SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
HAPPY LABOR DAY!
NEWS: We had a blessed day in the Lord’s house yesterday with 34 in attendance! We give thanks for all who served our congregation and to Pastor Joel for his leadership in our Bible study and worship!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Kathy Andrews.
READINGS: Psalm 56; 2 Kings 2:19-25 and 2 Kings 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:25-5:14
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
Psalm 119:169-170 – Let my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your Word! Let my plea come before You; deliver me according to Your Word.
All of Psalm 119 is a song and a prayer filled with love and praise for God’s Law, for His Word, and His teachings. Every verse speaks of God’s commands, Word, testimonies, statutes, or precepts. In our verses for today, the psalmist pleads for understanding according to God’s Word. That is our prayer, too, and it is a prayer that was answered before we spoke it. God wants us to understand His Word and His will for our salvation. He wants us to live in a way that glorifies Him and serves as a witness to others of His love. He gave us the inspired, sacred writings that are able to make us wise “for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” His holy Word is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (see 2 Timothy 3:15-16). The Scriptures were written “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 20:31).
The psalmist also prays that God would deliver him according to His Word. That is our prayer, too, and it is another prayer that God has answered. He sent His Son, the Word made flesh, into the world. During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus taught people about the kingdom of God and about His Father’s Word and will. The Savior delivered people according to His powerful Word of authority, forgiving their sins, casting out demons, healing the sick, and giving sight to the blind. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus delivered us from sin and death. His saving acts were foretold in the Scriptures. Giving understanding to the disciples on the way to Emmaus, Jesus said, “‘Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem'” (Luke 24:44b-47).
Delivered by our Savior, the Word made flesh, we continue to seek understanding through the study of the Scriptures. We pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit, our thoughts, words, and actions would glorify the name of Jesus. God promises that His Word will accomplish His purpose and succeed in the thing for which He sends it (see Isaiah 55:11). He sent His Son, the Word made flesh, to deliver us and our crucified and risen Lord fulfilled His Father’s purpose. God gives us the Scriptures so that we might understand His will and His ways, and in that, too, the inspired Word will accomplish its purpose.
WE PRAY: Lord God, guide me and give me understanding as I study Your Word. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. How can God be glorified in the everyday, mundane activities we do every day?
2. What does God’s Word deliver us from?
3. In what ways does God open our minds to His direction for our lives?
Today’s Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 23 Joel 2-3 2 Corinthians 10
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
