Verse for the week: God is light and in him is no darkness at all. I John 1.5
Prayer for the week: Gracious Lord God, magnify the wisdom of your ways for us and grant
that in childlike trust we may commit ourselves to your fatherly guidance. Uphold us by your hand, guide us with your
counsel, and receive us at last into glory; through Jesus Christ, your Son our
Lord. Amen.” (adapted from, Kirchenbuch fur die Gemeinde (Isenhagen), quoted
in Orate Fratres, p. 64).
Bible reading for the day: Philippians 1.1-11 (note: Imprisoned for preaching
Christ as Lord, Paul writes from his cell to the congregation.)
Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at
Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always
in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because
of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And
I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it
to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It
is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my
heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my
imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God
is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ
Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love
may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so
that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and
blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with
the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the
glory and praise of God.
prayer(based on
the TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty
Father, as one year ends, thank you for the fruit of righteous through Christ
which you have chosen to begin in me and my congregation. Thank you! Repent us
of all ingratitude, stinginess when it comes to love, and ignorance of your
Word. Teach me to start every day on my knees in thanksgiving… and bring to
fruition what you have begun in us… to the glory and praise of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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=0k1WhFtVp0o
“Hallowed by thy name…” The First Petition of the
Lord’s Prayer
What
does this mean?
God's name is indeed holy in
itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy also among us.
How is this done?
God's name is hallowed when
his Word is taught in its truth and purity and we, as God's children, lead holy
lives in harmony with it. Grant this to us, dear Father in heaven! But whoever
teaches and lives in ways other than what God's Word teaches dishonors the name
of God among us. Prevent us from doing this, heavenly Father! (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:
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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