Your King

Verse for the week: “Prepare the way of the Lord...behold, the Lord comes with might.”  Isaiah 40:3,10

Prayer for this week of Advent: “Lord, accept our prayer and supplication, and grant that we may heed the call of John to prepare the way for your Son, and receive him into our hearts, that we may become your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.” (K. B. Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2^nd ed.  Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verlag, 1948)

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 72.1-11, 18-19

Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to the royal son!
² May he judge your people with righteousness,
    and your poor with justice!
³ Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness!
⁴ May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the children of the needy,
    and crush the oppressor!

⁵ May he live while the sun endures,
    and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
⁶ May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
    like showers that water the earth!
⁷ In his days may the righteous flourish,
    and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

⁸ May he have dominion from sea to sea,
    and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth!
⁹ May desert tribes bow down before him,
    and his enemies lick the dust!
¹⁰ May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
    render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
    bring gifts!
¹¹ Yes, all kings must pay homage to him,
    all nations serve him!

¹⁸Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    who alone does wondrous things.
¹⁹ Blessed be his glorious name forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method**): Gracious and almighty Lord, this prayer is full of good things to ask for in a king; thank you for giving us the only king who fulfills it: your Son, Jesus Christ. Daily teach me, our nation, all nations, and the rulers of this world to bow in homage to him. Blessed be your name O Lord, forever. Amen and amen!

Hymn: follow this link to an excerpt from G.F. Handel’s “Messiah” that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YaGwI7GjlA

“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. (The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther; Reclaim Resources © 2010)

Benediction: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

Psalm 147.10-11

*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.