SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MEMORIAL DAY, MONDAY, MAY 30
NEWS: We had a beautiful day in God’s house yesterday as we remembered our Savior’s Ascension into heaven. We had 45 in attendance! Thank you to all who studied and worshipped with us, who served yesterday and to Pastor Joel for leading us.
Tuesday evening Bible study continues at the Kolkman’s home. The topic is, “The Two Kingdoms of God,” a study from the Lutheran Hour. It starts at 6:30 and goes until 8, starting with a short devotion, then the study followed by fellowship time. All are invited!
Wednesday evening is Women’s Bible study time. It’s online and starts at 5:00 PM. Led by Lori Dowe, the ladies are going through the Max Lucado book, “Experiencing the Heart of Jesus.”
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Victor and Deanna Dille. They request prayers for a blessed work week ahead. Also, for safety as Dee’s son Doug comes in from South Carolina for a visit. They pray for a fun and safe time. As well, we lift up all who generously, wonderfully and selflessly have served asnd are serving in our armed forces. We give thanks to the Lord for all those who lost their lives as they defended what our country stands for. We also ask the Lord to continue to raise up honorable men and women that will serve in truth and with justice.
READINGS: Psalm 146:5-9; Psalm 142; Numbers 14:26-45; Numbers 15:1-41; Luke 18:35-19:10
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Answer Me!”
Psalm 143:7-8 – Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.
“Answer me quickly, O LORD!” How often have we prayed that way, in a last-minute, desperate cry for help? We are suffering in some trial, illness, or grief. Our spirits are crushed and failing fast. Why doesn’t God help? Is He really hiding from us? At the blessing often used at the close of a worship service, we hear the words, “The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you” (Numbers 6:25). It is a prayer that the Lord would turn His shining face toward us and look on us with favor. But with this prayer from the psalm we wonder if His face is turned away and hidden from us. It is a plea like that of the disciples in the sinking boat on the Sea of Galilee: “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38b).
The Savior was in the boat with His disciples. He did care and He quieted the wind and waves. God hears our prayers and He cares. As the apostle Paul asks, “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). The Son of God keeps us from the pit of despair and death because He descended into the pit of death for us. The Lord who suffered, died, and rose for the sake of our salvation will never hide His face from us.
In this psalm we demand an answer to our prayers, but even our frightened and lonely demands are made in response to God’s own command and invitation: “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalm 50:15). We are told, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This is the will of our loving Father. He wants His children to come to Him, in times of joy and in desperate days: “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13).
After a long, sleepless night, we pray that God would let us “hear in the morning” His steadfast love. His steadfast love is His covenant love, the unfailing love that did not spare His own Son. After calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40b). Answering that same question, we pray with the psalmist, “In You I trust.” Our loving Heavenly Father invites us to trust Him and cling to the promises of His Word. In response we pray, “To You I lift up my soul.”
WE PRAY: Lord God, to You I lift up my soul. Hear and answer my prayers. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you ever pray for patience when praying for God to handle an urgent situation in your life?
2. What does “pray without ceasing” mean to you? What does this look like in real life?
3. How does the act of praying—even when we don’t know what to say—bless and benefit us?
Today’s Bible Readings: Psalms 31, 35 John 11:30-57
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you can go about your day joyfully!
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
You can now go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Lutheran Public Radio is listener supported and has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hours: https://lutheranpublicradio.org/
KFUO is the listener supported radio station owned and operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Based in St. Louis, their format consists of teaching, preaching, ministry and sacred music: https://www.kfuo.org/
A very blessed Memorial Day Monday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
