Sacred Meditations

Through this season of Lent we pray from this marvelous hymn by Johann Heermann (1585-1647). Here we pray that we may find healing in Jesus’ wounds and that He would keep us from the first beginning of our sinning. See Lutheran Service Book, 421:1.

“For our sake [God] made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Here Johann Starck exhorts us on how and why we meditate on the sufferings of Jesus during Lent. Source: Starck’s Prayer-Book, by Johann …

During this season of Lent, we pray that our Lord Jesus, the King of grace, would imprint on us and our heart His image–the image of God with which we were created but lost in our fall into sin. See Lutheran Service Book, 422.

The Epiphany hymn “Hail, O Source of Every Blessing” (stanzas 1-2) provides us with today’s prayer. See Lutheran Service Book, 409:1-2.

Johann Gerhard continues pondering the benefits of Christ’s Incarnation. Not only is God’s power in creating us–and giving us flesh and bones–wonderful, but even more wonderful is how God redeems us in Christ Jesus–who becomes flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone. Source: Sacred Meditations by Johann Gerhard, …

Without love–God’s love in Christ Jesus–we are nothing more than noisy gongs or clanging symbols (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3). So we pray that our God who is love (see 1 John 4:7-11) would pour His love into our hearts that we may live in Him. Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany, …

God shows His handiwork in heaven and on earth, and He even does this in our various vocations. We pray that He would deliver us from the service of self alone so that we may serve our neighbor and thus glorify Him. “For Vocation in Daily Work,” from The Book …

It was–and is–a great mystery that the Son of God lowered Himself to take on our human flesh. But the greater mystery is WHY? Here Johann Gerhard continues to lead us in pondering the saving benefits of Christ’s incarnation. Source: Sacred Meditations by Johann Gerhard, pages 83-84.

God is the strength of all who put their trust in Him. Since we in our weakness can do nothing good, we pray that He would accept our prayers and the help of His grace to keep His commandments in will and deed. Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, from The …

All Christians have a vocation given by God, whether butcher, baker, candle stick maker, or pastor. We pray that all members of Christ’s holy Church may truly and devoutly serve Him in their various vocations. “For All Christians in Their Vocation,” from The Book of Common Prayer.