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Daily Devotion Morning

Leader: O Lord, open my lips, Group: and my mouth will declare your praise.

Hasten to save me, O God. O Lord, come quickly to help me.

Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Praise and thanks to God!

Hymn A hymn for the morning (see Christian Worship 580-586) or another appropriate hymn may be sung.

Psalm A psalm may be spoken or sung. Psalms 63:1-8 and 95:1-7 are traditional morning psalm selections. A table of psalms for daily devotions is included on page 11 of this file.

Reading One or more Scripture readings are spoken. The readings may be followed by an excerpt from Luther’s Catechism or another devotional selection.

We Praise You, O God We Praise You, O God (Latin title: Te Deum Laudamus) or another canticle may be sung or spoken. A musical setting of this canticle is included on pages 3-4 of this file. We praise you, O God, we acclaim you as Lord; all creation worships you, Father everlasting. To you all angels, all the pow’rs of heav’n, cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of heav’nly hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you: Father of majesty unbounded, your glorious, true, and only Son, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the King of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.

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When you became man to set us free, you humbled yourself to be born of a virgin. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. We believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. One of the following prayers is spoken. Almighty God, you divide the day from the night. Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet in the way of peace. And having done your will with cheerfulness while it is day, grant that when evening comes, we may rejoice in giving you thanks. Amen.

We give you thanks, O Lord, for the rest of the past night and for the gift of a new day with its opportunities for pleasing you. Grant that we may pass its hours in the freedom of your service and, when evening comes, give you thanks again. 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. Let us praise the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Blessing May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Daily Devotion – Morning

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An Arrangement of We Praise You, O God for Morning Devotions

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Daily Devotion Afternoon

Leader: Hasten to save me, O God. Group: O Lord, come quickly to help me.

Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.

Hymn A hymn about the Word of God (see Christian Worship 279-293) or another appropriate hymn may be sung.

Psalm An excerpt from Psalm 119 or another psalm may be spoken or sung. A table of psalms for daily devotions is included on page 11 of this file; one of the two evening psalm selections for the day may be used.

Reading One or more Scripture readings are spoken. The readings may be followed by an excerpt from Luther’s Catechism or another devotional selection.

Lord, Have Mercy In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

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One of the following prayers is spoken. Heavenly Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, to direct and rule us according to your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” Do not remember our sins, but remember your mercy, and bring us to the peace and unity of that heavenly city where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and forever. 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. Let us praise the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Blessing May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him. Amen.

Daily Devotion – Afternoon

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Daily Devotion Evening

Leader: Jesus Christ is the light of the world, Group: The light no darkness can overcome.

Stay with us, Lord, for it is evening, and the day is almost over. Be our light and scatter the darkness and hear our evening prayer and praise.

Hymn A hymn for the evening (see Christian Worship 587-595) or another appropriate hymn may be sung.

Psalm A psalm may be spoken or sung. Psalms 91 and 141 are traditional evening psalm selections. A table of psalms for daily devotions is included on page 11 of this file.

Reading One or more Scripture readings are spoken. The readings may be followed by an excerpt from Luther’s Catechism or another devotional selection.

Song of Simeon The Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32; Latin title: Nunc Dimittis) or another canticle may be sung or spoken. A musical setting of this canticle is included on pages 9-10 of this file. In peace, Lord, you let your servant now depart according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for every people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

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One of the following prayers is spoken: Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world may rest in your eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who watch or work or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, pity the afflicted, soothe the suffering, bless the dying—and all for your love’s sake, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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. Let us praise the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Blessing The almighty and merciful Lord—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—bless us and keep us. Amen.

Daily Devotion – Evening

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An Arrangement of the Song of Simeon for Evening Devotions

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Tune © 1993 by Kurt J. Eggert. Harmonization © 1993 by Kermit G. Moldenhauer.

Groups not affiliated with WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) must obtain permission to reproduce this setting of the Song of Simeon from Northwestern Publishing House.

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A Table of Psalms for Daily Devotions

The following chart may be used in connection with the daily devotions in this file.

If the afternoon devotion is used, one of the two evening psalms may be selected.

In addition to the seasonal morning psalms listed below, another custom uses Psalms 145-150 in the morning according to the following schedule:

Sunday: Psalm 150 Monday: Psalm 145 Tuesday: Psalm 146 Wednesday: Psalm 147:1-11 Thursday: Psalm 147:12-20 Friday: Psalm 148 Saturday: Psalm 149