Verse for the week:
Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever
more! Psalm 113.2
Prayer for the week:
“Lord God, grant unto us your Holy Spirit that we may hear and
accept your word, in order that, being
cleansed in mind and renewed in life, we may live to you, here and hereafter;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen” (K.B.
Ritter, Gebete fur das jahr der Kirched, 2nd
ed. Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.207).
Bible
reading for the day: I Timothy 2.1-7
(note: Paul writes to his beloved apprentice, Timothy, around the year 100 AD.
He wants Timothy and the congregation to avoid making a shipwreck of their
faith [see 1.19] so he instructs them to adhere to sound doctrine and to pray
for all people.)
1
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in
high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified
in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God
our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one
mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who
gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper
time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am
telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and
truth.
Prayer (based on TRIP
method**): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for
the slices of our daily bread that are relatively good government and a stable
community… a relatively peaceful and quiet life. Thank you even more for the
salvation and truth that are ours in Jesus Christ. You desire all people to be
saved and to come to knowledge of the truth… so repent me and your whole church
of straying from you, lagging in our prayers for those in authority and lagging
in our witness to Jesus Christ. You appointed us as pray-ers and messengers of
Jesus. Guide us to carry these out…so
that the neighborhood might be a better place and more people may be saved. I
ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: follow this
link to a beloved hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation with
the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZzIiaMDQxs
“Thy kingdom come…”
What does this
mean?
The kingdom of God comes indeed by itself, without our
prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may also come to us.
How is this done?
God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us his
Holy Spirit, so that by his grace we believe his holy Word and live a godly
life now and in eternity.
(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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