Verse for the week: “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my
hope is from him.” Psalm 62.5
Prayer for this week: “Lord, open our ears and hearts, that we may heed
your hidden wisdom and let your word be the light to our path. Speak to us through your living word, that we
may obey your call and follow him whom you have sent, Jesus Christ our Savior,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(K.B. Ritter, Gebete für das jahr
der Kirche, 2nd ed.
Kassel: Barenreiter Verlag, 1948, p.180 )
Bible reading for the day: Isaiah 9.1-6 (note:
The setting is late 7th century BC; God’s own people have rebelled
against him and prefer to walk in darkness. Isaiah proclaims a day yet to come
for them, not just a day in the future, but a day on which eternity will break
into the present through the birth of a particular child.)
1 But
there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time
he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of
Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea,
the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the bar across his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the bar across his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Prayer (based on TRIP** method): Gracious and almighty Lord, thank you for breaking
into our darkness in Jesus Christ and shattering Satan’s rod of sin that would
oppress us. In Jesus the yoke of our sin is broken, its weight lifted off our shoulders…
and we can stand upright and walk in the light. Thank you! Repent me and your
church of putting ourselves back under the yoke of darkness by rebelling
against you. The light of Christ has
dawned upon us; keep him coming…bring the whole day…for then we will really
know what rejoicing is. I ask this in
Jesus’ name, amen.
Hymn: follow
this link to an old-school, minor key, Finnish hymn that sings the tension of
longing for the whole day; it might put you to sleep while it yet awakens your
soulJ; verse one:
“Lost in the night do the
people yet languish, Longing for morning the darkness to vanquish, Plaintively
heaving a sigh full of anguish. Will not day come soon? Will not day come
soon?”
Verse three: “Sorrowing
wanderers in darkness yet dwelling, Dawned has the day of a radiance excelling,
Death’s dreaded darkness forever dispelling. Christ is coming soon! Christ is
coming soon!”
“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: Now to him who by the power at work within us is
able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him
be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and
ever. Amen. (Eph 3:20-21)
*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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