SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
THURSDAY, MAY 5
NEWS: For all the latest updates please refer to the Weekly Church E-News sent out yesterday by Allen Kolkman.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Linda Johnson. We keep Linda in our prayers as she has surgery scheduled for the end of June. She hopes then to return to in-person worship in July. We also pray for our state and our nation that hearts, minds and souls will be opened to the Word of the Lord and life can be respected from inception in the womb to the grave.
READINGS: Psalm 119:145-152; Psalm 20; Exodus 38:21-39:8; Exodus 39:22-23, 27-31; Luke 8:1-21
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Safe”
John 10:22-30 – At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s Name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not among My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.”
When you were little, did you ever have other children try to snatch candy or maybe your lunch money out of your hands? It’s really hard to hold onto something when a stronger person is prying at your fingers, trying to get it out of your hand. Tiny children often lose what they’re holding. They are not strong enough or tall enough to protect it.
But there was one kid in my seventh-grade class that nobody could try that on. He was only 13, but he was already over six feet tall. He could just hold the candy or the money over everyone’s heads! Nobody could take things away from him.
Jesus carries us safe in His hands, just like that. He is greater than everyone; nobody can reach over Him or around Him to take us away. He is smarter than all our enemies, even the devil. No one can trick us out of His hands.
And He is stronger, too. Jesus is the Son of God, who loved us so much that He became a human being to live, to suffer, and to die on a cross in order to break the power of death over us. None of us could do that, but Jesus could—and He did. Death could not hold Him. On the third day He rose from the dead, and He will never die again. He gives that same life to you and me, to everyone who trusts in Him. He holds us safely in those strong, nail-scarred hands—and nothing can snatch us away from Him, not sin or death or the devil. We are safe in Jesus’ hands forever.
WE PRAY: Lord, I know that You hold me safely. Help me to trust You and relax in Your care. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Did anyone ever try to take something away from you? Tell the story.
2. What makes you feel safe—is it a person, place, a situation?
3. When you are afraid, how do you remember that Jesus is holding you?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 24-27 Luke 23:1-25
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.
