After... devotion...you are to go to your work joyfully.

This morning, for the first time in it's entirety, I did what Martin Luther suggested in the Small Catechism for the morning blessing.

I made the sign of the cross, and asked God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to watch over me.
I then said aloud the Apostle's Creed and the Lord's Prayer, before reciting his suggested prayer:

"I give thanks to you, heavenly Father,
through Jesus Christ your dear Son,
that you have protected me through the night
from all harm and danger.
I ask that you would also protect me today
from sin and all evil,
so that my life and actions may please you.
Into your hands I commend myself:
my body, my soul, and all that is mine.
Let your holy angel be with me,
so that the wicked foe
may have no power over me.
Amen."

Having claimed myself as a person of faith, asked for protection and guidance, having proclaimed my faith aloud, I felt ready to attack the day. Luther makes a point in his instructions which I am going to take as literal as possible. He says after the above prayer, "After singing a hymn, or whatever else may serve your devotion, you are to go to your work joyfully."

...you are to go to your work joyfully! So that I did! I enjoyed a slow morning at home, did a few things around the church, had a great conversation with my new mentor (we have agreed to read the bible through in 2013 and discuss it weekly) and visited some people. At around the time I wanted to be done, I found that I had joyfully completed my tasks for the day. I then enjoyed some family time and make a great connection with our teen. The best day I have had in a while, truly.

I honestly feel like somehow I admitted my weakness and accepted God's help this morning, and also proclaimed my beliefs out loud. Tomorrow I plan to do it as soon as I get out of bed, as Luther suggested, since I ran into several issues this morning just trying to get my coffe and be arranged for morning prayer. 

One of the ways I have recently investigated religion is to read some of the works of Martin Luther, the great reformer. Basically, before him every Christian was Catholic. They were the Christian religion. Along his journey, Martin Luther got a hold of an entire bible, and was deeply enlightened when he was able to read the whole thing, not just the selected portions read during mass. He found some inconsistencies, 95 of them actually, between what the bible said and what the church was doing. He was also greatly appalled a the lack of knowledge among believers and even some pastors. He eventually became responsible for us being able to have copies of the bibles ourselves, instead of them only residing in the church.

One of the ways he desired to change things was to assemble a set of simple biblical doctrines that every believer should be taught. These were put together in the small catechism. It contains The Ten Commandments, The Apostles' Creed, The Lord's Prayer, sections on baptism, confession Eucharist (communion), sample morning and evening prayers, and a blessing for meals. It has explanations and commentary on each of these things. It is quite an in depth yet simple manual on how live in faith. It has endured since the 1500's and is still taught today in many churches, as basically, "Christianity 101", and is often a prerequisite for official church membership.

With all the discussions and situations in society today, an in-depth study of the essential elements of faith such as Luther's is time well spent. Every person who has faith in Jesus Christ would due well to study up on the small catechism, and consider the implications of the moral doctrines contained  in it.

 Small Catechism

From the small amount I have spent studying them thus far, I am amazed at how it has drawn me closer to God by pondering what I believe and why. I have also found Luther's directions for the head of households to teach these principals their family to be a great motivation for making that a priority in our home. They will continue to challenge me for some time, and they are a subject I wish to write about frequently in this blog. I have found thus far that following his instructions precisely can make for a simple joyous experience of faith. 

Perhaps my fascination with these religious things is do to not growing up in church, by I also know it is comforting to realize I am joining with the church of the past, present and future in these things. Humility is good in this life of faith, and today I can join with millions of others as we study the basics of faith.