A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation
April 2-9, 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 |
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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. |
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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; |
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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: Philippians 2:8b
He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Daily Lectionary
|
Sunday Passion/Palm |
Monday | Tuesday |
Wednesday
|
Holy Thursday |
Good Friday |
Holy Saturday |
Easter Sunday |
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| Old Testament |
Exodus 8:1-32 |
Exodus 9:1-28 |
Exodus 9:29-10:20 |
Exodus 10:21-11:10 |
Exodus 12:1-28 |
Exodus 12:29-32; 13:1-16 |
Exodus 13:17-14:9 |
Exodus 14:10-31 |
| Psalms | 71; 45; 130 | 35; 71; 143 | 88; 77; 6 | 89; 32 | 37; 110; 38 | 135; 136; 51 | 37; 76; 102 | 96; 107 |
| New Testament |
Hebrews 1:1-14 |
Hebrews 2:1-18 |
Hebrews 3:1-19 |
Hebrews 4:1-16 |
Hebrews 5:1-14 |
Hebrews 6:1-20 |
Hebrews 7:1-22 |
Hebrews 7:23-8:13 |
The Lord’s Prayer: The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.
What does this mean?
The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.
How does God’s kingdom come?
God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives in time and there in eternity
The Apostles’ Creed is confessed
Lord’s Prayer
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
Collect for the Sunday of the Passion
Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Prayer based on the Second Petition
Gracious and blessed God, You have taught and commanded us above all things first to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Grant us grace, that Your holy Word may be preached in all the world in all its truth and purity. May we submit our reason to the obedience of faith and live holy lives, as is proper for the children of God, to Your pleasing. Then Your kingdom may come to us, and increase, and many people, who do not yet believe in the Word, may be won through Christian conduct. Help us dear God, who are delivered from the power of darkness and are translated into the kingdom of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. In Him we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sin. May we remain in His kingdom, faithfully continue in wholesome doctrine, and live worthily as children of light in all piety and godliness. Amen. (Johann Habermann, 1516-90)
| Morning | Close of the Day |
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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 Second Petition
- The coming of God’s kingdom to us happens in two ways: (a) here in time through the Word and faith; and (b) in eternity through revelation. Now we pray for both these things. We pray that the kingdom may come to those who are not yet in it, and, by daily growth that it may come to us who have received it, both now and hereafter in eternal life. All this is nothing other than saying, “Dear Father, we pray, give us first Your Word, so that the Gospel may be preached properly throughout the world. Second, may the Gospel be received in faith and work and live in us, so that through the Word and Holy Spirit’s power, Your kingdom may triumph among us. And we pray that the devil’s kingdom be put down, so that he may have no right or power over us, until at last his power may be utterly destroyed. So sin, death, and hell shall be exterminated. Then we may live forever in perfect righteousness and blessedness. (414:53-54)
Bible verses for meditation on the Second Petition
- “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:18
- “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit..” Romans 14:17