I have set my bow in the clouds...

 and it shall be a sign of my covenant.

Verse for the week: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 136.1

Prayer for the week: Lord God, your ears are open always to the prayers of your servants. Open our ears, hearts, and minds to you, that we may live in harmony with your will and receive the gifts of your Spirit; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Lutheran Book of Worship, Pentecost 10)

Bible reading for the day: Genesis 9.8-17 (the flood has subsided and “Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his son’s wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark.”)

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ⁹ “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, ¹⁰ and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. ¹¹ I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” ¹² And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³ I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. ¹⁶ When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” ¹⁷ God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Prayer (based on the T.R.I.P* method): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: you care deeply, intimately about our relationship with you, and you have embodied your steadfast love most fully in the flesh of Jesus Christ. Thank you! Guard us from the wickedness and corruption that rejects your covenant. For Jesus’ sake, grant that every sighting of a rainbow may bring to mind your forgiveness of our sins. Amen.

Song: ready for some memorable, musical fun? Follow this link for the Bible song “Bow in the Clouds” by Lauren Redpath:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=uVWBEpbrYfs

“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. He has given me and still preserves my body and soul with all their powers. He provides me with food and clothing, home and family, daily work, and all I need from day to day. God also protects me in time of danger and guards me from every evil. All this he does out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, though I do not deserve it. Therefore, I surely ought to thank, praise, serve and obey him. This is most certainly true. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: May Christ’s promise of the forgiveness of your sins, life, and salvation be upon you now and for eternity.

 

* 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.