Shaped By Grace Blog

Living Letters – A New Podcast

Introducing the Living Letters Podcast: Faith Written on Hearts

We are excited to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast, Living Letters—a space where the words of Scripture move beyond the page and into the heart of everyday life. Inspired by 2 Corinthians 3:3, this podcast reminds us that God’s Word is not only read but lived. Each episode will explore the teachings of Jesus and the living truth of the Bible in ways that inspire, challenge, and encourage.

At Living Letters, our hope is simple: to discover together how the timeless words of Scripture continue to shape who we are and how we live. Whether you’re driving to work, walking through your neighborhood, or setting aside time with your Bible, we invite you to journey with us as we open God’s Word and find its relevance for today.

Why Living Letters?

It’s a story of faith, family, and formation—and it reminds us that God’s Word speaks into every stage of life, even the in-between seasons of waiting and growing.

The name comes from the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 3:3:

“You show that you are a letter from Christ… not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

That’s the heartbeat of this podcast. We want to see Scripture come alive—not just as something studied, but as something lived. Every believer is a living letter testifying to the truth of Christ.

Sneak Peek: Episode One – The Day the Teachers Listened

In this episode, we’ll explore:

Our very first episode takes us to a remarkable moment in Jesus’ life: the story of the boy Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41–52). At just twelve years old, Jesus astounded the teachers of the law with His wisdom and understanding. Yet this passage is not simply about His brilliance—it’s about identity, calling, and the deep relationship between a Son and His Father.

• What this passage teaches us about Jesus’ awareness of His mission.
• How Mary and Joseph’s response reflects our own struggles to understand God’s work.
• What it means for us today to “be about the Father’s business.”

Join Us on the Journey

The Living Letters podcast is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and share it with a friend who might need encouragement today.

We believe your life is more than ink on a page—it’s a Living Letter, written by the Spirit of God. Let’s read it together.

The Desire to Be Used by God

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:13

As we step into the fall season, there’s something refreshing about new beginnings. The air is crisp, the routines of summer give way to fresh rhythms, and many of us feel the pull to refocus our hearts. For followers of Jesus, this is an opportunity to once again lay our lives before Him and say, “Lord, here I am. Use me.”

At the center of that desire lies a beautiful truth: we are not left to our own strength or determination. Philippians 2:13 reminds us that God Himself is at work within us—shaping our will and empowering our actions so that His good purposes might be fulfilled through us. This means our longing to serve Him, to love others well, and to bring His light into our communities is not simply our idea—it’s His Spirit stirring within us.

Fall is more than just a change of season; it’s a reminder of God’s invitation to daily surrender. Just as the trees release their leaves, we are called to release our own plans, ambitions, and even fears, laying them at the feet of Jesus. In doing so, we make room for His purposes to flourish.

This new season is a chance to ask: How does God want to use me right where I am? Maybe it’s encouraging a neighbor, serving at church, mentoring someone younger in the faith, or simply being a steady presence of Christ’s love in your workplace. Whatever it looks like, our willingness to be used is matched by His promise to empower.

So, as we begin this fall, let us set aside time to pray:
“Lord Jesus, shape my heart. Stir my desires. Use me for Your glory. Let my life be a vessel of Your love in my community.”

When we surrender to God’s will, we discover the joy of being part of His story—a story that transforms us and blesses those around us. This fall, may our hearts echo the simple but powerful prayer: “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”

The Character of a Disciple – Week #12: Discerning His Voice

Bible Reading: John 14:16-17; John 18:37-38; Matthew 4:19

Discerning God and his voice come from being aligned with our Heavenly Father. For most, spiritual discernment is a mystery because they lack understanding of what Jesus promised his disciples (and us as followers today) when he left this earth.

John 14, verses 16-17 says,

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.

Disciples, followers of Christ, are called to make other disciples. We can only accomplish this with help from the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that when we make our faith decisions, we are invited into the triune relationship of God the Father and God the Son by the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit speaks only the truth. Living every day aligned with Jesus brings about knowing his voice and learning his ways, the same as being raised by our parents, except the Holy Spirit will be with us forever (John 14:17).

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Bible as well. The Bible is God’s revelation of himself that we may know him and his purposes. Living with our family, we understand their moods, mannerisms, and motives because we are accustomed to them daily. The same is true of God. We will see the why of the gospel and God’s promises as we study his Word. We begin to recognize the voice of God and its prompting because of the Holy Spirit. I have a pastor friend that calls this a nudge from God.

God is nudging, who will you disciple?

REFLECTION

• How do you feel you are doing with listening to and discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit? Write down your answer with specific examples.
• What do you think God is nudging you to do today? What might stop you from being obedient?

PRAYER

Father, teach me to hear only your voice. Help me to filter out all others. Give me the courage to be obedient to your nudges. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #11: Fruitfulness

Scripture Reading: John 15; Galatians 5:22-23

In the opening scene of the creation account in Genesis 1, we find that to be fruitful is the very first command that God gives to those who have been created in God’s image and likeness: Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:28 says, “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…”

This Hebrew word describes an abundant increase, abounding production, and multiplication. God not only commanded humanity’s first couple to be fruitful and multiply, but he also commanded Noah and his sons to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth (Gen. 9:1, 7). The Lord gave this same command to every creature on land, under the sea, and in the air (Gen. 1:22). This command appears to be God’s original intention for all of his creation.

As the one through whom everything was created sits among his disciples in the waning hours before his arrest, Jesus instructs his students on how to be fruitful in the days ahead after he is no longer with them in person.

I would encourage you to use the following descriptions and categories of fruit and their references in Scripture as you launch into understanding your task as a disciple of Jesus.

• Fruit in Our Character – Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 1:11
• Fruit of Our Words of Praise & Thanksgiving – Hebrews 13:15
• Fruit of the Gospel Transforming Lives – Romans 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:15; Col. 1:6
• Fruit of a Godly Life Trained by Discipline – Hebrews 12:11
• Fruit of God’s Kingdom Qualities – Matt. 21:43
• Fruit of Good & Righteous Deeds – Matt. 7:17; Rom. 7:4; 15:28; Col. 1:10; James 3:18
• Fruit in Making Other Disciples – John 15:8; Matt. 28:18-20

REFLECTION

• What daily routines do you (or should you) practice to keep you attached to the True Vine? How can you strengthen those practices?
• What kind of fruit are you bearing for the kingdom? Be honest.

PRAYER

Father, show me the areas of my life that could be more fruitful. Help me to cling to you and abide in you so I can produce the kind of fruit that will bring you glory! Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #10: Embodies a Lifestyle of Worship

Recently I came across a quote that really stopped me in my tracks. Do you ever have one of those days? A day in which you read something, and God allows it to expand your mind? It was not something new, but for some reason, on that day, it really impacted my life. This quote was the title that came from one of James K.A. Smith’s books. James simply said, “You are what you love.”

What do you mean I am what I love? Really? I am what I love? I literally stopped and gave myself an inventory. What do I love? During my quiet time, I wrote that question down, then I proceeded to write down all the things I love. It was amazing the things I wrote down that day.

Then something else came to the front. Jon, Who do you love? Lord, I love my wife, my son, my church, my friends, to name a few. It is a simple exercise.

Lord, I love [fill in the blank].

What appeared to be happening was a simple time to be reminded of the people I love. Thank you Lord for this time to remind me to put my priorities in place. Who do I love? Jesus, family, others. Yes, that’s it. Amen.

God was lifting out of my heart what and whom I love.

• How have I been conformed to this age?
• What needs to be changed?
• How am I devoted like the early disciples?
• How is my mind or my attitude like that of Christ Jesus?
• Am I presenting my body as a living sacrifice to the Lord?
• Is Your Word dwelling in me?
• Do I sing with gratitude?
• Do I sing?
• Am I worshiping in spirit and in truth?
• Am I loving those around me?

A disciple embodies a lifestyle of worship.

REFLECTION

• Answer the questions in the list from this post.
• Spend some time thinking about who and what you love. How does your love list line up with Christ’s commands?

PRAYER

Father, teach me how to prioritize who and what my heart should be holding as important. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #9: Living in Holiness & Purity

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:1; Hebrews 12:4; 1 Peter 1:13-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Purity and holiness are two words that evoke a powerful image in the life of a disciple. Volumes of books have been written about these two topics throughout the ages as man has tried to express the vastness of these two important subjects. To be clear, I don’t intend to even scratch the surface or say something that hasn’t already been said. Instead, I intend to remind us of the role that purity and holiness play in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The writer of Hebrews poses this question in 12:4, “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood?”

This question challenges our devotion, purity, and call to holiness. It is a challenge from the one who calls us to live a blameless life (Psalm 119:1). It’s a sobering question and a question that revolves around the purity we must fight for in our lives.

If we were to answer the question posed by the writer of Hebrews, there are not many who could respond with a resounding yes. If we are honest with ourselves, there are many who have not resisted sin to the point of inconvenience, let alone to the point of shedding one’s blood. To put this into some perspective: If someone were to break into my house and try to hurt or harm my wife or son in any way, I would literally fight to the death to make sure that my family was protected and safe. I wouldn’t just fight and be ok to shed my blood; I would fight with every ounce of strength within me, even if it meant that I would lose my life while trying to do so. You would do the same as well. That is the type of fight that we must exhibit when fighting for purity in our lives. It is what Christ calls us to.

So how do we fix this? How do we get back to a life of purity and holiness before a perfect God? The task seems impossible. With every sick and depraved thing the fallen human mind can come up with accessible within the palm of our hands, how will we overcome? How do we overcome when the enemy is gaining ground in our world, nation, schools, churches, homes, and even in our hearts and minds?

The first part of the solution to this purity problem is remembering God’s holiness. The second part of the solution is that we must remember that the blood of Jesus has purchased us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”

REFLECTION

• How do you define the word holy? What do you need to change in your life to move toward holiness?
• In what areas of your life do you struggle with purity?

PRAYER

Father, show me your holiness. Teach me to submit my life to you and to obey your commands. Give me the desire and courage to live a life that seeks your holiness. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #8: Secure & Free

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139; Isaiah 61: 1; Luke 4:18-19; 9:23-25

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” (John 8:36). Do you believe that? What does that mean to you? Let’s take a deep dive into what the Bible says about the freedom that we can count on as believers in Christ.

What does it mean to be free…really free? Our idea in America is that freedom means we can live how we want, get what we want, be the author of our own life. What if freedom doesn’t mean that at all? What if freedom starts with death? Death and surrender? That doesn’t sound very freeing does it? Let me explain.

When Jesus left heaven and became a man, he did so freely. He chose to make his appearance on earth. And his primary ministry was focused on the oppressed and the downtrodden. While teaching in his hometown of Nazareth, we read in Luke 4:18-19, that Jesus quoted the Scripture found in Isaiah 61:1.

Now, imagine the way Jesus’ followers felt when they heard him say, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (Luke 9:23-25). Whoa! How does this kind of rhetoric indicate freedom? If we are to truly follow Jesus, we must give up ourselves and the way that seems right to us. Let’s go a step further in this idea of taking up our crosses.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

In order to be Christ’s representatives on this earth, we need to become more like him, rather than perpetuating our sinful selves. Dying to self does not mean that we cease being who we are. Rather, dying to self means that we surrender to God’s will and desires for our lives. We put away the “me” that the world says we should be, and we become who God intended us to be when he created us. And, in that, we can be free to be a blessing to those he puts in our paths. Instead of being bound by our sinful selves, our choice to daily die to, and surrender, our whole selves to Christ positions us to bear fruit with our lives. But be sure that God does not expect us to lose ourselves. Let me get personal with you for a moment. God loves you. Extravagantly! He desires to be with you and to have relationship with you. He says you are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and that you are uniquely suited for the purposes for which he created you. If you have difficulty believing these things, spend some days (or weeks if necessary) in Psalm 139. Let God’s truth about you wash over your soul and convince you that his words are true. When you die to self, you do not lose that uniqueness. You are not assimilated into the larger whole at the expense of your soul. You actually become the very best version of yourself that you were created to be. You are transformed into the likeness and image of Christ!

REFLECTION

• Do you consider yourself to be free in Christ? Why do you answer the way you do?
• After today’s reading, what part of self is God calling you to die to? How will you go about making sure that happens?

PRAYER

Father, please give me the courage to die to self, daily. Show me how to take up my cross daily so I can walk in intimate relationship with you. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #7: Justification

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:21-24, 27; Romans 8:33-34, Ephesians 2:8-10

WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION?

A good starting point to understand this doctrine is to consider Romans 8:33-34, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?”

Note how this verse contrasts the words “justifies” and “condemn.” To condemn someone is to declare a person guilty. The opposite of condemnation is justification, which means to declare someone not guilty.

“Justification” is technically a legal term, taken from the Roman court system of that day. To picture this, think of God (The Judge of all the earth) dropping a gavel and saying, “I declare you not guilty.” But you say, “How can God declare me not guilty when I am guilty?” Answer: because God has directed his condemnation toward another. Jesus took the condemnation we deserved so we could receive his justification. It is like the marriage declaration, “I pronounce you husband and wife.” You are the same person you were minutes before, but your legal status has changed. You were legally single, now you are legally married, because of a legal declaration.

WHERE DOES THE BIBLE TEACH JUSTIFICATION?

Jesus gives us a window into this truth in his “Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector” (Luke 18:9-14).

You will notice three characteristics of the person God justifies (declares not guilty).

1. God justifies “ungodly” people, not church attenders, Bible readers, or tithers, but people like the tax collector in Jesus’ parable who acknowledge their ungodliness.
2. God justifies “the one who does not work.” Salvation, in the New Testament, is “not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:9).
3. God justifies those who “believe,” and who exercise “faith.” In other words, you put your faith, belief, or trust not in your righteousness, but in Christ’s righteousness.

REFLECTION

• In your own words, what is the difference between justification and sanctification?
• What do you think it means to have the righteousness of Christ?

PRAYER

Father, help me to continually seek a life embodied by the righteousness of Christ. Teach me to trust you with all I am. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #6: Adoption

Reading: Romans 8; Galatians 4; Ephesians 2

GOD INSPIRED LOVE

Paul writes in Romans 8:

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Paul writes this in Galatians 4:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” so you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

PART OF THE FAMILY

Paul emphasizes several recurring concepts: the Spirit, adoption as sons, and Abba! Father!. The Holy Spirit and the Father, along with the Lord Jesus Christ who paid the price, each have an important role in our adoption. We are placed into Christ and therefore into the Trinity. Adoption establishes our new identity as one who is part of the family – loved and accepted. Not only accepted but given the privileged position as heirs. We who were once slaves to sin are now heirs of the King. Many Christians find this difficult to believe and therefore struggle to live their lives in line with this new reality. According to God, we are adopted heirs, but still, we often think of ourselves as orphans and strangers.

R.C Sproul said:

Nobody is born into this world a child of the family of God. We are born as children of wrath. The only way we enter into the family of God is by adoption, and that adoption occurs when we are united to God’s only begotten Son by faith. When by faith we are united with Christ, we are then adopted into that family of whom Christ is the firstborn.

Understanding our adoption as heirs in Christ leads us to embrace God’s love and grace. Grace alone saves us and sanctifies us. As Paul makes abundantly clear in Ephesians 2, the human paradigm never earns us a relationship with god. We are saved by grace through faith. Not works. With that clearly, in mind, we can now live in light of our true identity in Christ, and our efforts to serve him are no longer attempts to earn his love, but simply ways of saying, “God, are you really that good?”

Adopted as sons. Heirs to the King. Welcome to the family!

REFLECTION

• What does it mean to you that you are an adopted child of God?
• How does (or should) that change the way you respond to God?

PRAYER

Abba, Father, help me to believe that you really did choose me to be your child. Show me how to be a productive member of this family. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #5: Significant in Christ

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12; James 4:13-17

PERFORMANCE

The world teaches us that what we do is where we find our value. As we grow up we are taught how well we perform academically will determine the course of our lives – what college we are accepted to and, ultimately, what job we have. We are told to be athletic, to be a leader. Oh, and don’t forget to learn art or music so you’re a well-rounded individual with a stellar resume, making yourself more marketable as a candidate for that job you’ve always wanted. As if all of these titles and accomplishments are who we are.

Too often that leads to our identity being rooted in the things that we do. How smart are you? How hard-working and efficient are you? How many plates can you spin at the same time without any of them toppling down to the ground? And if we’re not living up to the standards that the world has set, we feel insecure and unworthy because we have fallen short of these expectations.

PERFECTION

Always worrying about what others think of you, afraid of making a mistake, or being out of control. Do you believe you are what others have said about you your whole life? Maybe you grew up feeling worthless, never good enough, or unseen, or held to a standard you didn’t feel you could keep up with.

THE PROBLEM

Here’s the thing about finding our significance in our performance or our futile attempts at perfection…or anything other than Christ for that matter…we carry a load so heavy it makes our knees buckle; a burden that Jesus never intended us to carry. We are slowly crushed by the weight of trying to live up to a purpose we were never meant to fulfill. We get tired, angry, insecure, and lose our joy.

Tomorrow you could lose your job, be diagnosed with cancer, or get in a car crash. When all we focus on is what this world has to offer us we risk missing the resurrection life Christ intends for us. However, if we focus on him we will be granted much more than we could ever ask or imagine. Eternal rewards, yes, but also the joys of living a righteous life now. Your life will be marked by the fruit of the Spirit and you will be free to become all that God created you to be.

REFLECTION

Who are you….really?

What boxes have you put yourself in that draw you away from the you God created you to be?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help me see me through your eyes. Give me the courage to really believe you when you show me the real me. Teach me to share my gifts with those you send my way.  

The Character of a Disciple – Week #4: Participants in New Creation

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5

THE OLD IS GONE

You must accept that reality, choose to change directions and discover the new creation that is not our reality. You see, the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He will not force you to live in your new reality. He will simply continue to draw you toward Jesus.

What stops you from putting away your old self? What are the parts of the old you that you hold onto, thinking that’s just who you are? We will spend more time this week thinking about that question.

THE NEW HAS COME

We become transmitters of beauty, truth, and goodness in the world around us.” We learn to love God in the way he desires, and we learn to love people, through Christ, as he transforms us into his likeness.

GOD’S HEART

Part of the new life is developing a deepening relationship with Jesus and other believers. This is where discipleship comes in. Those who are mature in the faith walk with those who are new to the faith, and we learn from each other how to walk with Christ in a life-transforming way.

As we see in the Gospels, the disciples who walked with Jesus made a gradual turn toward life with Christ. They began with a choice when Jesus said, “Follow me.” That’s step one in the journey toward living the new life in Christ. Time for you to move into your do-over!

REFLECTION

How are you taking advantage of your do-over as a Christ follower?

What are some of the old ways you need to put away?

PRAYER

Father, change my desires to be your desires for my life. Help me to grow into the person you have created me to be. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #3: Participants in the Resurrection Life

Reading: Colossians 3:5,8-10;12-14;17

PARTICIPANTS AND RECIPIENTS

One of the sacred privileges of being a disciple of Jesus and a part of the Body of Christ is that we are participants in, and recipients of, the benefits of the gospel.

The apostle Paul wrote about the richness of this connection with other believers and used the word “koinonia” to describe this relationship.

1. “Koinonia” is fellowship or communion, with God or, more commonly, with fellow Christians.
2. So, what does this new resurrection life look like for you and me in our new “grace-sovereign country?” A complete and extreme makeover of our life from the inside out! I believe it means we now have a brand new calling, identity, and purpose.

BECOMING

Paul describes our new life in Christ as a “resurrection life.”

Through our new birth from above, we now have a new calling, identity, and purpose. Let me take a moment to clarify what I believe this involves.

CALLING

Our calling is to become aware of our identity from God’s perspective.

No less than three times throughout the New Testament, Paul refers to disciples of Jesus as “eikons” of Jesus.

The English word is usually translated as “image” or “likeness.”

REFLECTION

Where would you say your priorities lie?

How has your life changed since coming to know Christ? In other words, how would others know you have become a new creation?

PRAYER

Lord, thank you so much for your sacrifice that gives me the opportunity to become a new creation. Please help me to keep my eyes focused on you so my priorities will be straight.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #2: Participants in the Sufferings of Christ

Reading: James 1:2-4; Philippians 2 and 3

BECAUSE YOU KNOW

James gives a great word about trials.

James says something staggering to me in this verse “Because you know…”

James was telling them something they already knew. This was not something they had never heard before.

Takeaways:

• Because you know, you can have great joy in the trial.
• Because you know, the trial will test your faith but it births endurance.
• Because you know, when you run with endurance the reward is maturity.
• Because you know, when you run with endurance you will lack nothing.

As a follower of Jesus, we will face all the same things he faced, and that will include sufferings or trials of all kinds.

MIND OF CHRIST

We have to adopt the same mindset as Christ. When we adopt his mindset, we will see the suffering, the trials, and the storms from a different perspective. We have a tendency to ask God, “Why?” The better question is, “What’s next?”

• Will you serve God when life turns tragic?
• Will you serve God when you have to stand alone?
• Will you serve God when God is silent?

I know those are tough questions. Suffering is part of our journey until we finally make it home.

Let me leave you with three words:

Because you know…

REFLECTION

In what areas of your life do you need to be more intimate with God?

How are you experiencing joy in the midst of the sufferings of life?

PRAYER

Lord, help me to stay focused on you, even when life gets tough. Thank you for making a way for me to know you! Amen

The Character of a Disciple – Week #1: Image Bearers

Reading: 1 Peter 1

DISCIPLESHIP IMPERATIVES

Peter gives us five imperatives in this section that we would be wise to disciple people toward:

1. Prepare your minds for action – study – be smarter than the enemy.
2. Be self-controlled – take your thoughts captive – choose to believe the truth God set before you.
3. Set your hope on the coming of Christ (The Hope).
4. Do not conform to evil desires (you do have a choice).
5. Be holy – set apart.

These are questions we can use to help those we are discipling to move closer to the narrative God has written for their lives.

Who is God?

How is he different from what I have thought?

What is his true nature?

In light of who God is, how shall I spend my days and resources?

Do my insides match my outside?

How can knowing who God is inform each moment of my day, each choice I make?

When I lose sight of that knowledge, can his love and forgiveness free me from beating myself up, and help me see that tomorrow is as fresh as his mercies?

For this week, I have a short exercise I would like you to try.

1. Take a piece of paper or cardstock.
2. Draw a line down the center. Title one side: “Who You Say You Are”.
3. Begin by writing a letter to God telling him who he says he is (You are my Abba, Father. You are perfect in all your ways…).
4. The title for the other half should be: “Who You Say I Am.” Write a letter to yourself from God (You are dearly loved, my child…). This may take a bit of time, but let the truth of the Scriptures we have read inform your answers. You may even want to read on into 1 Peter 2.

REFLECTION

Journal your thoughts and feelings as you complete the above exercise.

PRAYER:          

Father, help me to really believe who you say I am. Teach me to hear only your voice, and to stop listening to the lies of the enemy.

Compline for Personal Devotions

Compline is a prayer service that is part of the Divine Office and is used to “complete” or close the day in prayer. Here is a compline service that I use in my personal devotions at the close of the day:

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Opening

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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

Confession

As preparation for a prayer of confession, it is appropriate to spend this moment in an examination of conscience.

Holy and gracious God, I confess that I have sinned against you this day. Some of my sin I know – the thoughts and words and deeds of which I am ashamed – but some is known only to you. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore me, that I may rest in peace. Amen

By the mercy of God we are united with Jesus Christ, and in him we are forgiven. We rest now in his peace and rise in the morning to serve him.

Psalmody

One or more psalms (4, 33, 34, 91, 130, 134, 136) are prayed.

Psalm 134

Come, bless the Lord,
all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to the holy place,
and bless the Lord.
May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth,
bless you from Zion.
Glory 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.

Scripture Readings

As a brief lesson, one or more of the following are read:

You, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us. (Jeremiah 14:9)

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith. (1 Peter 5:6-9a)

Gospel Canticle (Nunc Dimittis, The Song of Simeon – Luke 2:29-32)

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory 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.

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers may be prayed:

Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of life may find our rest in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, support us all the day long of this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, Lord, in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be our light in the darkness, 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.

Visit our dwellings, O Lord, and drive from them all the snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal God, the hours both of day and night are yours, and to you the darkness is no threat. Be present, we pray, with those who labor in these hours of night, especially those who watch and work on behalf of others. Grant them diligence in their watching, faithfulness in their service, courage in danger, and competence in emergencies. Help them to meet the needs of others with confidence and compassion; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gracious Lord, we give you thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and to receive; the day is now past and we commit it to you. We entrust to you the night; we rest in surety, for you are our help, and you neither slumber nor sleep. Amen.

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Closing

The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last. Amen.

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Vespers (Evening Prayer) for Personal Devotions

Vespers is a prayer service that is part of the Divine Office and is used for prayer in the late afternoon or early evening. Here is a vespers service that I use in my personal evening devotions:

Opening

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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.

Psalmody

One or more psalms are prayed, beginning with Psalm 141.

Psalm 141

Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly;
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord,
and guard the door of my lips.
Let not my heart incline to any evil thing;
let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers.
But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God;
in you I take refuge.
Strip me not of my life.
Glory 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.

Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let your lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified minds we may sing your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify you forever and ever. Amen.

Choose other psalms to read, as time permits. I often use the psalms appointed in the Book of Common Prayer’s 30-Day Psalm Cycle. Each psalm is followed by the doxology:

Glory 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.

Scripture Readings

The scripture readings are read. Silence for meditation follows each reading. When this Office is prayed alone, it is appropriate to make this reading one’s lectio divina and to stop for reflection whenever a “word” reveals itself to the heart.

One possible scripture reading that I sometimes use is the Moravian Daily Texts, available online here: Moravian Daily Texts. If there is not sufficient time for other scripture, one or more of these passages can be read:

Psalm 125:1

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore.

John 14:1-3

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

Romans 8:26-27

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Gospel Canticle (Magnificat, The Song of Mary – Luke 1:46-55)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory 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.

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers may be prayed:

Evening Prayer of Martin Luther

We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have this day so graciously protected us. We beg you to forgive us all our sins and the wrong which we have done. By your great mercy defend us from all the perils and dangers of this night. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us. Amen.

Evening Prayer of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Lord my God, I thank you that you have brought this day to an end. I thank you that you allow body and soul to come to rest. Your hand was over me and has protected and preserved me. Forgive all weakness of faith and wrong of this day and help me gladly to forgive those who have done wrong to me. Let me sleep in peace beneath your protection and preserve me from the assaults of darkness. I commend to you those dear to me, I commend to you this house, I commend to you my body and soul. God, your holy name be praised. Amen.

Collect for Peace

O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God forever. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Closing

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us. Amen.

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Afternoon Prayer for Personal Devotions

Here is a very simple Afternoon Prayer Service that can be used by those keeping the Divine Office, or by anyone wishing to pause and spend a few moments in prayer in the afternoon:

Opening

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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.

Psalmody – Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.   
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

Glory 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.

Scripture Reading – The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers can be used:

Prayer of Evelyn Underhill

Lord! Give me courage and love to open the door and constrain You to enter, whatever the disguise You come in, even before I fully recognize my guest. Come in! Enter my small life! Lay Your sacred hands on all the common things and small interests of that life and bless and change them. Transfigure my small resources, make them sacred. And in them give me Your very Self. Amen

Prayer of Martin Luther

Dear God, give us peaceful hearts and a right courage in the confusion and strife against the devil. And so may we not only endure and finally triumph, but also have peace in the midst of the struggle. May we praise and thank you and not complain or become impatient against your divine will. Let peace win the victory in our hearts, that we may never through impatience initiate anything against you, our God, or our neighbors. May we remain quiet and peaceable toward God and toward other people, both inwardly and outwardly, until the final and eternal peace shall come. Amen.

Prayer for Daily Work

God our creator, you have given us work to do and call us to use our talents for the good of all. Guide us as we work, and teach us to live in the Spirit who made us your sons and daughters, in the love that made us brothers and sisters, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Closing

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us. Amen.

Midday Prayer for Personal Devotions

Here is a very simple Midday Prayer Service that can be used by those keeping the Divine Office, or by anyone wishing to spend a few moments in prayer in the middle of the day:

Opening

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory 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.

Psalmody – Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Glory 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.

Scripture Reading – Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers can be used:

Prayer at Midday of Richard Foster

The day has been breathless, Lord. I stop now for a few moments and I wonder: Is the signature of the holy over the rush of the day? Or have I bolted ahead, anxiously trying to solve problems that do not belong to me? Holy Spirit of God, please show me: how to work relaxed, how to make each task an offering of faith, how to view interruptions as doors to service, how to see each person as my teacher in things eternal. In the name of him who always worked unhurried. Amen.

Serenity Prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.  

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Collect for Guidance

Heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Closing

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us. Amen.

Matins (Morning Prayer) for Personal Devotions

Matins is a prayer service that is part of the Divine Office and is used for morning prayer at the start of a new day. (It can also be called lauds.) Here is a matins service that I use in my personal morning devotions:

Opening

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
Glory 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.

Psalmody

One or more psalms are prayed, beginning with Psalm 95.

Psalm 95

Give glory to God, our light and our life.
Oh, come, let us worship him.

Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation. 
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God
and a great king above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth;
the heights of the hills are also his.
The sea is his, for he made it;
and his hands have molded the dry land.
Oh, come, let us bow down and bend the knee,
and kneel before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture
and the sheep of his hand.
Glory 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

Give glory to God, our light and our life.
Oh, come, let us worship him.

Choose other psalms to read, as time permits. I often use the psalms appointed in the Book of Common Prayer’s 30-Day Psalm Cycle. Each psalm is followed by the doxology:

Glory 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.

Scripture Readings

The scripture readings are read. Silence for meditation follows each reading. When this Office is prayed alone, it is appropriate to make this reading one’s lectio divina and to stop for reflection whenever a “word” reveals itself to the heart.

One possible scripture reading that I sometimes use is the Moravian Daily Texts, available online here: Moravian Daily Texts. If there is not sufficient time for other scripture, one or more of these passages can be read:

Lamentations 3:22-24

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Jeremiah 29:11-14

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Gospel Canticle (Benedictus, The Song of Zechariah – Luke 1:68-79)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our ancestor Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God,
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory 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

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers may be prayed:

Morning Prayer of Martin Luther

We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all harm and danger. We ask that you would also protect us today from sin and all evil, so that our life and actions may please you. Into your hands we commend ourselves: our bodies, our souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels be with us, so that the wicked foe may have no power over us. Amen.

Morning Prayer of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God, I call to you early in the morning, help me pray and collect my thoughts, I cannot do this alone. In me it is dark, but with you there is light. I am lonely, but you do not abandon me. I am faint-hearted, but from you comes my help. I am restless, but with you is peace. In me is bitterness, but with you is patience. I do not understand your ways, but you know the right way for me. Amen.

The Prayer of Good Courage

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Grace

O Lord, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us in safety to this new day; preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome in adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Closing

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us. Amen.

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What is the Divine Office?

Seven times a day I praise you. Psalm 119:164

What is the Divine Office? And why should you consider using it for your personal devotions? Here is my answer to those two questions.

First, what is the Divine Office? To put it simply, the Divine Office is a tried and true way for Christians of all walks of life to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Office is from the Latin officium, meaning “service,” so the Divine Office is simply a way for us to serve God in our daily prayers. It is based on an ancient form of prayer, originating in Jewish prayer long before the time of Christ. In the ancient world, the day was marked by recognized points – cock-crow, dawn, the third hour (9:00 am), sixth hour (12:00 Noon), ninth hour (3:00 pm), sunset, and midnight. Services of prayer were developed for all of these hours. This is why the Divine Office is also known as Fixed-hour Prayer or the Liturgy of the Hours (you might also hear it called the “Daily Office” or the Breviary).

During the Reformation it was recognized that praying all of these offices had become more of a burden than a joy, so they simplified the office greatly. We can see this in our Lutheran hymnals, which now typically include just four of these offices – matins, vespers, and compline, to be prayed in the morning, evening, and at the close of the day, and a responsive prayer service that can be prayed anytime between matins and vespers. 

A confession: I personally do not “religiously” pray the Divine Office. I don’t pray all of these offices every day, in other words. And there are seasons when I don’t pray them at all, but instead follow other ways of praying daily that I find more helpful at the time. However, I know that the Divine Office is always there for me, and it is something that I can return to whenever I am, in Martin Luther’s words, “becoming cold and apathetic about prayer.” Here is how Luther opens his little book, “A Simple Way to Pray,” advice that I find quite helpful:

“I’ll do my best to show you how I approach prayer. May our Lord God help us all to do better in this regard. Amen.

First, sometimes I feel I am becoming cold and apathetic about prayer. This is usually because of all the things that are distracting me and filling my mind. I know this is a result of the flesh and the devil always waging war against me, trying to prevent me from praying. When this happens I like to take my little book of the Psalms and sneak away into a little room, or, if it is the right time of day, I like to go to church with other people.”

Luther is describing here the praying of the Divine Office, which uses the Psalms extensively, and offers us all a way to pray daily when we are becoming “cold and apathetic about prayer.” 

Some years back, I put together a simple form of the Divine Office to use in my personal devotions.

I put together a Matins Service to be used in the morning, a Vespers Service to be used in the late afternoon or early evening, and a Compline Service to be used before going to bed. I intentionally kept all of these services simple, adapting them for personal devotions while staying faithful to their traditional form. So, each of these services included readings from the Psalms, one of the Gospel Canticles from the Gospel of Luke, and other prayers, always including the Lord’s Prayer.

To me, it is not necessary for Christians to pray the Divine Office rigidly, but it is good to have this spiritual discipline in our toolbox, so to speak. The Divine Office can be thought of as something like a trellis – a framework to give form and structure to our daily prayers when we need it. (Which, candidly, is quite often for me!)

I have added each of these Services to my blog, so that I have them in a convenient place for me, personally, and so that others can make use of them, too. I have shared Services for Matins, Vespers, and Compline, along with a simple service to be used at midday, too. 

There are many online forms of the Divine Office available these days, of course. Most of us have phones in our pockets or purses that can connect us to innumerable resources for daily prayer. But I still thought I would offer these services of the Divine Office on my blog, to honor the importance of daily prayer, and to share one way to pray daily that I have found helpful over the years. Blessings to you as you “pray without ceasing,” in whatever way that God is calling you, always to the glory of God!

The Holiness of God

“The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (Hab. 2:20). The prophet Habakkuk wrote in a time of international crisis when the security of Israel was under threat from the approaching Babylonian army. The man of God was deeply troubled and perplexed over the fact that God would permit such an enemy to overthrow His people and carry them into exile – so much so that he dared to offer not one but two complaints to the Almighty, asking God to justify His actions. But God neither rescinded His decree nor explained what He was doing. He did, however, punctuate His lengthy responses with these words, which declare the “otherness” of His being, wisdom, and ways, reflected in the “otherness” of His earthly sanctuary.

The temple and its predecessor, the tabernacle, were intended to be breathtaking visual aids to help Israel appreciate the nature and attributes of God for whom these structures were designated as the meeting place between God and man. The mere sight of these physical structures was intended to give God’s people a potent reminder that God, in both His essence and character, is higher than all human thought or imagination. He is, as Moses learned when God appeared to him in the burning bush, “Yahweh (Ex. 3:7-8): “I AM WHO I AM” or “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE,” the One who is eternally self-existent.

These structures were also intended to allow God’s people to catch a glimpse of heaven. God’s dwelling place, not only to see what it is like but to realize that it is suffused with the glory of His presence. There are several places in the Bible where we are given breathtaking insights into the wonder of what this is like. Ezekiel’s vision of God in the opening chapter of his prophecy nearly defies description. So, too, in key sections of Revelation, it is almost impossible to conceptualize the glimpses of heaven revealed to John. But the most memorable and enlightening glimpse of heaven’s glory is found in Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple.

There the prophet not only sees the glory of God – reflected in “the train of his robe” that “filled the temple” (Isa. 6:1) – but also catches a glimpse of God’s heavenly entourage and is struck by the dominant note of their praise. Heaven reverberates to the refrain of the seraphim: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory”; v3). These exhalted creatures – who strike awe and wonder into the hearts of human beings – are themselves overwhelmed with awe and wonder in the presence of God.

It would be tempting to think that not only angels and heavenly creatures but also we as human beings can respond to the divine holiness only by echoing the seraphic praise, but that would fall short of the divine intent. God, speaking through Moses, declares to Israel, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Ex. 19:6; Lev. 19:2). And far from being merely an Old Testament stipulation, this call to holiness is repeated in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:16).

It makes sense that this is so. As the only creatures in the entire cosmos who have been made explicitly in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), we as human beings have been designed to reflect both the glory and the holiness of God within the created order. We do so not merely in isolation as individuals through our shared humanity but also corporately through our shared relationships in community as His saints. The distinguishing feature of this is most visible in our consecration to God in all of life.

It is tempting to view the divine holiness as something to fill us with dread and fear. That was certainly Isaiah’s response in his close encounter with God in the temple: he was overawed and cried out: “Woe to me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isa. 6:5). But God provided atonement for the prophet to allow him to draw near in worship and communion.

The same is true for us if we are Christians. Through the atoning blood of Christ our Savior, we can draw near to God by faith and worship Him “in the splendor of holiness” (Ps. 96:9). This is our highest privilege and deepest joy.

Don’t Announce the Revolution

I stole this line from my friend Bill Hull, the founder of the Bonhoeffer Project, who stole it from Dallas Willard, who stated:

I certainly would warn you, don’t go and announce a revolution; you will just have a fight. Don’t go in and say, “Now, we are all going to be disciples.” You will get some interesting responses among which would be, “Aren’t we already?”

If only I’d had this information when I first discovered Jesus-style disciple-making—and if anyone tried to give me such a warning, I didn’t hear it. So, I announced the revolution. It didn’t go the way I expected. Whenever we first discover the importance of being and making disciples of Jesus, we have a tendency to get excited and share the news with everyone about how we are going to change everything in order to make disciples.

What I failed to realize was that not everyone else processes the same information and emotions in the same way as I did. The danger is that our attempt to be and make disciples comes off as another half-baked idea to do something new.

In reality, in this situation, it is very easy to begin by making several incorrect assumptions.

For example:

Assumption #1:  Everyone in the church realizes that there is a problem. There are probably people in your church who are perfectly happy with the way things are. Humans are hardwired to be opposed to change. This hardwiring allows us to get up every day and do the same things, in the same manner, without much re-thinking required. It allows us to be efficient. Instinctively we know that doing something new will be inefficient and will require a concerted effort.

This is often why even when church members realize that there is a problem, they want to keep doing the same things expecting a different result (the proverbial definition of insanity). Of course, the reality is that your church is perfectly designed to produce the results that it is currently producing. It will take time, effort, and education to convince your church members that not only are different results needed, but that in order to produce different results, different methods are required.

Moreover, you need to prepare your church for initial failure. Again, change is inefficient at first. Even if the entire church is convinced of a need for change, it will feel like a failure at some point. In the business world, this is known as Kanter’s Law:

Kanter’s Law asserts that somewhere during the middle of significant changes and transformations, individuals often face doubts and discouragement. This is because all major changes are accompanied by uncertainties and challenges, and the ‘middle’ phase is usually where progress may seem slow or even non-existent.

Another reason that we humans are hardwired against change is safety. If we have done something before and know it to be safe, it will most likely be safe to do it again. Doing something different might be unsafe. And the reality is that being and making disciples probably isn’t really safe, as C.S. Lewis reminds us:

Aslan is a lion–the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion…” “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver… “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

The people of your church will need time to process that something new needs to be done and that ‘something new’ might not feel safe.

Assumption #2:  Everyone in the church wants to be a devoted follower of Jesus. Yeah, this is a hard one. Cultural Christianity comes easily to North Americans. Just because someone is a devoted cultural Christian does not mean that they want to be a disciple of Jesus. And sometimes, the most devoted cultural Christians will be the ones most opposed to being and making disciples of Jesus.

The difficult part is that in America being a “Christian” can be a part of someone’s cultural identity and nothing more. In reality, their god may be their culture and Jesus is just something that is referenced by their culture. Once you begin to change the culture of the church, it doesn’t take long to begin to discover those who are devoted to the culture and those who are devoted to Jesus.  This can be a surprising discovery. There were people who I thought would jump on the disciple-making bandwagon with me who abandoned me, and there were people who I never thought would get it and they got it. Keep an open mind and direct your energy toward those who are getting it, not just those who you ‘want’ or ‘think’ will get it.

Assumption #3:  You have enough information and training to carry out the task at hand. Again, this is another mistake that I made. My first piece of advice is to read books by people who have demonstrated success at being and making disciples of Jesus.

There are plenty of other good disciple-making books, and I recommend you read as many as you can. This list is just a launching pad.  If you prefer digital books, check out Audible. For most of human history, people learned by listening instead of reading. And remember, you might not agree with everything you read, but I would encourage you not to miss the good stuff, as well.

I would also recommend you find an organization or church that demonstrates success at being and making disciples of Jesus. Spend some time on the internet looking up all of the different organizations that offer to train you to make disciples of Jesus and connect with the one that best fits your needs. Before you attempt to convince your church to be and make disciples, be sure you have done your due diligence–do the research and have a handle on where you are going.

Assumption #4:  You are committed enough to lead the revolution. When you begin to study what it means to be and make disciples of Jesus, and what it takes to lead a church to be a Jesus-style disciple-making church, you might figure out that it is not for you. That doesn’t mean that you are not a believer, and it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be in the ministry in some form, but it does mean that you probably shouldn’t be a senior minister/pastor. It would be better to figure this out before you crash and burn yourself and a church in a misguided attempt to change it. There is no need to make yourself and others miserable. There are professions in the ministry other than leading a church as a senior pastor.

However, if you discover that you have the commitment and drive to lead a church to be a Jesus-style disciple-making church, you need to be patient with those you lead. They probably do not have the same level of drive as you and they approach things more carefully than you.  It is better to start small and slowly acclimate your church to the idea. Begin with the elders or the church staff and see who really gets it and invest in them.

If you have already announced the revolution, that doesn’t mean you can’t still pull it off. It just means that you have placed yourself under scrutiny and you need to follow up convincingly on what you have proclaimed. Take it slow, step back, and again, begin to educate yourself on what it means to be and make disciples of Jesus.

Holy and Blameless

Thinking about God leads us to quickly affirm God’s holy and righteous character. But pondering our own holiness can leave us feeling bad about ourselves. We heartily confess that God is holy, that He is unchanging in His holiness, and that His being and character exemplify and define holiness, yet we are painfully aware of our own sins. We don’t feel very holy, and therefore we conclude that we are not holy.

In ourselves, we are not holy. We are born in sin, and thus we are radically corrupt, at enmity with God, and bound for God’s eternal and righteous judgment. When it comes to our sin, if we’re honest, not only do we have to confess the sins we commit that people see, but we must also confess those sins in our hearts and minds that only God sees. Most of us not only don’t feel holy; we feel like the opposite of holy. We don’t feel like we’re “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37); instead, we often feel like complete failures.

Moreover, we are quite willing to affirm the holiness of other Christians. We recognize the ways that they beautifully manifest humility, grace, the love of Christ, and the fruit of the Spirit. We do the same with those men and women throughout church history whose lives seem to have consistently displayed the holiness of God. But we often don’t see ourselves as holy because we don’t feel holy. Some of us even believe the antinomian lie that it’s appropriate and humble never to claim that we are holy in any way.

Nevertheless, God has declared us holy. Therefore, while we know that we sin, God does not identify us by our sin. Satan identifies us by our sin, and we often join him in doing so, but God identifies us in Christ. God identifies us as holy and calls us to be holy and blameless before him (Eph. 1:4). He further urges us, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Col. 3:12). As Christians, we are definitively holy because God has declared us so, and we are to strive for holiness, exercising repentance by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is one of the greatest evidences of our holiness in Christ.