Verse for the week: “The voice of the Lord makes the deer
give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” Psalm 29
Prayer for the week: Almighty God, gracious Father, you indeed are not a silent God, but the God who speaks. You have spoken that in the fight against the devil, the world, and our sinful selves it is not good for man to be alone. Speak today that our understanding of the calling of marriage may be strengthened and all households may be built up by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Bible reading for the day: Genesis 1.1-5, 26-28 (note: In the opening verse of the entire Bible, God creates out of nothing… and he does so by speaking.)
In the beginning, God
created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth
was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And
the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was
light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And
God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God
called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening
and there was morning, the first day.
(And on the sixth day) Then
God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of
the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every
creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be
fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over
the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living
thing that moves on the earth.”
Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Father, you are no mute God: by your voice you create where there was nothing. Thank you most especially for speaking man and woman, me and my wife, into life and for each other... and for redeeming us from ourselves in Christ. You’ve given us enough to do in raising children and being wise lords over your creation, so repent us of the pride that wants to be our own creators and definers. Give us daily to the calling you put right in front of us. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic which gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcKlYUL5B0E
“I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.”
What
does this mean?
I
believe that God has created me and all that exists, that he has given me and
still preserves my body and soul, my eyes and ears, my reason and all my
senses, together with food and clothing, home and family, and all my property.
Every day he provides abundantly for all the needs of my life. He protects me from all danger and guards
and keeps me from every evil. He does this purely out of fatherly and divine
goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore I ought to thank,
praise, serve, and obey him. 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. (Philippians 4.7)
*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 (
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.
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