Echoing the Heart of Our Faith (Copy)
Today’s Bible Verses:
Psalm 16:2 ESV
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
Psalm 16:2 is a beautiful declaration of faith and humility. In this verse, David acknowledges his dependence on God, proclaiming that every good thing in his life flows from the Lord. When he says, "You are my Lord," he’s not merely confessing belief; he's declaring allegiance and surrender. This isn't just an intellectual acknowledgment; it's the heartfelt understanding that, without God, there is no true good.
In our Lutheran faith, we are reminded of this truth in many ways. Martin Luther taught that our relationship with God is not transactional but deeply relational. We are not self-sufficient beings who can stand alone in righteousness or goodness. Instead, we live by grace through faith, utterly dependent on God’s mercy and goodness.
When we say, "I have no good apart from you," we echo the heart of our faith. All our righteousness, goodness, and value come from Christ. This confession frees us from the pressure of self-reliance and self-righteousness. It places us under God’s care and guidance, where we can find true peace and security.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, I come before You confessing that I have no good apart from you. Thank you for being my Lord, protector, and provider. Please help me remember each day that all I need is found in you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
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. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
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.
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