Heart & Habits... yours are His

Verse for the week: “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.”  Psalm 25.14

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, hallow your name among us: see to it that your Word is taught in its truth and purity and that we as your children live in harmony with it; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Proverbs 4,6,17, various verses (Proverbs voices the Lord’s concern for both our habits and our hearts. Today’s verses are best read in light of Proverbs 1.7)

“Do not enter the path of the wicked,
    and do not walk in the way of the evil… For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
    they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.” 4.14,16

“Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.”  4.24

“Go to the ant, O lazybones;
    consider her ways, and be wise.”  6.6

“My son, keep your father's commandment,
    and forsake not your mother's teaching.
²¹ Bind them on your heart always;
    tie them around your neck.
²² When you walk, they will lead you;
    when you lie down, they will watch over you;
    and when you awake, they will talk with you.”  6.20-22

 “Better a dry crust with tranquility
    than a house filled with feasting and quarrel.”  17.1

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: in Christ Jesus you have rescued my heart and my habits from the Devil, the world, and my sinful self. Keep me far from their evil ways and from my lazy-boned self. Bind your teaching on my heart and my habits that my household may know your peace. 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=xq0ISvUUzdY&ab_channel=St.StephenLutheranChurch

The First Commandment, with a Promise

“I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods besides me.” Exodus 20.2

What does this mean for us?  We are to fear, love, and trust God above anything else. (from The Small Catechism, 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.

 

The fear of the Lord is...

Verse for the week: “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.”  Psalm 25.14

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, hallow your name among us: see to it that your Word is taught and purity and that we as your children live in harmony with it; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Proverbs 1.7 (Proverbs voices the Lord’s concern for both our habits and our hearts. This book is chock full of practical, pithy instruction, at the of which is this truth…

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.” 

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, it is equally true that wisdom begins to dawn on me when I fear you… and in Christ crucified I have nothing to fear except losing you. Thank you. Day after day, work this truth out in my life and in the life my congregation. 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=8w3w1-_dyq8&ab_channel=AprylDawn (this rendition is a bit more syrupy than I prefer, but it’s a great hymn).

“What does baptism mean for daily living?”

It means that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drown through daily repentance;

And that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.

St. Paul writes in Romans 6:  “We were buried therefore with Christ by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6.4  (from The Small Catechism, 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.

 

The Quieted Soul

Verse for the week: “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.”  Psalm 25.14

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, hallow your name among us: see to it that your Word is taught in its truth and purity and that we as your children live in harmony with it; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 131

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
    my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
    too great and too marvelous for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³ O Israel, hope in the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: in Christ you have rescued me from myself and taken me as your own beloved child. Day after day, grant me the quiet soul that is free to trust you and serve my neighbor in your name. 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=8w3w1-_dyq8&ab_channel=AprylDawn (this rendition is a bit more syrupy than I prefer, but it’s a great hymn).

“Thy kingdom come…”

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this petition 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 heaven forever. (from The Small Catechism, 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.

How long, O Lord?

Verse for the week: “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant.”  Psalm 25.14

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.
 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins; through your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: Psalm 13

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
⁴ lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

⁵ But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, in Christ crucified and raised you have remembered me and all your chosen and turned your face toward us; thank you. When you seem hidden to me and the Enemy appears to prevail, there you come… doing your best work on my behalf. Teach me daily to fear and love you, and to trust in your steadfast love, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 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=26rq0spuLao&ab_channel=LutheranQuartet

“Thy kingdom come…”

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this petition 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 heaven forever. (from The Small Catechism, 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.

The Timely Embracer

Verse for the week: “Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!”  Psalm 119.36

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, you speak to us through the Holy Scriptures. Grant that we may hear, read, respect, learn, and have your Word carved on our hearts in such a way that the overwhelming glory and enduring benefit and comfort grasp and hold us in the blessed hope of everlasting life, given us through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible readings for the day: (another “ear glimpse” from one of the minor prophets)

Habakkuk 2.2-4 (Habakkuk prophesied to Judah just after Nahum, during the reign of Jehoiakim (609-598BC); his name = embracer, one who embraces another and takes him in his arms. This is what Habakkuk does with his prophecy: embraces God’s people and takes them in his arms. He neither shies away from nor gives easy answers to significant questions.)

And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;
    make it plain on tablets,
    so he may run who reads it.
³ For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
    it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
    it will surely come; it will not delay.

⁴ “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
    but the righteous shall live by faith.

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: you are the timely one I am not… my nature is impatience or tardiness. Your Son, Jesus Christ, is the fullness of time. Cleanse my heart of sinful pride and renew daily my trust in him and his promises. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a little fun that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1YBYrJ8Hzg&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“Thy kingdom come…”

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this petition 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 heaven forever. (from The Small Catechism, 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.

 

The Word of the Lord that came to...

Verse for the week: “Incline my heart to your testimonies,
    and not to selfish gain!”  Psalm 119.36

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, you speak to us through the Holy Scriptures. Grant that we may hear, read, respect, learn, and have your Word carved on our hearts in such a way that the overwhelming glory and enduring benefit and comfort of the Word grasps and holds us in the blessed hope of everlasting life, given us through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible readings for the day: (an “ear glimpse” from the minor prophets)

Hosea 1.1 (Hosea is the only prophet from the Northern Kingdom of Israel among the major and minor prophets. His prophetic vocation began in the last years of the prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC) and continued through the disintegration of the kingdom until its ultimate fall to the Assyrians in 722/721.)

The word of the Lord that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

Joel 1.1  The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel…

Amos 1.1-3  (The earliest of the prophets among the prophetic books, his ministry dates from the reign of Jeroboam II (786-746 BC) and overlaps with the ministry of Hosea. Like Hosea, Amos preaches to the northern kingdom of Israel, though Amos himself is from Tekoa, a small town in the southern kingdom of Judah. Amos was not a professional prophet; rather he was called by God from the care of flocks and sycamore trees in Judah to proclaim God’s word of judgment to Israel.)

 ^1.1The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.

² And he said:

“The Lord roars from Zion
    and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds mourn,
    and the top of Carmel withers.”

³ Thus says the Lord…

Jonah 1.1  (Unlike the other prophetic books, Jonah is a narrative about a prophet rather than a collection of prophetic words. The story is set during the reign of Jeroboam II, 786-746BC.)

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying…”

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, thank you: you are not an abstraction or another one of our ideas. You put your Word for us on the lips of real people in real time and place. And in these “last days” you have spoken most clearly to us in your Son. He is the exact imprint of your nature… righteousness for us, the unrighteous. Grant unto us ears to hear; in Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a little fun that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1YBYrJ8Hzg&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“Thy kingdom come…”

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this petition 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 heaven forever. (from The Small Catechism, 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.

The Holy Spirit's Work on You

Verse for the week: “O Lord, what is man that you regard him,
    or the son of man that you think of him?”  Psalm 144.3

Prayer for the week: Dear heavenly Father, you speak to us through the Holy Scriptures. Grant that we may hear, read, respect, learn, and swallow them in such a way that the overwhelming glory and enduring benefit and comfort of the Word will help us grasp and hold the blessed hope of everlasting life, given us through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bible reading for the day: John 16.5-15 (Shortly before they betray and forsake him, Jesus declares to his disciples the promise of his Holy Spirit’s work.)

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵ But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸ And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; ¹¹ concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

¹² “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Prayer of the Day: Gracious and almighty Father, all that is mine is sin, selfishness, and unbelief. To you belong forgiveness, righteousness, and judgment… and by the work of your Son and your Spirit the great exchange takes place: what’s mine becomes yours and what’s yours becomes mine. Thank you, thank you. Keep me and your whole church in this truth; in Jesus’ name I ask this. Amen.

Hymn: follow this link to a little fun that gives further voice to today’s conversation with the Lord: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1YBYrJ8Hzg&ab_channel=MartijndeGroot

“Thy kingdom come…”

What does this mean?  God’s kingdom comes indeed without our praying for it, but we ask in this petition 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 heaven forever. (from The Small Catechism, 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.