A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation

May 14-21, 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 May: LSB 549 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

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 16:33b

We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Daily Lectionary

  Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Old Testament

Numbers

3:1-16, 39-48

Numbers

8:5-26

Numbers

9:1-32

Numbers

10:11-36

Numbers

11:1-23,  31-35

Numbers

11:24-29; 12:1-16

Numbers

13:1-3, 17-33

Numbers

14:1-25
Psalms  135; 60 103; 70 85; 18 62; 19 130; 47 77; 8 119:97-104 81; 9
New Testament

Luke

14:25-15:10

Luke

15:11-32

Luke

16:1-18

Luke

16:19-31

Luke

17:1-19

Luke

17:20-37

Luke

18:1-17

Luke

18:18-34

The Lord’s Prayer: The Conclusion 

      For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.* Amen.

What does this mean?

      This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen means “yes, yes, it shall be so”.

*These words were not in Luther’s Small Catechism. Luther’s original question was, “What is meant by the word ‘Amen’?”

The Apostles’ Creed is confessed † Lord’s Prayer † Prayers for Others and Ourselves

Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; 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 Conclusion

So rule us, O God, that we may ever be guided by Your clear and pure Word and are not seduced by the external appearance of things. Keep us, Lord Jesus, from error and false doctrine. Send us faithful teachers who listen to Your congregation, purchased with Your blood, and are anxious to perform Your will. Grant us obedient hearts, so that we, as lambs of Your flock, may obey Your voice, and be filled with fruits of righteousness. Teach us ever to do Your will, For You are our God. Amen. (Johann Habermann, 1516-90)

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 Conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer

  • All depends on this, that we learn also to say “Amen.” This means that we do not doubt that our prayer is surely heard and that what we pray shall be done. This is nothing else than the word of undoubting faith, which does not pray on a dare but knows that God does not lie to him. For He has promised to grant it. Therefore, where there is no such faith, there cannot be true prayer either. (422:119-120)
  • It is, therefore, an evil deception on those who pray as though they could not dare from the heart to say “Yes!” and positively conclude that God hears them. Instead, they remain in doubt and say, “How can I be so bold as to boast that God hears my prayer? For I am but a poor sinner,” and other such things. The reason for this is, they do not respect God’s promise, but they rely on their own work and worthiness, by which they despise God and accuse Him of lying. Therefore, they receive nothing. As St. James says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” Behold, God attaches such importance to this fact that we can be sure we do not pray in vain, so that we do not despise our prayer in any way. (422-423:121-124)

Bible Verses for Meditation on the Conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer

  • If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7
  • Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
  • Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation
 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:1-2, 6
  • For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”. Romans 10:11-13 

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