Devotions through November

611 Devotions

Monday Morning

Good Morning, Lord!

I am baptized

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal. 3:27 ESV)

Make the sign of the cross as you say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Thank You For A New Day!

O Lord, as I wake up today, I breathe the air You created. I see the light that You made. I hear with the ears You blessed me with. Thank You for giving me this body so that I may live as Your child in this world. Please bless this day, and let my life bring You glory for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Lord, thank You for the beginning of a new week. Thank you for the rest and fun I had this weekend. Thank You for my family, my friends, and my teachers. Please bless us all today and keep us in Your care for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

I Believe …

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the

virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He

descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge

the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the

forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

A Scripture Reading

¨ 9/17 – Matthew 3:13-17, p. 1109

¨ 9/24 – Deuteronomy 6:5, p. 216

¨ 10/1 – Isaiah 44:24, p. 823

¨ 10/8 – Exodus 20:8-11, p. 96

¨ 10/15 – Proverbs 23:22, p. 736

¨ 10/22 – Ephesians 4:31-32, p. 1381

¨ 10/29 – Mark 10:6-9, p. 1167

¨ 11/5 – Proverbs 14:21, p. 726

¨ 11/12 – Proverbs 22:1, p. 734

¨ 11/19 – James 4:1-2, p. 1444

Question for Meditation

What does this reading teach you?

What does this reading lead you to be thankful for?

What behavior, thought, or attitude does this reading challenge? What sin does it lead you to confess?

How might you pray for God to have a richer impact on your life through this reading?

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

¨ 9/24-30 - 2^nd Commandment: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord Your God. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

¨ 10/1-7 - 3^rd Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

¨ 10/8-14 - 4^th Commandment: Honor your father and your mother. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

¨ 10/15-21 - 5^th Commandment: You shall not murder. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.

¨ 10/22-28 - 6^th Commandment: You shall not commit adultery. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.

¨ 10/29-11/4 - 7^th Commandment: You shall not steal. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbors money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.

¨ 11/5-11 - 8^th Commandment: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.

¨ 11/12-18 - 9^th & 10^th Commandments: You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor’s inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.

¨ 11/19-25 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

Prayer (choose one)

Pray for yourself, your conduct, integrity, growth and witness.

O God, I wake to face the adventure You give me today. Many things will happen. I hope to do this … that … and this …. But there will be other things that take place, some of which will be fun and some will not. I pray, Lord, that I will face today with faith, and that by trusting in You my day will show my faith in You and give You glory. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lord Jesus, in Gospels the people sometimes called You, “the carpenter’s son.” You were a child to Mary and Joseph, and You lived and worked in the family with Your brothers and sisters. Help me to be a good daughter/son and a good sister/brother. Let my actions, attitudes, and words help to build up my family and show my love for them. In Your name I pray. Amen.

O Holy Spirit, You dwell within me to make me holy. You give me faith in Jesus, which receives forgiveness for my sins. You also teach me and empower me to do what is right and pleasing in God’s eyes. Help me to make good choices today that show that Jesus is my Lord, and let my life be a light to my friends and neighbors so they might see Jesus in me. Amen.

Father in Heaven, I thank You for this new day. Please help me to remember that You are still at work in my life. I am growing physically, and sometimes that growth is uncomfortable and awkward. Give me patience and grace as I grow. I am growing in maturity, but I still sometimes act in childish ways. Help me to never lose child-like faith as I grow to manhood/womanhood. I am growing spiritually as You work in my life through Your Word and Sacraments. Help me to love Your Word, O Lord. Help me to grow in ways that are pleasing to You, and let my life show my faith in Jesus, in Whose name I pray. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:20-21 ESV)

Monday Evening

Good Evening, Lord!

Words of Comfort

The almighty and merciful God bless us and keep us this night and evermore. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

O God, as I look back over this day I see there are times that I have not behaved as one of Your children should. I said things I shouldn’t have, like when I said …. I did things I shouldn’t have, like when I …. I also thought things I shouldn’t have, like when I thought about …. Please forgive me for Jesus’ sake. Help me turn away from sin and live a holy life because of the forgiveness and new life Jesus won for me by His suffering, death, and resurrection.

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

A Catechism Reading

Maroon Cover –

¨ 9/17 – p. 205: Question 241 & 242

¨ 9/24 – p. 56: First Commandment & Question 19

¨ 10/1 – p. 61: Second Commandment & Question 24

¨ 10/8 – p. 68: Third Commandment & Question 35

¨ 10/15 – p. 74: Fourth Commandment & Question 48

¨ 10/22 – p. 77: Fifth Commandment & Question 52 A

¨ 10/29 – p. 81: Sixth Commandment

¨ 11/5 – p. 85: Seventh Commandment & Question 59

¨ 11/12 – p. 87: Eighth Commandment & Question

¨ 11/19 – p. 89: Ninth Commandment & p. 91 Tenth Commandment

Black Cover –

¨ 9/17 – p. 287: Question 300

¨ 9/24 – p. 58: First Commandment & Central Thought

¨ 10/1 – p. 67: Second Commandment & Central Thought

¨ 10/8 – p. 74: Third Commandment & Central Thought

¨ 10/15 – p. 81: Fourth Commandment & Central Thought

¨ 10/22 – p. 85: Fifth Commandment & Central Thought

¨ 10/29 – p. 93: Sixth Commandment & Central Thought

¨ 11/5 – p. 105: Seventh Commandment & Central Thought

¨ 11/12 – p. 110: Eighth Commandment & Central Thought

¨ 11/19 – p. 115: Ninth & Tenth Commandments & Central Thought

I.T.C.P. Prayer

Use the I.T.C.P. formula to guide you in prayer.

Instruction: What did I learn? What was the reading about?

Thanksgiving: For what does this reading teach me to be thankful?

Confession: With what sin was I confronted? Was I comforted with God’s forgiveness? How?

Petition: What does this reading teach me to pray about?

Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

“Thy kingdom come”

O God, everlasting Father, Your kingdom comes even without our prayer, but, please, let it come to us, too! Please give us Your Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we may believe Your Word, and live godly lives here in time and there in eternity. Amen.

Verse of Benediction

May the blessing of the eternal God be upon us, and upon our work and worship; His light to guide us, His presence to strengthen us, His love to unite us; Now and always. Amen.[1]

Tuesday Morning

Good Morning, Lord!

I am baptized

And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 ESV)

Make the sign of the cross as you say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Thank You For A New Day!

Lord God, as the sun rises birds find their voices and sing. Help me as I awaken to lift my voice to You in thanks and praise for all of Your blessings. You kept me and my family safe as we slept, and now we get to live today as Your people. Bless us for the adventure of the day! We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

I Believe …

I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them.

He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.

He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil.

All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him.

This is most certainly true.

A Scripture Reading

¨ 9/18 – Acts 2:38-39 p. 1273

¨ 9/25 – 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 p. 1343

¨ 10/2 – Philippians 2:9-11 p. 1386

¨ 10/9 – Hebrews 10:24-25 p. 1434

¨ 10/16 – Proverbs 15:20 p. 727

¨ 10/23 – Deuteronomy 15:11 p. 226

¨ 10/30 – Hebrews 13:4 p. 1438

¨ 11/6 – Ephesians 4:28 p. 1381

¨ 11/13 – James 4:11 p. 1444

¨ 11/20 – Hebrews 13:5-6 p. 1438

Question for Meditation

What does this reading teach you?

What does this reading lead you to be thankful for?

What behavior, thought, or attitude does this reading challenge? What sin does it lead you to confess?

How might you pray for God to have a richer impact on your life through this reading?

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Prayer (choose one)

Pray for teachers, your principal, the school staff and all who are in authority.

God, You placed people in authority and You teach us to pray for them. Today I pray for the police and fire departments in my hometown. Bless the men and women who work in these jobs which are sometimes difficult and dangerous. Please keep them safe and bring them home to their families at the end of their work shifts. Bless their homes and let them be filled with Your love, and love for one another. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

O God, You bless people to do all kinds of different jobs: storeowners, librarians, doctors, nurses, engineers, builders, landscapers, lawyers, and much more. Help me to see the different gifts You give to people so they might do their jobs well and help our world to work better. At the same time, help me to begin to see the gifts You have given me so that I might learn what kind of job You might have in store for me in the future. Help me, and all who work, to work in ways that are honest, fair, and glorifying to You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 5:23 ESV)

Tuesday Evening

Good Evening, Lord!

Words of Comfort

Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20 ESV)

Prayer of Confession

O God, sometimes I sin during the day and I know that I did something wrong. Sometimes I feel guilty when I don’t do something that I should have done. And sometimes I don’t even know that I did something wrong. Please forgive me for all my sins, those I know and those I don’t; those things I did and those things I should have done. Wash my sins away as I remember that I am baptized, and help me to do what is right for a child of God to do. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

A Catechism Reading

Maroon Cover –

¨ 9/18 – p. 210: Question 249

¨ 9/25 – p. 57: Question 21 A

¨ 10/2 – p. 61-62: Question 25

¨ 10/9 – p. 68: Question 36

¨ 10/16 – p. 74-75: Question 49

¨ 10/23 – p. 77-78: On Abortion

¨ 10/30 – p. 81: Question 55 A & B

¨ 11/6 – p. 86-87: Question 60

¨ 11/13 – p. 87-88: Question 61 A

¨ 11/20 – p. 89-90: Question 63

Black Cover –

¨ 9/18 – p. 292: Question 308 A

¨ 9/25 – p. 58: Question 24

¨ 10/2 – p. 67: Question 42 A

¨ 10/9 – p. 74-75: Question 48

¨ 10/16 – p. 81: Question 54

¨ 10/23 – p. 85-86: Question 60 First section A & B

¨ 10/30 – p. 90: Question 65

¨ 11/6 – p. 105-106: Question 78

¨ 11/13 – p. 110: Question 83

¨ 11/20 – p. 116: Question 88

I.T.C.P. Prayer

Use the I.T.C.P. formula to guide you in prayer.

Instruction: What did I learn? What was the reading about?

Thanksgiving: For what does this reading teach me to be thankful?

Confession: With what sin was I confronted? Was I comforted with God’s forgiveness? How?

Petition: What does this reading teach me to pray about?

Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

O God, Your will is done even without our prayers, but we pray that it may be done among us also. Please break and hinder every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come. Strengthen and keep us firm in Your Word and faith until we die. Let Your good and gracious will be done. Amen.

Verse of Benediction

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Rom. 15:13 ESV)

Wednesday Morning

Good Morning, Lord!

I am baptized

³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. (Rom. 6:3-5 ESV)

Make the sign of the cross as you say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Thank You For A New Day!

It is hump-day, Lord, there is as much week before today as there is after today. We are right in the middle. You have been with me all the way through, and You will be with me all the way to the end. Thank You for being good to me and blessing me today and every day. Amen.

I Believe …

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity.

This is most certainly true.

A Scripture Reading

¨ 9/19 – John 3:5-6 p. 1236

¨ 9/26 – Philippians 4:5-6 p. 1388

¨ 10/3 – Exodus 20:7 p. 96

¨ 10/10 – Acts 2:42 p. 1274

¨ 10/17 – Ephesians 6:1-3 p. 1382

¨ 10/24 – Matthew 5:22 p. 1111-2

¨ 10/31 - Matthew 5:27-28 p. 1112

¨ 11/7 – Philippians 2:4 p. 1386

¨ 11/14 – Ecclesiastes 7:1 p. 751

¨ 11/21 – James 1:13-15 p. 1441

Question for Meditation

What does this reading teach you?

What does this reading lead you to be thankful for?

What behavior, thought, or attitude does this reading challenge? What sin does it lead you to confess?

How might you pray for God to have a richer impact on your life through this reading?

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Prayer (choose one)

Pray for matters related to the Creation.

O God, You created the heavens and the earth. All things are Yours, but You have entrusted them to us to use, too. Help me to see Your hand at work in the grass that grows, the flowers that bloom, the trees which stand so tall. When I see the squirrels, deer, rabbits and birds, help me remember how You provide for all creatures. When I pet a dog or cat let me recognize that You have given them to us as a special part of Your creation. As I see You as the Creator, help me to remember that You created me, too, and let me rejoice in all You have made. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Creator of all things, this world and all that is in it belongs to You. I fear sometimes that we are making a mess of Your world. I hear about climate change and pollution, and many other ways that the earth is damaged by people. Help people to take care of our world. Help me to do my part by not being wasteful, and help me to be a person who makes the world cleaner, better, and happier. Amen.

O Lord, in some places there are droughts and in others there are floods. There are volcanos and earthquakes. Some places have hurricanes, storms, and tornados. All of nature belongs to You, and we ask that You would keep people safe who face the destructive power of wind, earth, electricity and fire. These things remind us of how small and weak we are compared to You, and we ask that when we hear about them You would help us to remember Your love for all people so that we will help our neighbors who are harmed by natural disasters. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

O God, You created all things and You keep this world and everything in it going. Help us to take good care of the earth. Help people to not litter. Help people to care about what goes into our air and water. And help us to use our natural resources wisely and gratefully because it all belongs to You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction

The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Ps. 121:7-8 ESV)

Wednesday Evening

Good Evening, Lord!

Words of Comfort

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (Isa. 26:3 ESV)

Prayer of Confession

Father in Heaven, You teach us how to live, but many times we don’t live as You expect us to. It isn’t always just about our behavior, but it goes all the way to our heart. We are sinners, and that is why we sin. But You have mercy on sinners, and that is why You sent Jesus, that in Him we might be forgiven and made holy. Have mercy on us, and make us the people You want us to be! Amen.

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

A Catechism Reading

Maroon Cover –

¨ 9/19 – p. 210-211: Question 250

¨ 9/26 – p. 57-58: Question 21 B

¨ 10/3 – p. 62-63: Questions 26-27

¨ 10/10 – p. 70: Questions 38-39

¨ 10/17 – p. 75: Question 50 A

¨ 10/24 – p. 78: On Euthanasia

¨ 10/31 – p. 82: Question 55 C & D

¨ 11/7 – p. 54: Question 14

¨ 11/14 – p. 87: Question 61 B

¨ 11/21 – p. 90: Question 64

Black Cover –

¨ 9/19 – p. 292: Question 308 B

¨ 9/26 – p. 59: Question 26

¨ 10/3 – p. 67-68: Question 42 B

¨ 10/10 – p. 75-76: Question 50 Not Despising section A & B

¨ 10/17 – p. 81: Question 55, Despising section A & B

¨ 10/24 – p. 86: Question 60, First section C & D

¨ 10/31 – p. 94: Questions 66-67

¨ 11/7 – p. 106: Question 79 Not taking section

¨ 11/14 – p. 110-111: Question 84 Not speaking section A

¨ 11/21 – p. 116: Question 89, First section, A

I.T.C.P. Prayer

Use the I.T.C.P. formula to guide you in prayer.

Instruction: What did I learn? What was the reading about?

Thanksgiving: For what does this reading teach me to be thankful?

Confession: With what sin was I confronted? Was I comforted with God’s forgiveness? How?

Petition: What does this reading teach me to pray about?

Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Heavenly Father, You give daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving. Make us mindful of all that You give us that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and help us to always give thanks to You; in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Verse of Benediction

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14 ESV)

Thursday Morning

Good Morning, Lord!

I am baptized

God saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. (Tit. 3:5 ESV)

Make the sign of the cross as you say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Thank You For A New Day!

Father in Heaven, sometimes getting up in the morning is hard. The bed is comfortable and I don’t really want to get moving. Help me to remember all the blessings You have in store for me today: love in my family, friendship, moments of discovery and learning, joy in using my skills, and so many others. Thank You for this day and for Your blessings. Help me to live as Your child today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

I Believe …

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.

This is most certainly true.

A Scripture Reading

¨ 9/20 – Psalm 71:5-6 p. 653-654

¨ 9/27 – Matthew 6:33 p. 1114

¨ 10/4 – Psalm 50:15 p. 640

¨ 10/11 – Colossians 3:16 p. 1394

¨ 10/18 – Hebrews 13:17 p. 1439

¨ 10/25 – Proverbs 31:8-9 p. 745

¨ 11/1 – Colossians 3:5 p. 1393

¨ 11/8 – Psalm 37:21 p. 631

¨ 11/15 – Ephesians 4:14 p. 1380

¨ 11/22 – Psalm 119:35-36 p. 689

Question for Meditation

What does this reading teach you?

What does this reading lead you to be thankful for?

What behavior, thought, or attitude does this reading challenge? What sin does it lead you to confess?

How might you pray for God to have a richer impact on your life through this reading?

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Prayer (choose one)

Pray for your parents, family, and friends.

O God, I thank You for my Mom and Dad (and any other parental figures you might have). Please bless them and help them to take good care of me and to raise me to know You and to follow You. Keep their faith in Jesus strong, and help them to be patient toward me. Please bless my sibling(s) (name them). Help me to be a good sister/brother so that I love them and treat them as I should. And I thank You for my friends. Please bless them in their homes. Help them to believe in You, and help me to represent You well to them. And I pray that You would help them to be a good influence on me, and I on them. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

O God, Your plan and design was for us to live in families with parents who love and provide for their children, and children who honor, serve and obey, love and cherish their parents. We don’t always live that way though. There are so many broken families. I pray for my family, and I pray that You would help us to live together in love, that You would heal any hurts we have, and that You would keep my parents strong in faith. Bless my friends and their families, and please help them to have safe and happy homes. Help us all to rejoice in our families, recognizing them as a gift and blessing from You. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Father in heaven, it is part of Your design that we live in families with parents loving and providing for their children and children honoring and loving their parents. Sadly this doesn’t always happen. Please be with those who have difficult family situations and help them work through those difficulties and find healing in Jesus’ love and forgiveness. For those who have no family, we pray that You would be their Father – the defender of widows and orphans. And we thank You for our families and pray that You would help us love one another and be good to each other. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You grew up in a family with in Nazareth, so You know what it is like to have a mom and dad, and brothers and sisters. Bless our home and our family. Be with us and live among us. Help us love one another as we should, and help our life and work together be filled with faith and hope in Your love and salvation. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thess. 2:16-17 ESV)

Thursday Evening

Good Evening, Lord!

Words of Comfort

May the LORD give strength to His people! May the LORD bless His people with peace! (Ps. 29:11 ESV)

Prayer of Confession

Forgive my sins, O Lord – forgive me the sins of my present and the sins of my past, the sins of my soul and the sins of my body; the sins which I have done to please myself, and the sins which I have done to please others. Forgive my rebellious and lazy sins, forgive me my serious and deliberate sins, forgive me those sins which I know and those sins which I don’t know, the sins which I have tried to hide from others and the sins that I have hidden from myself. Forgive them, O Lord, forgive them all. Of Your great mercy let me be forgiven, and in Your loving kindness set me free from the bonds of sin. Please do this, O heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen.[2]

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

A Catechism Reading

Maroon Cover –

¨ 9/20 – p. 213: Question 254

¨ 9/27 – p. 57-58: Question 21 C

¨ 10/4 – p. 63: Question 28

¨ 10/11 – p. 70-71: Question 40 A

¨ 10/18 – p. 75: Question 50 B

¨ 10/25 – p. 78-79: On Suicide

¨ 11/1 – p. 84: Question 57 A

¨ 11/8 – p. 55: Questions 15, 16, & 17

¨ 11/15 – p. 87-88: Question 61 C

¨ 11/22 – p. 90-91: Question 65

Black Cover –

¨ 9/20 – p. 292: Question 308 C

¨ 9/27 – p. 60: Question 28

¨ 10/4 – p. 68: Question 43

¨ 10/11 – p. 76: Question 50 Taking time to reflect section A & B

¨ 10/18 – p. 82: Question 55 Receiving section A & B

¨ 10/25 – p. 87: Question 60 Second section A & B

¨ 11/1 – p. 94-95: Question 68 A & B

¨ 11/8 – p. 106: Question 79, Looking after section

¨ 11/15 – p. 111: Question 84, Not speaking section B & C

¨ 11/22 – p. 116-117, Question 89, First section B

I.T.C.P. Prayer

Use the I.T.C.P. formula to guide you in prayer.

Instruction: What did I learn? What was the reading about?

Thanksgiving: For what does this reading teach me to be thankful?

Confession: With what sin was I confronted? Was I comforted with God’s forgiveness? How?

Petition: What does this reading teach me to pray about?

Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

“And forgive us our trespasses and we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Heavenly Father, do not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that You would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. But You have given Your Son, our Savior, Jesus to bear our sins in His body on the cross and given us forgiveness for His sake. For Jesus’ sake help us to sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us. Amen.

Verse of Benediction

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim. 1:17 ESV)

Friday Morning

Good Morning, Lord!

I am baptized

Baptism … now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 3:21 ESV)

Make the sign of the cross as you say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Thank You For A New Day!

Good morning, Lord! As I wake this morning let my first thoughts be about Your goodness and Your blessings. Today I will wear clothes, eat food, live in a home, receive an education, and so much more because of Your kindness and mercy. On top of all that, I get to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, my friend who helps and saves me. Thank You for this new day! Help me live today in the power of the Holy Spirit and the faith He gives me for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

I Believe …

You shall have no other gods.

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.

Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.

Honor your father and mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

A Scripture Reading

¨ 9/21 – 2 Corinthians 5:17 p. 1361

¨ 9/28 – Psalm 139:1-4 p. 700-701

¨ 10/5 – Luke 11:2 p. 1205

¨ 10/12 – Luke 10:16 p. 1204

¨ 10/19 – Romans 13:1 p. 1328

¨ 10/26 – Matthew 22:36-40 p. 1138

¨ 11/2 – 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 p. 1349

¨ 11/9 – 1 John 3:16-18 p. 1459

¨ 11/16 – 1 Peter 4:8 p. 1450

¨ 11/23 – Colossians 3:5 p. 1393

Question for Meditation

What does this reading teach you about Jesus, what He said and did, or what He wants His followers to believe?

What does this reading lead you to be thankful for?

What behavior, thought, or attitude does this reading challenge? What sin does it lead you to confess?

How might you pray for God to have a richer impact on your life through this reading?

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Prayer (choose one)

Pray for those who are sick, injured, grieving, dying, lonely, bullied, and experiencing injustice.

O God, You are merciful and compassionate. You care about every aspect of our lives. Today we pray for those who are sick and hurt, especially … and …. Please heal them. We pray for those who are dying, especially …. Please give them a blessed death filled with faith in Jesus and hope in His resurrection. We pray for the grieving, especially …. Please comfort them, give them courage, and sustain them with hope in the risen Jesus. We pray for those who are lonely, left out, bullied, and mistreated, especially …. Please be their friend and protector, and help me and others to be good to them. We pray these things and ask that You answer our prayers for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

O God, You created our bodies and gave us this life to live. However, there are so many hurtful things that have entered into our lives because of our sin. You never intended these pains and sorrows to afflict us. When Jesus preached, He proclaimed that the reign of God has come, and Your reign pushes back against sin’s hurts and damage. So we pray that You would use Your mighty power to heal the sick and injured. That You limitless comfort and encouragement would help the grieving. That those who are dying would do so with the certain hope that Jesus has defeated death and promised resurrection to all who trust in Him. And we pray for all who lack the basic things they need for a good life. Help us as Your people to be companions for the lonely, defenders of the bullied, and voices for those who are treated unfairly. Let our lives be expressions of the way Your kingdom works; we pray in the name of Jesus, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You are the great physician of soul and body. You bring healing, comfort, help, and strength to carry on in the midst of our sorrows. I pray for people who are sick (especially …). Please be with them and heal them. Be with those who are hurt (especially …). Give them patience and restore their bodies. Comfort those who are grieving and strengthen the faith of those who are dying. Be the friend of the lonely and the defender of the weak. We pray that You would use us to bring Your comfort, hope, and help to those who need it in our lives. We pray these things in Your name. Amen.

O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the healer and great physician. Please touch and heal those who are sick and wounded; relieve their pain and keep them safe from all evil. Meet every person in their need and help them to know You as the God who loves them, heals them, and saves them. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25 ESV)

Friday Evening

Good Evening, Lord!

Words of Comfort

[O God, You are] like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. (Isa. 32:2 ESV)

Prayer of Confession

I confess my sin in Your presence, O God. I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven, that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray God Almighty to have mercy on me, forgive me all my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.[3]

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

A Catechism Reading

Maroon Cover –

¨ 9/21 – p. 216: Question 260

¨ 9/28 – p. 57-58: Question 21 D

¨ 10/5 – p. 66: Question 33

¨ 10/12 – p. 71: Question 40 B

¨ 10/19 – p. 75: Question 50 C

¨ 10/26 – p. 78-79: Question 52 B & C

¨ 11/2 – p. 84: Question 57 B

¨ 11/9 – p. 55: Question 18

¨ 11/16 – p. 88: Question 62 A

¨ 11/23 – p. 91-92: Questions 66 & 67

Black Cover –

¨ 9/21 – p. 304: Question 323

¨ 9/28 – p. 60: Question 29

¨ 10/5 – p. 69: Question 44, First section A, B, & C

¨ 10/12 – p. 77: Question 51 A & B

¨ 10/19 – p. 82-83: Question 55, Receiving section C & D

¨ 10/26 – p. 87: Question 60 Second section C

¨ 11/2 – p. 95-96: Question 68 C, D, & E

¨ 11/9 – p. 107: Questions 80 & 81

¨ 11/16 – p. 111-112: Question 84 Speaking constructively section A

¨ 11/23 – p. 117, Question 89 Second section A & B

I.T.C.P. Prayer

Use the I.T.C.P. formula to guide you in prayer.

Instruction: What did I learn? What was the reading about?

Thanksgiving: For what does this reading teach me to be thankful?

Confession: With what sin was I confronted? Was I comforted with God’s forgiveness? How?

Petition: What does this reading teach me to pray about?

Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

“And lead us not into temptation.”

Father in heaven, You tempt no one. Please guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory through Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Verse of Benediction

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor. 13:14 ESV)

Saturday Morning

Good Morning, Lord!

I am baptized

Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:25-27 ESV)

Make the sign of the cross as you say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Thank You For A New Day!

O God, thank You for today. Thank You for giving me this day to do these things …. Bless this day and let me live it with faith that leads me to love You and love others. Amen.

I Believe …

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the

virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He

descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge

the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the

forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

A Scripture Reading

¨ 9/22 – Acts 9:1-19a p. 1283-1284

¨ 9/29 – Luke 12:13-34 p. 1208

¨ 10/6 – Exodus 3:1-15 p 76-77

¨ 10/13 – Matthew 18:15-20 p. 1131

¨ 10/20 – Acts 4:13-20 p. 1275

¨ 10/27 – Luke 10:25-37 p. 1204-1205

¨ 11/3 – Genesis 2:18-25 p. 17-18

¨ 11/10 – Luke 19:1-10 p. 1217-1218

¨ 11/17 – Mark 14:3-9 p. 1174

¨ 11/24 – 1 Kings 21:1-16 p. 415-416

Question for Meditation

What does this reading teach you about Jesus, what He said and did, or what He wants His followers to believe?

What does this reading lead you to be thankful for?

What behavior, thought, or attitude does this reading challenge? What sin does it lead you to confess?

How might you pray for God to have a richer impact on your life through this reading?

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Prayer (choose one)

Pray for your church, the pastor, the staff, and the Youth Group.

O God, thank You for making me part of my church. Please bless Pastor Tritten as he prepares to lead worship tomorrow. Please help him to love his work, to love You, and to love us, and help him teach us Your Word. Please be with Mr. Brantsch, Mrs. Koudelka, Mrs. Alberson, and Mrs. Brodbeck. Help them to share Your salvation with us, and help them to serve You well. Please bless our Youth Group and 611 ministry. Help us to have fun with one another as we grow together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

Father in Heaven, thank You so much for making me part of the holy Christian Church, and a part of my home congregation, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Please bless our congregation. Help Pastor to preach and teach faithfully from Your Word. Help our staff, the D.C.E., the music director, our office staff, and everyone who works at church do their work with joy because they are serving You and Your people. I pray especially for our youth director and ask You to pour Your spirit out on her so that our youth ministry will be blessed in every way. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Lord God, You call Your people to be the Church. We thank You for our congregation which is a part of Your one holy Christian Church. We pray for our pastor, and for all pastors. Help them to have joy in their work and to do it well. Bless the staff of our church, and all who work in the Church. Give them great satisfaction in serving You by serving Your people. Please bless our Youth Group. Many think of us as the future of the Church, but You are at work in us now and use us in Your service now. Help us to see ourselves as part of Your people who are here to serve You and to share the good news of Jesus’ sacrifice and salvation. Amen.

Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, please give us Your Holy Spirit who takes Your Word and places it in our hearts, so that we may receive and believe it, and be gladdened and comforted by it forever. Glorify Your Word in our hearts and make it so bright and warm that we may find pleasure in it, and by Your power live every day in it, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.[4]

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

Benediction

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, ²¹ equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21 ESV)

Saturday Evening

Good Evening, Lord!

Words of Comfort

[God] has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Heb. 13:5 ESV)

Prayer of Confession

Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening. Let Your holy presence bring to mind all my sins of the day, and let Your loving mercy keep me from being too embarrassed to confess them to You. You already know all my sins better than I do, anyhow, but give me courage to confess them to You as I cling to Jesus’ forgiveness which He won for me by His suffering and death on the cross. I confess to You tonight that I have …. Grant me forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Memory Verse

¨ 9/17-23 - 1^st Commandment: You shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

A Catechism Reading

Maroon Cover –

¨ 9/22 – p. 203: Question 237

¨ 9/29 – p. 59: Question 22

¨ 10/6 – p. 67: Question 34

¨ 10/13 – p. 69: Question 37

¨ 10/20 – p. 75-76: Question 50 D & Question 51

¨ 10/27 – p. 80: Question 54

¨ 11/3 – p. 84: Question 57 C

¨ 11/10 – p. 48: Question 2

¨ 11/17 – p. 88-89: Question 62 B & C

¨ 11/24 – p. 92: Question 68

Black Cover –

¨ 9/22 – p. 282: Question 294

¨ 9/29 – p. 60: Question 30

¨ 10/6 – p. 70: Question 44 Second section A, B, C, & D

¨ 10/13 – p. 78: Question 51 C & D

¨ 10/20 – p. 83: Questions 56 & 57

¨ 10/27 – p. 88: Question 61

¨ 11/3 – p. 101: Question 75

¨ 11/10 – p. 108: Question 82

¨ 11/17 - p. 112: Question 84 Speaking constructively section B & C

¨ 11/24 – p. 118: Question 92

I.T.C.P. Prayer

Use the I.T.C.P. formula to guide you in prayer.

Instruction: What did I learn? What was the reading about?

Thanksgiving: For what does this reading teach me to be thankful?

Confession: With what sin was I confronted? Was I comforted with God’s forgiveness? How?

Petition: What does this reading teach me to pray about?

Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer

“But deliver us from evil.”

Dear Father, please rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to heaven, where will live eternally with You, and with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Verse of Benediction

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Ps. 23:6 ESV)

Sunday Morning

Good Morning Lord!

To remember your baptism, make the sign of the cross and say, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

Psalm Verse for Worship

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!" (Ps. 122:1 ESV)

Prayer

“Hallowed be Thy name.”

O God, Your name is holy in and of itself, but we ask that it would be honored and kept holy by us. Help us, dear Father in heaven, to do this! Let your Word be taught in truth and purity, and help us, Your children, to live our lives according to it; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.

Luther’s Morning Prayer

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Sunday Evening

Good Evening Lord!

Wondrously show Your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at Your right hand. Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings, (Ps. 17:7-8 ESV)

Meditation on Worship

Use the I.T.C.P. formula to think about / discuss the worship service.

Instruction: What did I learn? What were the lessons / sermon about?

Thanksgiving: What am I thankful for?

Confession: With what sin was I confronted? Was I comforted with God’s forgiveness? How?

Petition: What did we pray about? Who did we pray for?

Prayer

Pray for the people on Sunday’s Prayer List in the bulletin.

Pray about your own thoughts and requests.

Luther’s Evening Prayer

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

[1] Doberstein, John W., The Minister’s Prayer Book, Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1959, p. 18

[2] Slightly adapted from Doberstein, Minister’s Prayer Book, p. 33. He cites Thomas Wilson’s Sacra Privata.

[3] Adapted from the liturgy.

[4] Adapted from Doberstein, John, ed. , A Lutheran Prayer Book, Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1960, p. 100-1