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: Ephesians 1.11-23
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places,4 even as he chose us in
him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us
for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according
to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his
glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In
him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our
trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which
he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making
known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which
he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the
fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things
on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an
inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works
all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who
were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In
him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who
is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the
praise of his glory.
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, your plan is way
better than ours. Thank you for choosing us in Christ and conforming us to your
will instead of our own. Just as you exerted your power when you raised Christ,
exert it on me and upon your church. Daily grant our fickle ears to hear afresh
the word of truth… that we may believe you and live for the praise of your
glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
“I believe in the Holy Spirit…”
What does this mean?
I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe
in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me
through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved
me in the true faith. In the same way, he calls, gathers, enlightens, and
sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and preserves it in unity with
Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church, he daily forgives
abundantly all my sins and the sins of all believers. At the last day, he will
raise me and all the dead and will grant everlasting life to me and to all who
believe in Christ. This is most certainly true! (from The Small Catechism
by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: And
after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has
called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support,
strengthen, and establish you this day.
To him be the power forever and ever.
Amen. (1 Pet 5:10 )
*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: 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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