Bible Readings and Devotion for August 8 & 9, 2020
Here are the references for the readings. Please look these up in your print Bible, your smartphone app Bible, or your online Bible:
August 8
August 9
Devotion for August 8 & 9, 2020
By Pastor David Tinker
Our reading from Psalm 92 reminds me of a powerful Christian practice of prayer. It is essentially to have preplanned prayer times each day. It can be a great benefit to many to invest in one’s prayer life through these daily disciplines. The psalmist tells us, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night…” Psalm 92:1-2
This is one of the various places which reminds us to include prayer times in the beginning and of the day. Throughout history the church has helped the faithful by providing resources for daily devotions, scripture reading and prayer.
A few months ago I prepared a daily prayer guide. It was initially distributed through the Martin Luther – Carmine monthly newsletter. It is a combination of two traditional resources. One is Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. The other is the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. The Book of Common Prayer has a simply format for morning, noon, evening and nighttime prayers for individuals or families. I have added in some prayers from the Small Catechism which give us something more connected to the Lutheran faith tradition.
I present these to you in two formats. Please feel free to share this as you desire.
1 – I have formatted this into a PDF. Click Link.
This is formatted to be printer ready to make a booklet. Print it on both sides, and have the pages flip on the short edge. Once printed you can keep this with your Bible and/or other devotional materials.
2 – On this web page below is the complete document in the same format at the rest of this page. Feel free to use this in whatever format you wish to use.
Daily Devotion Format for Individuals, Families, and Households
Adapted from the Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer and Luther’s Small Catechism
In the Morning
From Psalm 51
Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
A Reading from Daily Readings, personal choice or this:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
1 Peter 1:3
A hymn or song may be used; the Apostles Creed may be said.
Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.
The Lord’s Prayer
Luther’s Morning Prayer
I give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected me through the night from all harm and danger. I ask that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you. Into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
At Noon or Midday
From Psalm 113
Give praise, you servants of the LORD; *
praise the Name of the LORD.
Let the Name of the LORD be blessed, *
from this time forth for evermore.
From the rising of the sun to its going down *
let the Name of the LORD be praised.
The LORD is high above all nations, *
and his glory above the heavens.
A Reading from Daily Readings, personal choice, or this:
“O God, you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are
fixed on you; for in returning and rest we shall be saved; in
quietness and trust shall be our strength.” Isaiah 26:3; 30:15
Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Prayer
Blessed Savior, at this hour you hung upon the cross,
stretching out your loving arms: Grant that all the peoples of
the earth may look to you and be saved; for your mercies’
sake. Amen.
Or
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I give to
you; my own peace I leave with you:” Regard not our sins,
but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and
unity of that heavenly City, where with the Father and the
Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever. Amen.
In the Early Evening
This devotion may be used before or after the evening meal.
O gracious light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of Life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
A Reading from Daily Readings, personal choice, or this:
“It is not ourselves that we proclaim; we proclaim Christ
Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants, for Jesus’ sake.
For the same God who said, “Out of darkness let light
shine,” has caused his light to shine within us, to give the
light of revelation–the revelation of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:5-6
Prayers may be offered for ourselves and others.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Prayer
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is
past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and
awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in
Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake
of your love. Amen.
At the Close of Day
Psalm 134
Behold now, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, *
you that stand by night in the house of the LORD.
Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the LORD; *
the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
A Reading from Daily Readings, personal choice, or this:
Lord, you are in the midst of us and we are called by your
Name: Do not forsake us, O Lord our God. Jeremiah 14:9,22
The following may be said:
Lord, you now have set your servant free *
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *
whom you have prepared for all the world to see;
A Light to enlighten the nations, *
and the glory of your people Israel.
Prayers for ourselves and others may follow. It is appropriate that prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings of the day, and penitence for our sins, be included.
The Lord’s Prayer
Luther’s Evening Prayer
I give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today. I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. Into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us. Amen.
Martin Luther Lutheran Church 