Invitation — Psalm 24:1
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it."
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 21:1-7, 13
The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!
You have granted him his heart's desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
You came to greet him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
He asked you for life, and you gave it to him —
length of days, for ever and ever.
Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.
Surely you have granted him unending blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
For the king trusts in the Lord;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken...
Be exalted in your strength, Lord;
we will sing and praise your might.
Bible Reading — Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Quiet
Dwelling
Read again, perhaps out loud ... how has God's Word moved you? Ponder and meditate what has connected with your heart or mind ... pray to God what it is that has moved you today ... turn your thoughts to God and quietly enjoy being with him.
Free Prayer
- for our national and local communities
- for the continent of Asia
- for the unemployed
Prayer — BC 14
Betrayed God, forgive me for willingly rebelling against your commands of life. My sin has turned light to dark and twisted what is good; all feels lost, and I am in deeper than I know. But I thank you that even in my sin and shame, you continue to call my name. Amen.
Blessing — Isaiah 51:16
"I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand — I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.'"