Category: Prayer Circle

So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” Matthew 27:24

In William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, Macbeth killed the king of Scotland. In an attempt to relieve his guilty conscience, Macbeth tried to wash the king’s blood off his hands but realized not even all the water in the ocean could wash away the blood. Instead, he was convinced the whole ocean would be turned red by his hands.

Pontius Pilate attempted the same thing by washing his hands at Jesus’ trial. He told the crowd that he was innocent of Jesus’ death. Like Pilate, we try to evade responsibility and justify sin. Hand washing cannot do that! The crowd shouted, “His blood be on us and on our children” (Matthew 27:25b)! And it was — but not in the way they were intending. The blood of Jesus is indeed upon us and our children; not in a condemning way, but in a saving, restoring, sanctifying way. Jesus paid the price for our sins; we have been washed clean; we have been declared innocent.

Ministerial Education – Lord, the harvest is plentiful, and the workers are few. Send out workers into the harvest field. Move young people to study for the ministry of the gospel. Empower young men to prepare for the pastoral ministry so they may know the joy of proclaiming your Word to a world that needs to hear it. Use all of us to encourage and support them as they train to serve as your shepherds. We ask this in the name of him who is the head of the church, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (more…)

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” Exodus 14:26

A gentle stream or a quiet waterfall can be peaceful, even mesmerizing. But the waters of a flash flood or a riptide can very quickly turn dangerous. Just ask the Egyptians! After God parted the waters of the Red Sea, the Israelites crossed on dry ground. Then God commanded Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea, and the waters flowed back, killing the Egyptian army and their horses.

Looking back at our own lives, do we have any proverbial Egyptians chasing us? Maybe it’s a recurring sin, guilt over sins, or a lingering doubt. God has promised us that all these things have been covered by the waters of our Baptism, covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, they are covered and wiped from His memory. He promises, “… I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34b).

Beautiful Savior, Fayetteville, N.C. – Heavenly Father, we praise you for being there for us no matter what we face on this earth. Thank you that our church body can be there for military families through the work of Beautiful Savior in Fayetteville, N.C. Like they have done at Beautiful Savior, help us to see opportunities in our own communities to connect with the needs of our neighbors—to be there for them, show them your love, and encourage them from your Word. Amen.

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… Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Having babies meant we needed more light in our lives. Like many new parents, we’d wake up every so often just to check on the baby. If we didn’t have a nightlight in every hallway and room, we would never be able to make the trip from my bed to the crib without stubbing a toe.

Now, with the constant presence of a smart phone, we cruise around with a low level light in our hand.  In the Scriptures, darkness is associated with sin and evil. It is impossible to find our way through the darkness of the world because we are surrounded with our own sin. But Jesus shows us a way out of the darkness. He provides us with a light.

Jesus is the way and the light. Jesus is the light because there is no sin or darkness in Him. Jesus is the way because only through faith in Him can we be reconciled with the Father. So abide in the light and Jesus will show you the way and keep your feet from stumbling. Abide in the light, and He will illuminate the path to eternal life. Abide in the light, and others will see in you a reflection of His glory.

Russia – Lord Jesus, you have instructed us to go out into all the world to preach the gospel to all creation. We pray that you would bless the workers serving in Russia. Use them to equip congregational leaders, train youth, and support members as they work to spread the gospel despite tremendous political and social challenges. Amen. (more…)

“Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16b)

Ruth and Naomi had much in common. Both were widowed, childless, and poor. With love, loyalty, and commitment, Moabite Ruth declared that she would accompany her mother-in-law Naomi back to her old home in Bethlehem. Though Ruth would be a foreigner there, she was not deterred. … where you go, I will go, she declared. (Ruth 1:16b)

Their story sounds like a “no win” situation. But God’s plan changed that! Wealthy Boaz acted as kinsman redeemer, offering to marry Ruth and thus carry on the family name. His act gave home, status, and security to both women. Without God’s plan for us, we would be in a “no win” situation. We, too, are redeemed, not by a wealthy relative, but by the blood Jesus shed on Calvary. He paid the price for our sins and … delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14).

District presidents – Heavenly Father, we thank you years of faithful service by Pastor John Seifert, who served as district president of the Michigan District, and Pastor Charles Degner, who served as district president of the Minnesota District. We pray that you would guide the activities of Pastors Snowden Sims and Dennis Klatt, who have been elected to succeed them in these districts. Bless them as they take on this new work to oversee the activities of your church. Amen.

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But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a

The Apostle Paul wrote of having an unnamed affliction that caused him ongoing pain. He referred to it as a thorn in my flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7b NIV) and he repeatedly asked God to take away this pain. The Lord did not do so. Instead, His response to Paul was, “My grace is sufficient for you …” (2 Corinthians 12:9b).

God’s grace was enough for Paul and it is big enough for us, too. Because of His undeserved love, we have forgiveness of sins and a place in heaven. We don’t have to wait for God’s grace, for we have received it through our trust in Jesus. We, like Paul, are gifted with God’s amazing grace. This is an important reminder when we are hurting. The same One Who made sure that we have access to eternal life through Jesus gives us His grace to enable us to handle the heartaches, pains, and hurts we will encounter on this side of heaven.

Cameroon – O Lamb of God who has purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation, you hold history in your hands. We ask you to watch over our fellow Christians in the Lutheran Church of Cameroon during the country’s civil war. Although our expatriate missionaries have had to leave, we pray that you would continue to bless the movement of the gospel there as national pastors and members proclaim it. If it is your will, bring the current conflict to an end soon so that peace may prevail and the gospel be shared with more people. We pray this trusting your plan and your promise. Amen. (more…)

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16

It is easy to get discouraged when we hurt. Simply having someone tell us to “hang in there” or “keep a stiff upper lip” is not enough. We may want to be strong, but when the pain comes it can overwhelm us. How can we not lose heart when we feel like we are wasting away?

Paul advised the Corinthian believers to be renewed daily. We, too, can take advantage of the ways in which God makes His grace available.

Remember Baptism. God is at work claiming us as His dearly loved children, putting His name on us, and washing away our sins. Spend time in His Word. Reflect on the promise and the message of forgiveness, life, and salvation that Jesus accomplished for everyone. Receive His love and mercy in the Lord’s Supper. In this meal Jesus gives us His body and blood that were offered on the cross, assuring us of the forgiveness and acceptance He earned for us. God’s strength is available to us, and His desire is for us to be renewed in it.

Ecuador – Our Savior God, who wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, go with Missionaries Strackbein and Schulte as they begin work in Ecuador. We thank you for blessing the gospel of Jesus already shared through social media. Help the mission team to find a place to house a Christian training center. In this grace-starved country, grant that they may quickly get to the work of leading people into the saving truths of God’s Word; through Christ, our Lord.  Amen. (more…)

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” John 6:51

A healthy lifestyle cannot be based on exercise alone. Not too many people would be inclined to eat a bag of chips or a pound of chocolate and then go for a run. Besides the stomachache that would slow you down, it doesn’t make sense to eat unhealthy food while trying to get healthy.

So what is the healthiest, most nourishing, and satisfying food we can eat? No fruit, vegetable, or even Greek yogurt can compare to the food God offers through His Son, Jesus Christ. This food is not the bread and fish Jesus used to feed the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21), or the breakfast He prepared for His disciples after His resurrection (John 21:1-14).

The life-sustaining food God gives us is Jesus Himself. Jesus said “I am the living bread” (John 6:51a). In the Sacrament of the Altar, believers have the opportunity to partake of this food while receiving the benefits of the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Christ’s body and blood sacrificed and given to us will not only give us strength to live a new earthly life, but it will continue to sustain us on through eternity.

Vietnam – Jesus, Head of the Church, thank you that your gospel is reaching an increasing number of people in Vietnam. Bless the work of the national pastors and evangelists—and the WELS missionaries supporting them. May your Holy Spirit guide the work which will result in a seminary for training there. Thank you for international connections that allow Christians in one country to support ministry to loved ones in another. May these opportunities result in even more of your children learning about your grace. Amen. (more…)

“For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:6

Summertime is a great time to read, relax, take in some sun and enjoy relationships.  But the real companion we long for is Christ, who much more longs to spend time with us.  He comes to us through his Word, as we learn and meditate on who he is, and what a miracle he accomplished.  That kind of leadership cannot be found in any high-rise or major headquarters on earth…it is exclusively the king of heaven himself who offers insight and understanding.  Let’s take the time to listen and learn of him.  Let’s ask him to lead us closer and then, rejoicing in his love, make every day more full and rich.

International Youth Rally – What a blessing, O Lord of the Church, for young people from around our country and world to be able to receive spiritual strength from your Word at the 2018 International Youth Rally in Bowling Green, Ohio, under the theme “Never Alone.” May your presence go with these young people and their leaders, granting them safe travels to and from the rally and soul enriching experiences through your Word during their days together. Equip them for lifelong service in your kingdom. Amen. (more…)