SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
TUESDAY, JUNE 21
NEWS: Tomorrow evening the women have their Wednesday evening Bible study, online, at 5 PM. They continue their study in the Max Lucado book, “Experiencing the Heart of Jesus.”
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Charlene Simpson. Charlene requests general prayers for her children and grandchildren. Also, a prayer from the LSB (Lutheran Service Book), For Obedience to the Word; “O holy and most merciful God, You have taught us the way of Your commandments. We implore you to pour out your grace into our hearts. Cause it to bear in us that being ever mindful of Your mercies and Your laws, we may always be directed to Your will and daily increase in love toward You and one another. Enable us to resist all evil and to live a godly life. Help us to follow the example of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to walk in his steps until we shall possess the kingdom that has been prepared for us in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
READINGS: Psalm 22:22-27; Psalm 21; John 19:1-22
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Quietness and Care”
1 Kings 19:9b-13 – And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And He said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Poor Elijah! The prophet is worn out; he’s just had a spectacular showdown with the priests of Baal over the spiritual future of the nation. Elijah had every reason to hope that the king would take notice and decide to change his evil ways. But that isn’t what happened. Instead, within hours, the king’s wife swears an oath to kill him. Small wonder why Elijah’s ready to give up!
So Elijah heads for the one place that sticks in his mind as a place to meet God—Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai. Perhaps God will have something to say to him.
And He does—but not what Elijah expects, I bet. God asks him, “What are you doing here?” He asks twice, so Elijah is forced to think it through. And between the two questions, God puts on a show of force—a windstorm, an earthquake, and a fire. Was this what Elijah was hoping for—a God who would simply overpower his enemies and make everything perfect again?
But he didn’t get that. Instead, somehow Elijah knows that the Lord is not in any of these forceful events. When God finally has a conversation with Elijah, it is a small, still voice—even a silence.
I wonder if Elijah was glad of that. After all, he too was an ordinary man. He could not stand up to God’s power—by the look of things, he couldn’t even exit the cave during the wind or the storm or the earthquake. But when he heard God’s voice, he came out. He could face that aspect of God. And in the conversation that followed, Elijah found hope and practical help.
When we are feeling beaten up by the forces in our world, we need that same care from God. We may dream of God using His power to help us, but what we usually get is much more quiet—more like a still whisper, or a tiny baby in a manger in Bethlehem. We get the God we can face—Jesus Christ, who came to be a human being like us, to live and to die and to rise again—all to make us whole.
I’ll take that. Won’t you?
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, be patient with me in my weakness, and help me to lean on You. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. When have you wanted to see God act forcefully to overturn evil?
2. When have you benefited from God’s quiet care?
3. Is there a way you can show God’s love to someone else in need of quiet and gentleness?
Today’s Bible Readings: Proverbs 30-31 Acts 5:22-42
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 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 Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
