DAILY DEVOTION

1st DAY OF THE MONTH

THE INVOCATION

THE HYMN OF THE DAY

OPENING PRAYER

Lord God, heavenly Father, by Your mercies, I have been safely brought to this new day.  

With Your mighty power, be my defense and defender,  

and in all that takes place in my life this day,

grant that I may not turn to any sin, nor run into any kind of danger. 

Grant that in all which shall be done through me,

each shall be governed by Your will so that righteousness may abound to Your glory, through Jesus, the Christ. 

In His name and for His sake, I ask these things. Amen.

THE CONFESSION OF SIN

God of all mercy and grace, hear my confession this day for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ. 

It is in His name that I may speak and be favorably heard.

There is no part of my life that is not tainted by sin, no act of love, nor work of good. 

I stand before you as the woeful tax collector pleading with you,

“Lord! Be merciful to me, for I am, through and through, a sinner!”

I confess that in my thinking, in my speaking, in my attitude, and in my living,

I have forsaken You by forsaking Your Will and Your Word. 

I have nothing to offer, save that which You offered for me and all people,

the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ. 

By that blood, cleanse me of my sin and set me free of Your just wrath. 

For the sake of Christ, the Savior whom You have given to me and to the world, hear my cry and answer according to Your faithfulness and love. Amen.

DAILY DEVOTION or DAILY BIBLE READING

At this time, you may read your own devotional material or daily Bible readings, etc. or you may select one of the texts for study/word for missions & ministry listed below for your daily devotion.

BIBLICAL TEXTS FOR STUDY

You may select one of these for your daily reading of Scripture.

Healing of a Leper  -  Matthew 8:1‑4/Mark 1:40‑45/Luke 5:12‑16

Grain of Mustard Seed  -  Matthew 13:31, 32/Mark 4:30‑32/Luke 13:18, 19

Moses' Song of Deliverance  -  Exodus 15:1‑19

Jeremiah's Prayer  -  Jeremiah 32:16‑24

The Lord’s Watch (Mizpah)  -  Genesis 31:49

Birth of Jesus  -  Matthew 1:18‑2:15/Luke 1:5‑2:40

Rahab and Red Thread  -  Joshua 2

The Word as A Lamp to My Feet  -  Psalm 119:1-8

THE WORD FOR MISSION & MINISTRY

Isaiah 6:1-13  -  Galatians 2:20  -   John 16:33

THE PRAYERS FOR THE DAY

Blessed Father in heaven, by Your Word alone, light came forth in the midst of darkness at creation. 

Then You spoke again and a greater light entered our sin darkened world in the person of Your only begotten Son.

Oh, how I, and those I love and serve,

need this greater light to shine within all our hearts this day. 

As it is a day which You have made,

make also Your Spirit to shine in me and all those who lay upon my heart.

Prepare my heart and mind for the callings You have given me this day,

that Your will may be honored above all and in all.

Give me joy in all that I may do, for in each thing I do,

I do as Your chosen means of being and bringing good to bear in the lives of those around me.

Be King over my thoughts and desires so that they are nothing more or less than Your thoughts and desires.

Where I have been apathetic, slow, and inattentive to Your will for me,

I pray that You would forgive me and increase my dedication and diligence to You and Your will.

In all that my eyes may see, enable me to see only the holy things. 

Where I see those things holy that need to be done,

make me holy for the doing of them. 

Where I see those things holy that have been done,

make my lips holy for the praising of them. 

Where I see things holy that are too great for me,

make my prayers holy for petitioning of them.

Be with each member of my church this day,

and protect them from the devil and his host. 

Cleanse their thoughts and desires of all things sinful and wicked. 

Let Your Word, recently heard, or heard long ago, be upon their hearts,

and by Your Spirit, increase their faith through that Word. 

For those caught in the struggle with temptation,

make clear to them and guide them to the way of escape that You provide. 

For those who succumb daily to the same recurring temptations,

work repentance in their hearts and grant them an increase of Your Spirit and grace,

that they may overcome such temptations and live by a more faithful walk in You.

For those suffering in any form,

ease their pain of heart, mind, and body.

For those alone and in despair,

let Your companionship be with them from the day of their Baptism:

fill their hearts and comfort them that they may have the joy of Your attending angels.

Be with all servants of Your Word,

and allow them to be only what You’ve called them to be: servants of Your Word.  

Wherever Your Word is heard this day,

let the hearing thereof, work faith, hope, and confidence in the hearts of all who hear it.

These things I ask do not exhaust the list of all that is needed,

nor can they ever exhaust Your ability to answer.

For the sake of Christ, I ask, I pray, and I praise You.  Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER

THE CLOSING PRAYER

May You, O Lord, be unto me and my way,

not as I would have You to be,

but as You are – My God, My Savior, My life. Amen.