Verse for the week: “I will pour out a spirit of
compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on me, on him whom
they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child,
and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.” Zechariah 12.10
Prayer for the week:
God, our heavenly Father, through your Son you have promised us the
Holy Spirit. Send down upon us that
Spirit, that he may teach us to show forth your praise, not only here on earth
in weakness, since we know your power and glory only from afar, but also in
power and glory on that day when, united with the choir of angels, we shall see
you face to face; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirche,2nd
ed. Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verlag, 1948, p.150)
Bible reading for the day: John 16.22-33 (note: it is
the night of Jesus’ arrest. He knows that all his disciples will flee him. He
has told them that they cannot bear what he has to say to them, that his Holy
Spirit will take what is his and declare it to them.)
So also you have
sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you
will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask
of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until
now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will
receive, that your joy may be full.
25 “I have said these things to you in figures
of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in
figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In
that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the
Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves
you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from
God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the
world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking
plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we
know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this
is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus
answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the
hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to
his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the
Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you,
that in me you may have peace. In the world you will
have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Prayer (based on
T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
Jesus’ promise that one day we will have nothing left to ask of him, we long
for that day. In the meantime, forgive us for being so easily scattered away
from you and one another. In the thick of our tribulation, move us to call on
you, Father, in your Son’s name… that we may trust in his victory over our sin,
death and the Devil. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI
“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord…”
What does this mean?
I believe that Jesus Christ — true God, begotten of the
Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary — is my Lord.
He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, and has freed me from sin,
death, and the power of the devil, not with silver and gold, but with his holy
and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this
in order that I might be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him
in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as he is risen from
the dead and lives and reigns for all eternity. This is most certainly true! (from The Small Catechism, by Martin
Luther, ©Reclaim Resources, Sola Publishing, 2011)
Benediction: The
peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Phil 4.7
*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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