The Right Kind of Fear

Verse for the week: Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.  Psalm 98.1

Prayer for the week: “Lord God, so rule and govern our heart, mind and purse by your Holy Spirit that, always keeping in mind the end of all things and the day of judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of life here and now and may live with you forever in the world to come; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.” (adapted from  prayer for the 26^th Sunday after Pentecost, Lutheran Book of Worship). 

Bible reading for the day: Malachi 4.1-3 (Malachi preached circa 430 BC; the Lord had brought his people back home from the Exile, the Temple and the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. However, many of the priests were false preaches who failed to rebuke the people for their sin. The people’s unfaithfulness to the Lord led to unfaithfulness in their marriages, their offering, their words. There was a minority, a remnant, who feared the Lord and he called them his “treasured possession,” 3.17).

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. ² But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. ³ And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

prayer (based on TRIP** method):  Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for your sovereignty and for your Son who has risen with healing for us in his wings. Repent me and my congregation of all arrogance and evil doing… for these reduce us to stubble. See to it daily that your word is rightly preached for us and by us. Teach us to fear, love and trust you above all else… for then we do indeed leap like calves from the stall. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

What does this mean?

Here God encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father, and that we are truly his children, so we may boldly and confidently pray to him, just as beloved children speak to their dear father.

 (from The Small Catechism by Martin Luther ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)

benediction:    Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)  

*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.