SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: Yesterday was a blessed day in God’s house. We had 49 worshipping in person with more viewing us online. We started a five-week study in the book, “Why Pray.” Whether you are able to attend Bible study on Sunday morning or not, all are invited to read the book, which has about a ten minute daily reading. We thank all who served our congregation yesterday and certainly Pastor Joel for leading our Bible study and worship service.
Tuesday evening Bible study takes place at the home of Debbie and Allen Kolkman. It starts at 6:30 PM with a short devotion, followed by a study on the parables of Jesus and concludes with fellowship time, where coffee and some goodies are served. The evening wraps up around 8. All are invited to attend and the address is 710 Fredericks Ave., Oceanside.
PRAYERS: Today we pray for Darryl Finley. He requests prayers for the health of his co-workers and for a new endeavor he is considering, with a phone consultation today. We also pray for Theodora Elias and health matters she is dealing with. She also requests prayers for her son and her daughter, with her boyfriend. We include all those, especially in the Northern and Central parts of our state, beibn g affected by flooding and extreme waves.
READINGS: Psalm 62:5-12; Psalm 32; Ezekiel 3:12-27; Romans 2:1-16
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“No Lie”
Psalm 40:4-5 – Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O LORD my God, Your wondrous deeds and Your thoughts toward us; none can compare with You! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
Those who trust in the Lord and do not go astray after lies are blessed. We know that, yet we are often tempted to turn away from the Lord and follow lies, the lies told by the fallen world, by our own sinful desires, and by the devil, who is “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44b). The father of lies began his poisonous work in Eden, successfully tempting Eve by asking, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1b). Eve, and Adam with her, listened to the lie and questioned God’s Word. They disobeyed their Creator’s command and shattered their relationships with God, with creation, and with one another.
The father of lies would not enjoy his triumph forever. God promised that the Offspring of the woman would come to defeat the cunning serpent. When the time was right, God sent His Son into the world to be its Savior, “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8b). Jesus faced the devil’s temptations, defeating Satan’s lies with the Word of God. The innocent Savior carried our sin in His own body to the cross—our sin of listening to, and following, the lies that so often tempt us. Through His suffering and death, Jesus crushed the power of Eden’s ancient serpent and delivered us from slavery to sin and death.
Saved by grace through faith in Jesus, we remember God’s wondrous deeds. We remember His thoughts and His love toward us, the thoughts and love that led our Lord to take up His cross. With the psalmist, and with all the saints who came before us, we proclaim the wondrous deeds of the Lord. When the apostles were arrested and ordered to stop proclaiming the truth about Jesus and His resurrection, they told the ruling council, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). The apostles had seen the risen Savior. They couldn’t stop talking about the wondrous deeds of the Lord!
We have seen and heard those wondrous deeds in God’s Word and those deeds are certainly “more than can be told.” Scripture tells us that if everything Jesus did were to be written down, “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25b). Yet the deeds that were written, the deeds we know, we proclaim. Those deeds were written down “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name” (John 20:31b). That is no lie!
WE PRAY: God and Savior, empower me by Your Spirit to proclaim Your wondrous deeds. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Lying can lead to terrible consequences. How did Satan deceive mankind with a lie?
2. How has God multiplied His wondrous deeds toward us?
3. We all face temptation daily. How can we combat these temptations when they occur?
Today’s Bible Readings: Job 1-2 Matthew 7
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:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
