What you were made for

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, erased your own score against us, 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 their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.  (adapted 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… or as our Latin friends would put it, oratio, meditatio, tentatio.  It is not insignificant that our forebears in the faith concluded the Psalter with this psalm)

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. Priceless treasure indeed. 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=aqGWTJsAwKw

The Second Commandment:

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless him who takes his name in vain.” Exodus 20.7

What does this mean?  We are to fear and love God so that we do not use his name to curse, swear, lie or deceive; but to call on him in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

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.