SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022
NEWS: Our Men’s Bible Study/Breakfast is Saturday at 9 AM, followed by our monthly Work Party from 10 to Noon.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Kyle Ross.
READINGS: Psalm 24; Psalm 25:12-22; Jeremiah 23:1-20; Matthew 25:14-30
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
| Luke 21:9-11, 25-28 – [Jesus said] “And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. … And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
There’s one topic of conversation that keeps coming up with my friends. In quiet whispers, one of us will say to another, “Do you think it’s the end times yet? Is the world coming to an end?”
It’s no surprise. We’ve had years of political uproar. COVID. Isolation. Grief for people we have loved and lost. Worry about the future—our jobs, our homes, our health. Worry about the world—war in Ukraine, earthquakes and famines in many places, volcanoes, tsunami, weird weather, climate change. It’s all looking more and more like the picture Jesus painted in our reading today.
And our response is fear. Why wouldn’t it be? We are human. We don’t want to suffer or die. We don’t want the people we love to do that, either. And so we look at the state of the world with dread and fear.
What can overcome fear? Nothing but hope. And this is our hope—that our redemption is drawing near. Just as He promised, Jesus will return, will see us face to face, and will put a complete end to all the evil we have spent our lives suffering. Instead, He will open to us the new heavens and new earth He is creating—the cosmos in which “the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3b-4).
Jesus’ promise is sure. He will not desert us—not the Savior who loves us, who died and rose again to make us His own. He will surely keep His promise and come to us; and as we wait, we hold on to that certainty. And even in the darkest days, we can comfort one another with the promise of His coming. Nothing is more sure than that—because He has said it, and He is no liar.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, help me when I am anxious and afraid. Give me real hope in You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. On a scale of one to ten, where would you say your fear level is now?
2. How do you turn to Jesus when you are afraid?
3. Tell about a time when Jesus gave you comfort and courage. |
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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 Thursday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
