Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you,
and you shall glorify Me.
(Psalm 50:15)
You have delivered me from sin and death, O Lord; You have rescued me from Satan’s grasp. There is no trouble You cannot overcome, nor any threat You cannot disarm. Teach me to trust You in turbulent times, that in all times I glorify You by faith active in the love of Jesus, in Whose name I pray. Amen.
The LORD God took the man
and put him in the garden of Eden
to work it and keep it.
(Genesis 2:15)
Holy God, always working to bless Your creation, I thank You for the gift of all honest work that provides daily bread, builds strong communities, and stimulates invention. Forgive me for laziness and complaint and keep me ever devoted to the Carpenter from Nazareth Whose labors secured my salvation. Amen.
“When you hear of wars
and tumults,
do not be terrified.”
(Luke 21:9a)
Lord Jesus, when daily events upset me (as they often do) lead me to Your holy word to hear again the promise that You are with me always. By that promise calm my heart and strengthen my resolve to live confidently despite wars and tumults as a witness to my neighbors of Your saving strength. Amen.
[Hezekiah] trusted in the LORD,
the God of Israel, so that there was
none like him among all the kings
of Judah after him, nor among
those who were before him.
(2 Kings 18:5)
Spirit of God, increase my faith. Forgive my doubts for Jesus’ sake. Powerfully work in me those spiritual exercises that build muscular discipleship, the kind that willingly serves neighbors (and enemies) even at cost to myself while trusting in the Lord despite every danger and temptation. Amen.
“Repent therefore, and turn again,
that your sins may be blotted out,
that times of refreshing may come
from the presence of the Lord.”
(Acts 3:19-20a)
Your holy word makes clear, O God, that repentance is not an occasional foray into contrition but a daily way of life that grieves over sin yet trusts in You to be merciful for the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ. Keep me, then, always repentant, that is, always eager to renounce sin and always ready to receive and rejoice in the forgiveness that blots out sins by the blood of Christ. Amen.
When they had finished
eating breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John,
do you love Me?’
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord;
You know that I love You.”
He said to him,
“Feed My lambs.”
(John 21:15)
Love serves. You have taught us, Lord Jesus, that love serves; it serves the lowliest and least lovable; without partiality it serves friends, neighbors, strangers, and enemies. Fill my heart with such love, I beg You. Use me as a feeder of all the lambs You died to save. I pray this in Your name. Amen.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked,
when it comes,
for the LORD
will be your confidence
and will keep your foot
from being caught.
(Proverbs 3:25-26)
God of time and eternity, You created days and seasons. Time passes according to Your clock and calendar. It hardly seems possible that it has been 20 years since sudden terror invaded our land, bringing pain yet also inspiring heroism. Help me honor this anniversary aright, with confidence in You, respect for the fallen and bereaved, diligence against new threats to peace, and constant prayerfulness on behalf of freedom everywhere. I ask this through Jesus, the Lord of all nations. Amen.
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