SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
NEWS: It was warm outside and beautiful inside God’s house yesterday. We had 40 in attendance for worship with more online. We thanked Diane Finley for her 41 years of service to our Sunday school program. She is now stepping down. We also applaud Key Berni, Gail Adams, Margie Latall and Daria Roth, who will continue to work in our Sunday school program.
A thank you goes to all who assisted in our service yesterday and especially to our Pastor Joel Luckemeyer for his Bible study teaching and worship leading.
Tomorrow evening the Tuesday evening Bible study takes place at the home of Allen and Debbie Kolkman. It starts at 6:30 with a brief devotion, followed by the study material. Then there is a fellowship time with goodies. All are invited to participate.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Keith Neblett.
READINGS: Psalm 16; Psalm 32; Malachi 2:1-3:5; Matthew 4:1-11
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Silence”
Psalm 62:1-2 – For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
The psalmist waits in silence, in quiet trust, for God to act. Yet sometimes the silence in which we wait is the silence of God. We pray and pray and have no answer-at least not the answer we want. We are not alone in our waiting on the silence of God. Abraham waited. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation, yet the patriarch waited a lifetime for the birth of just one son. The Israelites waited. Enslaved in Egypt, the people of God, the descendants of Abraham, endured four centuries of oppression before God acted in power to set them free. The psalmist waited in the silence, confident that from God would come his salvation. Century after century, generation after generation, as His people waited, God spoke into the silence. Through His Word He assured them of His promise and called them to wait in faithfulness. So the people of God continued to wait and pray-even through long years of silence-for the day when the Lord would keep His promise and send the Messiah to save them.
Even while His people waited, God was at work. His plan of salvation unfolded across the centuries and down through the generations until the time was right. The long silence was finally broken by the cry of an infant in a manger in Bethlehem and by the joy of angels echoing across the surrounding hills. The promise was kept; the Savior had come, and from Him comes our salvation. The Son of God spoke into the silence as He taught people and proclaimed the kingdom of God. Jesus spoke words of hope and healing. He spoke of the purpose for which He had come, “to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45b). At the appointed time, Jesus carried our sins in His own body to the cross, taking onto Himself the penalty of death that we deserved. On the cross, Jesus suffered alone and endured the scorn of His enemies and the silence of His Heavenly Father. Yet that silence, God was at work to defeat sin, death, and Satan, for from Him comes our salvation.
God is always speaking to us in His holy Word. As we wait in silent trust for Him to answer our prayers, our mighty Lord is at work, as He always has been. As the psalmist says, God is our Rock and our Fortress. Rocks and fortresses are silent places, but they are places of strength and safety and salvation. With confident faith and hope, we wait safely in the powerful silence of God. We will not be greatly shaken.
WE PRAY: Lord and Savior, help me to listen to Your Word and to wait for You with confident faith. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. How do we know that God is at work in our lives even when He’s silent?
2. Do you think Abraham ever lost faith in God’s promise to give him a son? How do you think he could wait so patiently?
3. How does Jesus’ life and example empower you when you struggle with difficult circumstances?
Today’s Bible Readings: Isaiah 39-40 Romans 6
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
