Thursday, September 07, 2006
Thursday in Week 13 of Pentecost
Lectionary
Judges 14:1-19
Acts 6:15-7:16
John 4:27-42
Psalter
Morning 38 Evening 39-41
For the second day in a row I did not find a Higher Things reflection posted on their web site.
I do have a couple of comments on today's readings.
Psalm 38 is a confessional psalm, the consequences of sin are vividly described in great detail here.
One thing that I have noticed is that there is in the bible an acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of our body and spirit. What impacts the body also can impact the spirit and what is in the spirit can influence what is in the body. Sins of the body, over eating, drinking to much, not getting exercise, these sorts of things can make it harder to pray or to meditate on God's word. Try praying or reading the word after a big meal and you'll see what I mean. So too can other sins that might at first glance seem less "physical" come around to impact us in our bodies in ways we can't always even see or understand.
Thank God we have the salvation offered in the blood of Christ! Our bodies and our souls will be reunited in perfection at the last day!
In my morning prayers I use a little book called Lutheran Book of Prayer that has several sets of morning and evening prayers for each day of the week. The one that I happened to use this morning is one that fits in well with the theme from this morning's Psalm.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, O Holy Trinity worthy of praise, to You I offer myself with body and soul from this moment on, even unto eternity. I give You praise and thanks that you have not permitted the enemy to come and harm me in the night, but rather, through the protection of Your dear angels, I have been preserved. With what could I possibly repay You? How might I praise You for this? I will give You a shattered heart full of fear, a heart full of blood-red sins, with penitence and contrition. I do so, that You might hide it away in His holy, sinless wounds and thus return to me the gracious forgiveness of all my sins. Help me today and every day that I may remain in Christian readiness, for I cannot know when and how You shall come and call me away from this life, so that I may be led to eternal joy. Such things grant to me, O gracious God and Father, on account of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶ 9/07/2006 07:22:00 AM
Judges 14:1-19
Acts 6:15-7:16
John 4:27-42
Psalter
Morning 38 Evening 39-41
For the second day in a row I did not find a Higher Things reflection posted on their web site.
I do have a couple of comments on today's readings.
Psalm 38 is a confessional psalm, the consequences of sin are vividly described in great detail here.
3There is no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
because of my sin.
4For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
6I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
all the day I go about mourning.
7For my sides are filled with burning,
and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8I am feeble and crushed;
I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
And after the confession of the sins and the heartfelt repentance there is this:
21Do not forsake me, O LORD!
O my God, be not far from me!
22Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!
One thing that I have noticed is that there is in the bible an acknowledgement of the interconnectedness of our body and spirit. What impacts the body also can impact the spirit and what is in the spirit can influence what is in the body. Sins of the body, over eating, drinking to much, not getting exercise, these sorts of things can make it harder to pray or to meditate on God's word. Try praying or reading the word after a big meal and you'll see what I mean. So too can other sins that might at first glance seem less "physical" come around to impact us in our bodies in ways we can't always even see or understand.
Thank God we have the salvation offered in the blood of Christ! Our bodies and our souls will be reunited in perfection at the last day!
In my morning prayers I use a little book called Lutheran Book of Prayer that has several sets of morning and evening prayers for each day of the week. The one that I happened to use this morning is one that fits in well with the theme from this morning's Psalm.
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, O Holy Trinity worthy of praise, to You I offer myself with body and soul from this moment on, even unto eternity. I give You praise and thanks that you have not permitted the enemy to come and harm me in the night, but rather, through the protection of Your dear angels, I have been preserved. With what could I possibly repay You? How might I praise You for this? I will give You a shattered heart full of fear, a heart full of blood-red sins, with penitence and contrition. I do so, that You might hide it away in His holy, sinless wounds and thus return to me the gracious forgiveness of all my sins. Help me today and every day that I may remain in Christian readiness, for I cannot know when and how You shall come and call me away from this life, so that I may be led to eternal joy. Such things grant to me, O gracious God and Father, on account of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶ 9/07/2006 07:22:00 AM
