Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)

A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation: July 20-27, 2025

Pray and confess out loud as much as you are able or based on your family size and ages. (Alternative orders in LSB pp295-8)

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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.

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 July  LSB 953 We All Believe in One True God

One or more verses from the hymn of the month are sung, or another hymn may be chosen.

Verse of the Week: Colossians 2:6-7

As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him.

Daily Lectionary

The Second 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. 

(Go to bottom of next page for related Bible verses and/or excerpts from Large Catechism.)

The Apostles’ Creed is confessed † Lord’s Prayer † Prayers for Others and Ourselves (see LSB 305-318 for prayers)

In Our Prayers: Those who are suffering:  Shirley Arndt, Dave Ashlin, Gabby Arnquist (Lyn Brace’s sister’s granddaughter), Dave Ashlin, Vicki Bellore, Fred Burkart (Tiffany Drinkman’s father), Anita Dommer, Duane Draeger (Janet Fischer’s brother), Dan Drinkman, JoAnn Ehlers, Lois Eichinger, Louis and Mary Gettler, Harold & Joan Grunwald (Susan’s parents), Chuck Heidtke (Ed’s brother), Linda Hull, Marlys Jones, Pastor Jones, Rick Lahner (Carter’s grandfather), Greg Leland, Missy Lien (Thomas family friend), Lacie Miles (Chrystal’s sister-in-law), Marilyn Norton (Rev Norton’s wife), Marlene Paulson (Dianne Schroeder’s sister), Kathy Peterson, Doris Post, Matthew Potts, Mark Radl, Pastor Szedlak, Jeff Thomas (Pastor’s brother), Ethel Vance

Collect for the Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

O Lord, grant us the Spirit to hear Your Word and know the one thing needful that by Your Word and Spirit we may live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer based on the Second Commandment[1]

Holy Father, purify our lips from every misuse of Your name by cursing, swearing, superstition, lying, or deception. Open our mouths to reverence Your holy name, calling upon it in every time of trouble, praying for what You promise to give, praising You for Your glory, and giving thanks to You as the giver of every good and perfect gift; this we ask in the name that gives us access to You, the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the Large Catechism on the Second Commandment

-       The First commandment has instructed the heart and taught the faith. This commandment now leads us forward and directs the mouth and tongue to God. For the first things that spring from the heart and show themselves are words. I have taught above how to answer the question “What does it mean to have a god?”  Now you must simply learn to understand the meaning of this commandment and all the commandments, and to apply it to yourself. (364:50)

-“[Taking God’s name in vain] means misusing God’s name when we call upon the Lord God—no matter how—in order to deceive or do wrong of any kind.” Therefore, this commandment makes this point: God’s name must not be appealed to falsely. Or taken upon the lips, while the heart knows well enough—or should know—that the truth of the matter is different. This is what happens with people who take oaths in court, where one side lies against the other. For God’s name cannot be misused worse than for the support of falsehood and deceit. (364:51)

-The greatest abuse occurs in spiritual matters. These have to do with the conscience when false preachers rise up and offer their lying vanities as God’s Word. (364:54)

-You must also know how to use God’s name rightly…For His name has been revealed and given to us so that it may be of constant use and profit. So it is natural to conclude that since this commandment forbids using the holy name for falsehood or wickedness, we are, on the other hand, commanded to use His name for truth and for all good, like when someone takes an oath truthfully when it is needed and it is demanded. This commandment also applies to right teaching and to calling on His name in trouble or praising and thanking Him in prosperity, and so on. (365:63-64)

Bible verses for meditation on the Second Commandment

-You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:12

-If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. Numbers 30:2

-Hebrews 6:16, Matthew 5:37

[1] Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation. St. Louis: Concordia, 2017.