October 1, 2026
Today's Reading: Catechism: Daily Prayers: Asking a blessing & Returning Thanks
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 2:16-37; Matthew 6:16-34
The eyes of all look to You, O LORD, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Ps. 145: 15–16) (Luther’s Small Catechism “Asking a Blessing”)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
As we’ve been discussing humility this week, we’ve talked about repentance, angels, and how we bear with one another. Today, God’s Word helps us consider the Gift of prayer in our lives.
Prayer is part of the life of God’s people. We should pray at all times and in all places (Luke 18:1, 1 Timothy 2:8). Perhaps you pray every morning and evening during family devotions. You pray at the beginning or end of personal devotions. Before every meal, you pray, as the Small Catechism teaches us. Creating a continual habit of prayer is good. God desires to hear your prayers, and Jesus even taught His disciples how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13). Prayer is also a good exercise in humility.
If you could do whatever you wanted, you wouldn’t ask anyone for anything. You’d never need to look to anybody else for help or call on someone in every trouble. Definitely, you wouldn’t need to praise anyone, since you’d be able to do everything alone. Of course, you know you can’t do everything. Prayer reminds us of this every time.
When we ask for a blessing, we remember God is the one we’re looking to. God alone is in control of every single moment and minute of this marvelous miracle called life. Before we eat, we remember that this food is a gift from God Himself, who has opened His hand to satisfy our desires and the desires of every living thing. You’re humbling yourself to acknowledge how God is satisfying your desires. God is taking care of every living being, true enough, but take a moment and realize how amazing it is that God is taking care of you in this moment of prayer. He has put the food on your table. Not only does God know you need food, but God has provided for you in this moment. Prayer is humility in action, and it’s a good discipline to practice at all times and in all places. May you continually look to God in prayer, who provides the needs of body and soul through your daily bread, but most importantly in His Word and Sacraments.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
“Hear us, dear Father, when we pray For needed help from day to day That as Your children we may live, Whom you baptized and so received” (LSB 865:3)
Rev. Miguel Gonzalez-Feliciano, pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Klinger and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Readlyn, IA.
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