FROM LUTHER’S PRAYERS:

In order that your kingdom may come and increase, bring all blinded sinners and those held captive by the devil to theknowledge of true faith in Jesus Christ. Make the number of souls in Christendom great. Amen.

FROM LUTHER’S SMALL CATECHISM:The Third Petition of The Lord’s Prayer:Your will be done,on earth as in heaven.

What is this?

In fact, God’s good and gracious will comes aboutwithout our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may alsocome about in and among us.

How does this come about?

Whenever God breaks and hinders every evil scheme and willof the devil, the world, and our flesh that would not allow usto hallow God’s name and would prevent the coming of hiskingdom. And God’s will comes about whenever Godstrengthens us and keeps us steadfast in his Word and in faithuntil the end of our lives. This is God’s gracious and goodwill.

SECONDSUNDAY of

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming give us strengthin our conflicts and shed light on our path throughthe darkness of this world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with