The Pastor’s Corner

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin, written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Matthew 9:27-30

The narrative is brief, but the lesson deep. Here in this passage is the encounter of the Savior and two blind men who merely cry out to the Lord for mercy. First, note the simplicity of their faith. They simply cry out for mercy. Is that what all men, everywhere, need? Whatever the circumstance, all men are in dire need of the mercy of the Lord. Because of our miserable and fallen condition, not a single breath can be taken without the condescending love of God the Father upon his creatures. The state of these men is merely highlighted by the gospel writer as those who are blind. We do not know how long they suffered under that malady. We do know it was real -- real enough to cause them to cry for help from the only one who can bring it. Second, note the urgency of their faith. They "came to him." We tend to run to so many things in this life for relief, yet the blind men run to the Lord, and as they did so, crying out to him, they were heard. The Lord did not reject them but listened to their cry for help and saw their faith.

Read More

Prayer: Almighty God, you who are majestic and holy and has spoken in days of old by the prophets and now by your Word, we thank you for condescending to us and revealing yourself to your creatures. Though we are creatures of dust, and though our first parents rebelled against you, you determined to demonstrate your great love for us in giving us the seed of the woman that would crush the head of the serpent and reverse the effects of the Fall. You brought forth your Son through your marvelous work, born in the fullness of time, born to a woman, born under the law. In him, we have redemption and satisfaction for our sins. We praise your name today because you did not leave us in our miserable condition. You have brought us out of darkness to behold you. Freed from our prison, we are now able, by your Spirit, to accomplish our purpose for living: to glorify you in all that we do. Father, we know that we fall short of your glory. We mourn indwelling sin and actually transgressions. Forgive us and renew in us a great love for you. Please grant us a willing spirit that we would watch and pray lest we fall into temptation. We thank you for your kindness in forgiving us through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read More

Prayer: Our Father, too often, our prayers are prayerless. So often, in our prayers, we fail to trust you and believe your promises for us. Therefore, we often go through the motions and check the box indicating that we did pray when, in fact, we didn't. Our hearts wander in our times of prayer. Our minds run to and fro and then ask you things that are not agreeable to your will. We spend too much time asking you for things instead of thanking you and praising you. Forgive us, Father, for being so shallow in those holy moments in your presence. We know that your Word teaches us to pray, and it tells us to pray for things that are agreeable to your will. It also teaches us to cast our burdens and cares before you and ask you what we desire. Please help us to pray with earnest zeal being willing to accept your providence for us. Please grant us a willing mind and heart to receive all that we need and nothing more from your hand. We pray these things in the name of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Read More

Prayer: Our most sovereign, holy, and gracious God, we thank you for the enjoyment of another Lord's day with your people in worship to you. We heard your voice through the preaching of your Word, and now, as we reflect on that which we heard, we pray that your Spirit would grant us the mercy and grace we need to do that which we have heard. Too often, we are like the church of old that did not listen to you as you spoke through your prophet to them. They were stiff-necked and rebellious and suffered the due consequence of their error. We do not want to be like them. We desire to hear and do what you have told us because you are worthy of our love and obedience. We long to be as holy as is possible for sinners. Please help us, Lord. Please continue to conform us more and more into the image of your Son. We pray all these things in His name. Amen.

Read More

Prayer: Our God in heaven: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we praise your name and thank you for revealing yourself to your people who you called a holy nation and a people for your own possession. We thank you for helping us with our weaknesses. We are a forgetful people and need to be shown signs and wonders that display your glory and greatness. As your church traversed the wilderness in the days of old, you gave them the pillar of fire and the cloud to guide them. As they crossed the Jordan, you commanded that stones of remembrance be erected on the river's western shore. Through these signs, you remind your people of your kindness to deliver them from sin and misery and bring them to a safe and prosperous land. Today, you give us the sign of your sacraments, and through them, we are again reminded of your love and covenant faithfulness as you exalted your Son and through him secured a people and gave great promises to them. Please help us, Father, to remember and to lay hold of these gifts that we might glory in you and praise you and walk with you. Forgive us for going astray and grant us more of your Spirit to live and serve you. We pray these things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the exalted One. Amen.

Read More

Prayer: Almighty God, grant to your people a willing spirit to bless and love you and to live lives fulfilling the purpose for which you made us. We know that we are your redeemed people, and the work of the Lord Jesus has reconciled us as your chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for your own possession. You have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light that we would live lives holy and consecrated before you. Forgive us for our transgressions and sins. Forgive us for the many ways in which we go astray. Like sheep, we often wander and stray from your commands. Thank you for your patience with us and for forgiving us through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read More

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-14

The Savior graciously gave us the Lord's Prayer as a model of prayer and as one that teaches us how to pray. This prayer is used by many in various circumstances. It is often used in corporate worship as a prayer of the gathered people of God. Yet, many offer this prayer with very little thought as to what they are praying. When we pray mindlessly before our God, we treat him as common and not offering him our heart, soul, mind, and strength in worship.

Read More

Prayer: Almighty God, you who are the only true and living God, we bow before your majesty today and thank you for your kindness in providing for us another Lord's Day in which we can gather as your people and praise your name. We confess that we often approach you without reverence and awe. We often come before you with a casual frame and mind, forgetting that you are mighty and glorious and we are creatures of dust. Your Word reminds us of the need to treat your name as holy and honor and adore you. We fall short of that duty, and we ask that you would forgive us. Please help us today as we gather with your people to labor with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength to worship you as you have commanded. Please grant to us willing hearts and minds to listen attentively to your Word as it is proclaimed. Please give us a great measure of your Spirit that we might commune with you with joy and delight. We pray all of these things in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Read More

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Matthew 6:7-8

Every now and then, I have had to answer the question of "why pray?" when it is pretty clear that Jesus teaches that our Father in heaven knows what we need before we ask. Without question, our omniscient God is well aware of every need and concern we have! Yet, he also urges us to pray and cast our needs before him (1 Pet. 5:7). How can we answer this question? Calvin wrestled with it as well. He wrote, "If God knows what we need before we seek it, there might appear to be no benefit in prayer." I suspect that many Christians have wrestled with this issue.

Read More

Prayer: Our Father, you have invited us into your presence to pray and plead with you and to unburden ourselves before you. Your Word tells us plainly to cast all of our cares upon you because you care for us. Throughout your Word, we see many examples of godly men who would endeavor to pray day and night before your throne. Yet, we are distracted people. We move from one care to the next with little thought to our passing days. Teach us to number our days, Lord. Teach us to place the privilege of prayer as a top priority in our lives. We confess that we are easily swayed and moved from this means of grace. Our prayers are often prayerless. Our prayers often lack the emotion and heartfelt pleading with you for what we need. Our prayers are often mere words with little thought to what we are saying and to whom we are praying. Forgive us, Lord. Please help us, by your Spirit, to pray as we should and must. We ask these things in the name of the Lord Jesus, our great High Priest. Amen.

Read More