He who vindicates you is near

Verse for the week: “God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” Acts 10.40-41

Prayer for the Week: “Almighty and everlasting God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you have proclaimed to us the gospel of peace.  Grant that by the power of his resurrection we may be born anew to a living hope, and so overcome the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.” (K.B. Ritter, Gebete fur das Jahr der Kirche, 2^nd ed. Kassel: Johannes Stauda-Verlag, 1948, p. 144)

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 4  (note: Psalm 4 is a confession of the security of the grace of God’s comfort in the midst of enmity and defamation. See also Isaiah 50.8-9. In the NT this confession is taken up in the powerful closing words of Romans 8.34)

  Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
    You have given me relief when I was in distress.
    Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

² O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
    How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? 
³ But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

⁴ Be angry, and do not sin;
    ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
⁵ Offer right sacrifices,
    and put your trust in the Lord.

⁶ There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
⁷ You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious and almighty Father, in Christ you give us true relief from the distress of our sin, the world, and the devil’s accusations. Thank you. When accusations yet come and our anger rises, make us more quick to trust you than ourselves... for your grace has put more joy in our hearts than abundant grain and wine ever could; in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. 

Hymn: follow this link to a hymn that connects with today’s conversation with our Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENtL_li4GbE

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”

What does this mean? God encourages us to believe that he is truly our Father, and that we are truly his children, so we may boldly and confidently pray to him, just as beloved children speak to their dear father. (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) 

 

*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.  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.