in light.” Colossians 1.12
Prayer for the week:
“Almighty God, draw our hearts to you, guide our minds, fill our
imaginations, control our wills, so that we may be wholly yours. Use us as you
will, always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen” (Lutheran Book of Worship)
Bible reading for the day: Luke 6.20-31
20 And he lifted up his eyes on
his disciples, and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom
of God.
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for
you shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and
when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of
the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for
behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the
prophets.
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have
received your consolation.
25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall
be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of
you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse
you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the
cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not
withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you,
and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And
as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: I am
blessed when I least expect it, when the world doesn’t see it, and through no
merit of my own. I am blessed because
Christ is my Lord. Thank you! Make me
hear and heed your word of warning as well. Repent me and your whole church of
our pre-occupation with our own comfort, our stomachs, and our pride. Grant your word such a hearing in our hearts
and ears that we may love our enemies, give when asked, and do unto others as
you would have us do. I ask this in
Jesus’ name, amen.
“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: 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
T:
thanksgiving
R:
repentance/ regret
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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