SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
THURSDAY, MAY 19
NEWS: Sunday after our worship service and fellowship time we have our twice-yearly congregational meeting. We pray fully ask that you can spend some extra time with us as we elect heads of some of our Boards and discuss other matters of concern to our congregation.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Kyle Ross.
READINGS: Psalm 52; Psalm 107; Leviticus 24:1-23; Luke 12:54-13:17
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Child of the Family”
John 16:23-28 – [Jesus said] “In that day you will ask nothing of Me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in My Name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My Name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
Do you remember when you were young and went to visit a friend’s home? Maybe you wanted something—to go swimming, or to stay for dinner. But because you were a guest, not a child of the family, you couldn’t ask for these things directly—you had to ask your friend, and your friend would ask his or her parents on your behalf.
That is the situation the disciples were in when it came to Jesus and God the Father. When they needed something—food, safety, even miracles—they asked Jesus, and they trusted Jesus to ask the Father. They knew that they were guests in God’s home—created people, and sinners at that. But Jesus is God’s Son, so they asked Him to intercede. After all, we all know that God the Father listens to His Son!
And yet, the night before Jesus died on the cross, He told His disciples that it was going to be different in the future. They would no longer be guests in God’s house—through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God would adopt them to be His own children. And as children of God’s family, they could approach the Father directly—as dear children ask their dear father.
Jesus says to the disciples, “In that day you will ask in My Name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.” This is our situation too, for we also believe in Jesus. The Father loves us, and He hears our prayers because we belong to Jesus. We are now God’s children.
So now we make our prayers in Jesus’ name. Many times we use those exact words, “In Jesus’ name we pray,” and that is good, because it reminds us what is happening. And yet whether we say those words or not, every prayer a Christian makes is offered in Jesus’ name, or it is no true prayer at all. Jesus is the way to the Father, and no one comes to the Father except through Him. He has signed our adoption papers in His own blood, and as God’s children, Jesus’ signature is on every prayer we make.
WE PRAY: Dear Father, thank You for bringing me into Your family through Jesus, Your dear Son. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Tell about one time when you asked for a favor through someone else.
2. Did you get what you asked for? Why or why not?
3. How will you use your privilege as a child of God’s family to help others today?
Today’s Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 21-22 Psalms 18 John 6:22-40
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 Thursday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
