DIY Family Devotion
(for couples and families with older children — for younger children try our DIY Children’s Devotion)
OPENING PRAYER
God, thank you for giving us this opportunity to come together around your Word. As we pause from the struggles of this sinful world, help us focus on you, trust in your promises, and find peace in your incredible love for us. Strengthen our faith through your Word and keep us always focused on the ultimate gift of eternal life that you have given us through the perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Amen.
BIBLE READING
Read a selected portion from God’s Word. As you focus on this reading, you may wish to think about this part of God’s Word more deeply:
+ Luther's 4 Questions
- Instruction: What is the God saying to me in this Scripture? What promise is he giving me?
- Thanksgiving: What does this Scripture lead me to be thankful for?
- Confession: What sins does this Scripture lead me to confess?
- Prayer: What does this Scripture lead me to pray for?
+ SOAP
- S - Scripture: Read today's Bible reading. It might be helpful to write the verse down in a journal with the other thoughts that come to mind.
- O - Observation: What is God is saying to you in this Scripture? Keep in mind the context of what you reading (the original audience, what comes before/after, etc.).
- A - Application: Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life.
- P - Prayer: This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or even a prayer for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you.
DEVOTION
PERSONAL PRAYER
Pray from your heart about whatever is on your mind. You may wish to use one of these prayer outlines as you consider what to pray for:
+ PRAY
- P - Praise God for his greatness and mercy, and thank him for his love.
- R - Repent of your sins and trust in his forgiveness.
- A - Ask God for specific blessings in your life and others.
- Y - Yield: to his will, acknowledging that God is always in control and directs everything according to his plan.
+ ACTS
- A - Adoration Praise God for his greatness and mercy, and thank him for his love.
- C - Confession Confess your sins, both those you know and those you don't, and trust in God's complete forgiveness.
- T - Thanksgiving Thank God for the many blessings he has put into your life.
- S - Supplication: This is the place to ask God for specific blessings in your life and to pray for others. Ask in the confidence of knowing your God hears and answers your prayers for your good and in accordance with his will.
CLOSING PRAYER (choose one)
+ LUTHER'S MORNING PRAYER
In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please you. Into your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
+ LUTHER'S EVENING PRAYER
In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, your dear Son, that you have graciously kept me this day. Forgive me all my sins, and graciously keep me this night. Into your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
+ 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.