Verse for the week:
How great is your goodness, O Lord…which you have done in the sight
of all who put their trust in you. Psalm 31.19
Prayer for the week: “Merciful God, you resist the
proud but give grace to the humble. Help
us to trust you utterly, to rest our hope and confidence in you, and to serve
you with pure hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete
fur das jahr der Kirche, 2nd ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p. 193).
Bible reading for the day: Proverbs 9.1-6 (note: for more, read the
whole ninth chapter and you will hear the juxtaposition of wisdom and folly;
the former nourishes while the latter devours)
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for the
lasting, nourishing feast that is the table of your wisdom: Christ broken and
poured out for our forgiveness. Thank you!
The wisdom of my will is really folly that leads me astray, leaves my
ego fat and my soul empty; deliver me from my self, Lord. Each day give me ears
to hear you… that I may turn in and be fed by your word and walk in the way of insight. I ask this in Jesus’ name, 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: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. II Cor 13.14
*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
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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