SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 2023

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

 NEWS: It was a beautiful Sunday yesterday, outside and inside God’s house. There were 42 who worshipped in-person, with more joining us online. Thank you to all who served us during worship and to Diane and Darrly Finely for hosting fellowship. We also thank our Pastor Joel for his teaching in Bible study and his leading in our worship, including his sermon message.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Linda Johnson in our prayers. Linda is in good spirits after talking to her and her doctor is optimistic as well for her beating the breast cancer she has been diagnosed with. Her procedures start after Labor Day for putting a port in and then the start of chemo and radiation.

We pray for Alba Reilly as she recovers from surgery. Terry said through a text message that Alba is doing fine and they request continued prayers.

We continue praying for the Woodward family as Eric remains hospitalized and Carole is dealing with illness now.

In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for the infrastructure of Oceanside and the surrounding neighborhoods, that our area may remain safe to live in.

 READINGS: Ester 4; Psalm 56; 1 Thessalonians 1

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

Your Faithfulness”
August 28, 2023

 

Psalm 26:1-3 – Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in Your faithfulness.

We know that Jesus is present in the Scriptures, from start to finish. He is the Word who was “in the beginning,” who was with God, who was and is God (see Genesis 1:1, John 1:1). We hear our Savior’s promise as the Scriptures draw to a close: “Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20b). The psalms, too, speak of Him, foretelling His betrayal (see Psalm 41), His crucifixion (see Psalm 22) and His resurrection and exaltation (see Psalm 118).

The Lord who is foretold in Scripture used those Scriptures in prayer. Jesus spoke in the words of a psalm as He prayed from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1a). As He yielded up His spirit, His final prayer may have been inspired by a psalm: “Into Your hand I commit My spirit; You have redeemed Me, O LORD, faithful God” (Psalm 31:5). Jesus prayed the psalms, but it may be difficult for us to pray some of those inspired words, including these: “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.” If we are honest about our lives, integrity and unwavering trust are traits that do not always characterize our behavior. Yet we can easily imagine Jesus praying those words that so well describe Him as He walked in integrity and placed unwavering trust in His Heavenly Father.

Other words of the same psalm also apply to the life of our Savior: “Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.” Jesus’ unwavering trust was proven and tried, His sinless heart and mind tested as He took up the cross. He remained faithful and obedient to His Father “to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8b). Then on the third day after Jesus’ death, the Heavenly Father in His faithfulness vindicated His Son and “God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it” (Acts 2:24).

Through faith in Jesus, we are vindicated because God is faithful to His promises. He forgives our sins for Jesus’ sake and raises us up to a new life. We are justified, clothed in Jesus’ righteousness. We come before God’s throne in prayer, dressed in Jesus’ holiness and integrity and so we pray, “Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For Your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in Your faithfulness.” Our Lord is faithful to forgive and restore us, and we walk each day in His faithfulness.

WE PRAY: Lord, lead me to follow You in integrity and trust. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.

Reflection Questions:

1. How does the testing of our faith strengthen our reliance on God?

2. How hard do you think it was for Jesus to remain obedient to God and go to the cross for us?

3. How does Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection set us free?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Chronicles 7-9; 2 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