SVLC DEVOTION MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2023

 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

 NEWS: Another blessed Sunday in God’s house has passed. We had 48 who attended in person, with more joining us online. Thank you to all who served our congregation for our service and fellowship. Our gratit5ude to Pastor Joel also for his teaching, preaching and leading!

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Bill and Pat Sperberg in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for the homeless in Oceanside, that the Lord would grant them security and provide for them. We also ask that the Lord would raise them up and help them to lead lives where they can find value in God’s grace. Also, to find pathways out of homelessness.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 50:1-16; Psalm 36; Ephesians 3:14-21

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Untangled” August 7, 2023

 

Psalm 18:4-6 – The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears. David wrote this psalm after the Lord rescued him from his enemies, especially from King Saul. From the words he uses, it is clear that the psalmist had been in serious trouble. Death encompassed him, destruction assailed him, Sheol, the place of the dead, entangled him, and death confronted him. He was encompassed, assailed, entangled, and confronted. There was only one way out of the deadly trap, and David took the way open to him. He cried to God for help and the Lord, reigning in absolute majesty in His temple, heard and rescued His servant David. The reluctant prophet Jonah also found himself in desperate circumstances. Attempting to flee from the Lord (something both foolish and impossible), Jonah was thrown into the sea and swallowed by a great fish. For three days and nights the prophet was trapped. Like David, he prayed for rescue, crying out from “the belly of Sheol,” surrounded by the deep as water closed over him in the pit of death (see Jonah 2:2-6). The Lord, reigning in power in His holy temple, heard and rescued His prophet. “Salvation belongs to the LORD!” Jonah said, and went out to proclaim repentance and salvation in Nineveh (Jonah 2:9b). Jesus once said of His own presence on earth, “something greater than Jonah is here” (Luke 11:32b). On the night He was betrayed, Jesus, like David and Jonah before Him, called out to God in distress. Earlier that same evening, as part of the Passover celebration, He may have prayed the words of another psalm: “The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish” (Psalm 116:3). Later in Gethsemane, Jesus prayed for a rescue that did not come. It was the Father’s will that Jesus should die to atone for the sins of the world, for David’s sins, for Jonah’s sins, and for ours. He died and was buried “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40b). Then, on the first day of the week, the longed-for rescue came as the Savior was raised up from death! When we are assailed by worry or guilt or entangled in grief and the nearness of death, in our distress we call out to the Lord. Just as He heard David, Jonah, and His Holy Son, God will hear and rescue us. Even though we may be surrounded, we will not be defeated. Assailed by sin, we will not be overcome, receiving forgiveness in Jesus’ Name. Confronted and entangled by death, we have in Jesus the certain hope of life and resurrection! WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, when guilt and fear entangle me, set me free in Your forgiving love. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Reflection Questions: 1. Do you find it hard to call upon God for help? If so, why? 2. What happened in the book of Jonah that prefigured Jesus’ death and resurrection? 3. Has there been a time when God rescued you from serious trouble? Care to share?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 133-135; 1 Corinthians 2

 

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 hour  s: 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, pastor@svlcchurch.org