Verse for the week: If we walk in the light as he
himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of
Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (I John 1.7)
Prayer for the week: Almighty and everlasting God, in
the wonder of Christ’s death and resurrection, you reconciled the world to
yourself and entrusted your message to us.
Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s body
may be ambassadors for him, showing forth in our lives what we profess by our
faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen. (from The Book of Common
Prayer, based on II Corinthians 5)
Bible reading for the day: Psalm 150 (Through one-hundred-forty-nine
songs, the Psalter has given voice to the three-fold nature of life: calling on
God in prayer, listening to him in scripture, coming under spiritual attack. It
is not insignificant that our forebears in the faith concluded the Psalter
with Psalm 150, a call for the congregation and everything that has breath and
for all types of musical instruments to praise the Lord in his sanctuary and in
the heavens.)
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
3 Praise him
with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise
the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Prayer (based on the TRIP* method): Gracious
and almighty Father, thank you for your mighty deeds. Chiefly we are bound to
praise you for your greatest work: your mercy and truth in Christ Jesus,
crucified and raised for the forgiveness of sinners like us. Until his return,
bring such a song of praise fourth from us and from everything that has breath;
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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh1-85tfy04
“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. (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 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.
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