A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation
April 16-23, 2023
Pray and confess out loud as much as you are able or based on your family size and ages. You may follow the “Morning” or the “Close of the Day” according to time of day. (Alternative orders are in the LSB hymnal pp. 295-298)
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The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Morning | Close of the Day |
In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; In the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch |
The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last. Amen. |
My mouth is filled with Your praise, And with Your glory all the day. |
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, To sing praise to Your name, O Most High; |
O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth will declare Your praise. |
To herald Your love in the morning; Your truth at the close of the day. |
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Hymn of the Month for April: LSB 493 A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing
One or more verses from the hymn of the month are sung, or another hymn may be chosen.
Verse of the Week: Romans 6:9; John 20:29b
We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Alleluia. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Daily Lectionary
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
Old Testament |
Exodus 20:1-24 |
Exodus 22:20-23:13 |
Exodus 23:14-33 |
Exodus 24:1-18 |
Exodus 25:1-22 |
Exodus 31:1-18 |
Exodus 32:1-14 |
Exodus 32:15-35 |
Psalms | 119:9-16; 91 | 146, 103 | 26, 41 | 99, 79 | 119:25-32; 9 | 92 | 106; 68 | 119:49-56; 79 |
New Testament |
Luke 4:1-15 |
Luke 4:16-30 |
Luke 4:31-44 |
Luke 5:1-16 |
Luke 5:17-39 |
Luke 6:1-19 |
Luke 6:20-38 |
Luke 6:39-49 |
The Lord’s Prayer: The Fourth Petition
Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean?
God certainly gives 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.
What is meant by daily bread?
Daily bread includes everything 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 the like.
The Apostles’ Creed is confessed
Lord’s Prayer
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
Collect for the Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Prayer based on the Fourth Petition
Dear heavenly Father, give me Your Holy Spirit, that it may be my sole concern to be and remain Your dear child. Then let me diligently perform my duty as required by my calling and station, wherein You have placed me, and let me always look for my daily bread from Your fatherly goodness. May I in no way burden my heart with heathenish cares; for You are my dear Father, through Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen. (C.M. Zorn, 1846-1928)
Morning | Close of the Day |
Almighty God, merciful Father, who created and completed all things, on this day when the work of our calling begins anew, we implore You to create its beginning, direct its continuance, and bless its end, that our doings may be preserved from sin, our life sanctified, and our work be well pleasing to you; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. I thank you my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that 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 |
Visit our dwellings, O Lord, and in Your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of Your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 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 me all 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. |
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Excerpts from the Large Catechism on the Fourth Petition
Daily Prayers: “Asking a Blessing” and “Returning Thanks” (from Small Catechism)