A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation

April 9-16, 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)

+++

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: 2 Timothy 1:10b

[Christ Jesus] abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel..

Daily Lectionary

 

Sunday

Passion/Palm

 Monday Tuesday

Wednesday

 

Holy

Thursday

Good

Friday

Holy

Saturday

 Sunday
Old Testament

Exodus

14:10-31

Exodus

15:1-18

Exodus

15:19-16:12

Exodus

16:13-35

Exodus

17:1-16

Exodus

18:5-27

Exodus

19:1-25

Exodus

20:1-24
Psalms  96; 107 13; 59 81; 40 134; 135 114; 136 145; 94 30; 68 119:9-16; 91
New Testament

Hebrews

7:23-8:13

Hebrews

9:1-28

Hebrews

10:1-18

Hebrews

10:19-39

Hebrews

11:1-29

Hebrews

12:1-24

Hebrews

13:1-21

Luke

4:1-15

The Lord’s Prayer: The Third Petition 

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

What does this mean?

The good and gracious will of God is done even without prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God’s will done?

      God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders 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; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

The Apostles’ Creed is confessed

Lord’s Prayer

Prayers for Others and Ourselves

Collect for the Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter Sunday)

Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer based on the Third Petition

Dear heavenly Father, faithful God, I pray, by all means accomplish Your good and gracious will in me, and break and hinder the evil and contrary will of the devil, the world, and my own flesh. And give me, O Father, Your Holy Spirit, that at all times I may resign myself to this Your will, that in all eternity I may praise and glorify You, O Father, for Your great faithfulness. 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 Third Petition

  • In a good government it is not only necessary that there be those who build and govern well. It is also necessary to have those who defend, offer protection, and maintain it firmly. So in God’s kingdom, although we have prayed for the greatest need—for the Gospel, faith, and the Holy Spirit, that He may govern us and redeem us from the devil’s power—we must also pray the God’s will be done. For there will be strange events if we are to abide in God’s will. We shall have to suffer many thrusts and blows on that account from everything that seeks to oppose and prevent the fulfillment of the first two petitions. (415:61)
  • No one can believe how the devil opposes and resists these prayers. He cannot allow anyone to teach or to believe rightly. It hurts him beyond measure to have his lies and abominations exposed, which have been honored under the most fancy, sham uses of the divine name. It hurts him when he himself is disgraced, is driven out of the heart, and has to let a breach be made in his kingdom. Therefore, he chafes and rages as a fierce enemy with all his power and might. He marshals all his subjects and, in addition, enlists the world and our own flesh as his allies. (415-416:62)
  • We pray without ceasing, “Dear Father, Your will be done, not the devil’s will or our enemies’ or anything that would persecute and suppress Your holy Word or hinder Your kingdom. Grant that we may bear with patience and overcome whatever is to be endured because of Your Word and kingdom, so that our poor flesh may not yield or fall away because of weakness or sluggishness.” (416:67)

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