God is Proud of You
Monday’s Verse:
From Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Our brains jump quickly to our lists, worries, and leftover junk from last week when we think about the upcoming week. We try to tackle each Monday armed for battle with our version of “law”–what we need to do, how we need to perform, and where we will fall short.
Zephaniah 3:17 redirects our focus entirely away from us, our performance, and roots us beautifully in the Gospel.
God has three beautiful promises tucked into this one verse for your week:
He is in your midst
You are not stepping foot on Monday by yourself. God is with you. The all-present God delights in being with you in the mundane meetings, the cleaning up, the parenting challenges, and the tough moments.
He is a mighty one who saves:
Lutherans like to dwell on the reality of Justification---that our salvation and righteousness before God is solely His work accomplished on the cross through Christ. He is doing the saving; you are safely receiving His gift of salvation.
He rejoices over you:
This one probably knocks your socks off. God doesn’t tolerate you or look at you weary from your sinfulness. Because you are covered in the righteousness of Christ, the Father looks at you and rejoices! He stills your anxious efforts by wrapping you in His loving arms.
Don’t worry about making God proud this week. You already have His full favor and acceptance! When the week gets loud and chaotic, remember that the Mighty God is quietly singing over you, holding you in His love.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord God, give me a good week so I can be the loving child you desire me to be. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The 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.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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