August 22, 2024 

Today's Reading: Catechism: Daily Prayers: Morning Prayer

Daily Lectionary: 1 Kings 2:1-27; 1 Corinthians 14:1-16:24; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. (Morning Prayer) 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. 

This little sentence delivers so much comfort. ‘Into God’s Hands.’ The very hands that bore nails during His unfair, yet very good, crucifixion. The very hands that are marred with scars from His sacrifice. Those are the hands about which this prayer is speaking. 

‘Commending myself.’ To be honest, there is nothing commendable about me (and all sinners). In fact, on our own, we are dead. We sinners are not great caretakers. Our every decision is marred with sin. We are inherently selfish and short-sighted. So, commending myself - presenting myself before God - sounds a bit terrifying. But this prayer has already reminded us that the hands into which we are presenting ourselves are Jesus’ hands. They are hands that showed their love in this way: bearing our sins and defeating our enemies. So, commending ourselves before God does not have to be terrifying but is relieving. We are Baptized. We are covered by Jesus and get to remember that every time we pray. 

‘My body and soul, and all things.’ A lie that sinners tell ourselves is that our bodies are our property to do with as we choose. We think we stand independent and want to be segregated from our neighbors. Lord have mercy. In this prayer, we are reminded that our bodies, our souls, and all things are tied together. And, they are commended - presented - to God. Into Jesus’ nail-scarred hands, all things are presented, are declared good through Baptism, and are redeemed. There is comfort and assurance in this little sentence in a simple morning prayer. 

As you pray, using this prayer, the one that our Lord taught, or your own simple words, slow down and think about the amazingness of Who you are talking to and how He loves and cares for you. Prayer doesn’t seem to make sense:  the perfect God of all things would desire to hear from us? And yet, that is exactly what we have. We get to bring all of our cares and concerns - even our whole selves - to Him and be cared for in His loving and merciful Hands. As you pray and after you pray, be confident and sure that your Savior has heard you, loves you, and will continually show you mercy. 

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy: Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,  Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day. (LSB 738:1)

-Deac. Sarah Longmire, Bible study editor for Higher Things.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

The Lutheran Confessions play a vital role in the church—both centuries ago, and today. But, do they apply to the daily life of a layperson? Pastor Andy Wright offers a resounding “yes” in his book, Faithfully Formed. He quotes, summarizes, and synthesizes key teachings from the Confessions, revealing their relevance in the daily lives of ordinary people.