SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
NEWS: Bible study is this evening at the home of Allen and Debbie Kolkman. They start with a brief devotion at 6:30, followed by study material. The evening concludes with fellowship time, including coffee and goodies. Things wrap up around 8:00 PM. All are invited to participate!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for the Neemia family: Mike, Fale, Easter, Penny, Josephine and Jeremiah. Prayers are requested for all their kids in their schooling. Also, thanks be to God for the blessings of family.
READINGS: Psalm 91; Malachi 3:6-4:6; Matthew 4:12-25
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Waiting”
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 – The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and You will not hear? Or cry to You “Violence!” and You will not save? Why do You make me see iniquity, and why do You idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. … I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. And the LORD answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end-it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.”
The prophet Habakkuk says exactly the kinds of things I would like to say to God. He’s upset with God; he sees that the world around him is filled with violence and evil, and he wants to know why God isn’t doing anything. Habakkuk has been praying and crying out to God for help, but it looks like nothing’s happening. Evil is winning, and God is silent.
Faced with that situation, many people lose their faith. But Habakkuk does something different. He’s going to set himself up like a man on a watchtower and look out toward the horizon, to see if God’s answer is on the way. Deep down inside, angry or not, Habakkuk still trusts that God is going to hear him.
And God does hear him! An answer is coming—an answer to all this evil. It may seem slow, but God is sending help. And in the meantime, Habakkuk will be waiting and trusting.
What answer did God send? He sent an answer nobody could have predicted—He came Himself, as a tiny human baby, born into our world to save us. Who could expect such a weak person to win the war against evil? And yet He did—not the way we might have expected, through force, but instead through His own suffering, death, and resurrection. The writer of Hebrews explains why Jesus took on our flesh and blood: “that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (Hebrews 2:14b-15).
Now, when we grieve over the violence and evil in our world, we have this comfort—that God has seen our distress and has answered us. The evils of this world will have a complete end when Jesus returns in glory. He has already won the war. And so we wait for Him with hope and trust.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, come quickly and bring us Your peace, blessing, and goodness. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. Give an example of an evil that causes you to cry out to God for help.
2. How do you find help in God when you suffer?
3. When has God worked through you to help someone else suffering?
Today’s Bible Readings: Isaiah 41-42 Romans 7
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 Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
