SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2023
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
NEWS: Tomorrow evening a short, three-week Bible study begins at the home of Kay Berni. The title is, “How Happiness Happens.” The start time is 6:30 PM. For more information, please contact Kay by email, kberni@aol.com
PRAYERS: Today we remember Deanna and Victor Dille in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer we pray that all Christians in Oceanside would support their congregations and not forsake gathering together.
READINGS: Jeremiah 32:36-44; Psalm 11; Acts 20:1-16
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Safe to Trust”
Romans 8:12-17 – So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
Have you ever considered what a strange position we stand in as far as our relationship to God goes? If you look at our situation logically, He’s the one person in the whole universe we should be most afraid of. He is holy, we are unholy; He is good, and we are … not. That should make us worst enemies, right? Add to that the fact that He’s all-powerful, knows everything, and is impossible to escape from because He’s everywhere. Really, God should be our worst nightmare!
But God took steps to change that. He knew that we were terrified of Him, and that we had good reason; and so He came into our world as a human baby, someone nobody could be afraid of. He made Himself visible and knowable; people could listen to Him, talk to Him, and even argue with Him, without getting burned to a crisp! And all along His aim was to rescue us from the power of sin, death, and the devil. He would lay down His life on the cross to rescue us; with His own blood He would remake us; and with His resurrection He would give us life forever—no longer as God’s enemies, but as God’s own dearly loved children.
Now look where we stand! God is holy—but so are we, through Jesus Christ. God is good, and we borrow His goodness because Jesus has saved us. Our sins are washed away, and our guilt is gone. Now we stand in God’s presence and speak to Him as beloved children of a Father who loves them with all His heart. And all God’s great power that used to terrify us? Now it’s our comfort—for the same God who knows everything, exists everywhere, and has all power, uses those gifts to take care of us.
This is what Paul is getting at when he says, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'” Now we can show our problems and weakness to God without fear, saying, “Dear Father, please help me with this problem.” He will not chide us. He will welcome us and help us. We are safe with Him forever.
WE PRAY: Dear Father, help me to trust in You especially when I am weak and need Your help and forgiveness. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Who is one person you can trust with your painful secrets, knowing they will never chide you for them?
2. What would it be like to trust God that way?
3. What evidence do you see that suggests God is safe to trust that way?
Today’s Bible Readings: Jonah 1-4 Acts 15:1-21
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 Wednesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org
