Freeing your heart from itself

Verse for the week: “O Lord, teach me your statutes! Make me understand the way of your precepts; and I will contemplate your wondrous works.”  Psalm 119.26-27

Prayer for the week: Almighty God, make me to know your ways, even as it means the death of my will, lead me in your truth and teach me; for you are the God of my salvation, for you my soul waits all the day long;  through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 119.25-32 

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust;
    give me life according to your word!
²⁶ When I told of my ways, you answered me;
    teach me your statutes!
²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts,
    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul melts away for sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word!
²⁹ Put false ways far from me
    and graciously teach me your law!
³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I set your rules before me.
³¹ I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame!
³² I will run in the way of your commandments
    for you set my heart free!  

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, my soul melts for my own ways are fraught with dust and deception. You are my rescue. In Christ alone you set my heart free from myself that I may run in the way of your commandments by no effort of my own and for the good of my neighbor. Give me life according to your word, in Jesus’ name I pray. 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=njjoKWmS0NI&ab_channel=VCRugeleyWorship

“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son…”

What does this mean? 

I believe that Jesus Christ – true God, son of the Father from eternity, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary – is my Lord.

At great cost he has saved and redeemed me, a lost and condemned person. He has freed me from sin, death, and the power of the devil – not with silver or gold, but with his holy and precious blood and his innocent suffering and death.

All this he has done that I may be his own, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules eternally.

This is most certainly true. (from The Small Catechism, by Martin Luther)

Benediction: For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.   Psalm 149.4

 

*This is now our congregation’s 99^th year in the Word. In 2025, we are reading from Genesis to Revelation, with a few interludes along the way.