Your new song in this troublesome world

Verse for the week: “Give thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.” Colossians 1.12

Prayer for the week: “Almighty God, draw our hearts to you, guide our minds, fill our imaginations, control our wills, so that we may be wholly yours. Use us as you will, always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen” (Lutheran Book of Worship)

Bible reading for the day:  Psalm 149

¹ Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
² Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
³ Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.
⁵ Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.
⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands,
⁷ to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,
⁸ to bind their kings with chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
⁹ to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!

Prayer (based on T.R.I.P. method *): Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: in Christ you free me from the same old song and dance of myself… for the new song of your praise and your victory over our sin. Thank you! Satan remains a sly adversary Lord, and you carry out your power in the world of your enemies. In this troublesome world, execute your judgments and preserve us and our enemies from our own… for vengeance belongs to you not to us. In Jesus’ name I ask this, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a beloved, classic hymn that gives further voice to today’s conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqGWTJsAwKw

“Thy kingdom come…

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may come also to us.

When does this happen? 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 on earth now and in eternity forever. (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.  Phil 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).  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.