Armed Forces Devotional Book. Daily Prayer

Transcription

1 Armed Forces Devotional Book Concordia Publishing House St. Louis, Missouri For the Armed Forces of Our Nation O Lord God of hosts, stretch forth Your almighty arm to strengthen and protect those who serve in the armed forces of our country. Support them in times of war, and in times of peace keep them from all evil, giving them courage and loyalty and granting that in all things they may serve honestly and without reproach; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Daily Prayer For Individuals and Small Unit Gatherings These brief services are intended as a simple form of daily prayer of individuals for small unit gatherings. When more than one person is present, the versicles and responses may be spoken responsively, with one person reading the words in regular type and the others responding with the words in bold type. Prayers may be prayed in the same fashion, though those in bold type are to be prayed by all. For the readings, several verses have been recommended for each particular time of day. These may be used on a rotating basis. The value in using these few texts lies in the opportunity to learn them well. Other Scripture lessons appropriate to the church year or military situation have been included. Readings from the Small Catechism may also be incorporated into the services. In the prayers for others and ourselves, the following suggestions may assist in establishing a rhythm of daily and weekly prayer: Sunday: For the joy of the resurrection among us; for the fruit of faith nourished by the Word and the Sacraments, and for true and godly worship throughout the world, wherever our military are stationed. Monday: For faith to live in the promises of Holy Baptism; for one s calling and daily work; for all military service members, that they might serve with honor and integrity, working for earthly freedom and

2 peace; for the unemployed; for the salvation and well-being of our neighbors; for schools, colleges, and seminaries; for good government and for peace. Tuesday: For deliverance against temptation and evil; for the addicted and despairing, the tortured and oppressed; for those struggling with sin. Wednesday: For marriage and family, that husbands and wives, parents and children live in ordered harmony according to the Word of God; for deployed service members and their families, that they might be strengthened in the bonds of faithfulness and love while separated; for parents who must raise children alone; for our communities and neighborhoods. Thursday: For the Church and her pastors and chaplains; for teachers, deacons, and deaconesses, for missionaries, and for all who serve the Church; for fruitful and salutary use of the blessed Sacrament of Christ s body and blood. Friday: For the preaching of the holy cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and for the spread of His knowledge throughout the whole world; for the persecuted and oppressed; for the sick, for the wounded, and the dying. Saturday: For faithfulness to the end; for the renewal of those who are withering in the faith or have fallen away; for receptive hearts and minds to God s Word on the Lord s Day; for pastors and chaplains and others as they prepare to administer and receive Christ s holy gifts.

3 Morning Prayer The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism. In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. O LORD, in the morning You hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch. (Psalm 5:3) My mouth is filled with Your praise, and with Your glory all the day. (Psalm 71:8) O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. (Psalm 51:15) Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. A hymn or psalm may be sung or spoken. Psalm 5 is suggested for Morning Prayer. An appointed reading or one of the following is read: Colossians 3:1 4; Exodus 15:1 11; Matthew 20:1 16; Mark 13:32 37; Luke 24:1 8; Ephesians 4:17 24; Romans 6:1 4 The Apostles Creed is confessed. The Lord s Prayer is said. Prayers for others and ourselves are added: Almighty God, merciful Father, who created and completed all things, on this day when the work of our calling begins anew, we implore You to create its beginning, direct its continuance, and bless its end, that our doings may be preserved from sin, our life sanctified, and our work this day be well pleasing to You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. or I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. (Luther s Morning Prayer, Small Catechism) Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. Then go joyfully to your duty.

4 EVENING PRAYER The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism. In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last. It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your steadfast love in the morning, And Your faithfulness by night. (Psalm 92:1 2) Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel. (Luke 2:29 32) Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. A hymn or psalm may be sung or spoken. Psalm 4 is suggested for Evening Prayer. An appointed reading or one of the following is read: Matthew 11:28 30; Micah 7:18 20; Matthew 18:15 35; Matthew 25:1 13; Luke 11:1 13; Romans 8:31 39; 2 Corinthians 4: The Apostles Creed is confessed. The Lord s Prayer is said. Prayers for others and ourselves are added: Visit our dwellings, 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. or I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. (Luther s Evening Prayer, Small Catechism) Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. Then be at peace and rest in God s care. Prayers While Deployed Lord God, heavenly Father, Ruler of all, I pray that You would bless and strengthen me now during this deployment. You have given me a high calling to serve You as a military service member and help establish freedom and peace, if necessary even by fighting for it. I ask for Your blessing in this work You have set before me. Help me and my unit to train well and do our best. Keep us safe. Bless our leaders. Keep us morally strong.

5 I miss my family, friends, and loved ones, and I commit them into Your good and gracious hands. You know their needs fully, Lord. Help them; keep them safe. During our time apart, strengthen us in the bonds of love and in a living faith that always looks to You as our Strength and Savior. Prepare us now for celebrating that love and faith when I return. Finally, renew and refresh my heart with Your love. If You were willing to send Your Son to suffer death to save me and make me Your own, nothing, including this deployment, can separate me from Your love and goodness; through Christ, our Lord. A Soldier s Prayer Before Battle Dear God, You know that I must now go into combat. You know that I would rather keep out of it, but that this is no longer possible. O heavenly Father, because You have placed me in this duty, I know that it is God-pleasing. I know that You have called me to serve my nation. My first loyalty is to You, then to my country, for Your sake. I thank You that You have graciously called me to this honorable work, to protect and preserve life, if need be even by fighting. I know that this is not sinful, but righteous and obedient according to Your will. I have learned from Your Word that our works cannot save us; neither can military service. So I will not put my trust in our righteous cause, but in Your grace. I will not rely on my mission to earn me heaven, but I will perform this duty as a service to Your will. Enable me to believe with all my heart that only the innocent blood of Your dear Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, obediently shed for me according to Your gracious will, can save me. In this faith, Lord, I will go forward, wage war, do all that has to do with war, and if need be die. Dear God and Father, preserve and strengthen this faith in me through Your Holy Spirit. Into Your hands I commend my body and soul. Amen! Martin Luther, ca Service Hymnal (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1993). Before Any Dangerous Operation or Battle Heavenly Father, You know that I must now go into harm s way into a very dangerous situation or into actual combat. I know that You are very near me. Protect me according to Your good and gracious will. Graciously forgive all the sins and wrongs that I have done. Enable me to believe with all my heart that only the innocent blood of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, shed on the cross, can redeem and save me. In this faith, Lord, I will go forward. Give me the courage and strength I need to wage war, to do all that has to do with war, and to trust completely in You, that whether I live or die, I am Yours, with You, in Your care, now and eternally. Go with me, Lord. Go with us all. After Any Dangerous Operation or Battle Gracious Father, You are my help and protection. I humbly praise and thank You that You have been with me and brought me safely through this time of danger. Never let me forget Your kindness toward me. In Your mercy, watch over any who are wounded. Thank You for receiving those who have died in Christ into Your everlasting kingdom. Help me to use the time before me as Your servant, working for the freedom and peace that come from You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. For a Sick or Wounded Military Service Member The Lord s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, Psalm 23, and the following prayer may be prayed: Lord Jesus, have mercy on this soldier/sailor/airman/marine/coastguardsman. Help him/her now in his/her suffering. In his/her weakness, strengthen him/her with Your power, so that his/her courage will not fail. In his/her pain, soothe him/her with Your healing, in accord with Your good and gracious will. And at all times, enable him/her to continue patient and steadfast in the true faith, and to find peace and joy in the blessed hope of the resurrection of the dead and life eternal.

6 For a Dying Military Service Member The Lord s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, Psalm 23, and the following prayer may be prayed: Depart, dear brother/sister, in the name of the Father, who created you; in the name of the Son, who redeemed you through His bitter suffering and death; and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who sanctified you. May our Lord Jesus be with you to protect you; may He be in you to refresh you; may He be before you to lead you into heaven; may He be over you to bless you, here in time and hereafter in eternity. In Temptation and Danger O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. Keep us both outwardly and inwardly that we may be defended from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. For Holiness O God, the Protector of all who trust in You, and without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Your mercy, that with You as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we may finally receive the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. For Forgiveness Grant, we beseech You, merciful Lord, to Your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. For Peace O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed, give unto 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 by You from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. For Those Who Have Forsaken the Faith Almighty and everlasting God and Father, we humbly beseech You to let Your Holy Spirit work in the hearts of all those who have forsaken the Christian faith and to reveal to them their error, so that they may receive the truth of Your holy Word and walk in the way that leads to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. For Those Living in Unrepented Sin O Lord Jesus Christ, You came to seek and save the lost. Have pity, we implore You, on all those held in the bondage of lust and intemperance, and deliver them from the tyranny of shameful deeds. Move their hearts by Your Spirit, strengthening them to resist and overcome their sin, and lead them into the liberty and purity of the sons and daughters of God; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. For Enemies O almighty and everlasting God, through Your own Son You have commanded us to love our enemies, to do good to them that hate us, and to pray for them that persecute us. We pray that by Your divine providence they may be led to true repentance and be of one mind and heart with us, and with Your whole Church, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.

7 In Time of War Father of mercies and God of all comfort, look in pity upon all who are suffering in this time of strife and the warfare of nations. Protect the defenseless, heal the wounded, console the anxious and bereaved, and receive to Yourself those who die in the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn the hearts of our enemies, we pray, and forgive both them and us for our share in the sin that has brought this anguish upon humankind. Open up to us a way of reconciliation and lead us into the path of peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Armed Forces Devotional Book 2003 CPH To purchase the Armed Forces Devotional Book (# ), please call and reserve your copy today! This book is not available until May 1, 2003.