Christ sends you to do exactly this

Verse for the week: “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it?  Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23.19  

Prayer for the week: O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still. For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people. Speak Lord, that our households may be defended and built up by you, that your enemies may be put to shame; that they may know that you alone are the Most High over all the earth; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. (from Psalm 83)  

Bible reading for the day: John 20.19-23
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”  

Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you for the peace that you give in Christ alone: forgiveness of my sins, deliverance from death and the devil, and everlasting salvation. Thank you! This peace is not something we your disciples ought to sit on and keep locked up. So, walk right in and send us out to retain and forgive sins, to preach the law without diminishment and the gospel without limit to actual sinners whom we know and meet. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.  

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved classic that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://vimeo.com/46203440  

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.  

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)  

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 (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.