Psalm 98:1 O, sing unto the Lord a new song ; for He hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and His holy arm. hath gotten Him the victory

April 30

O, sing unto the Lord a new song ; for He hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and His holy arm. hath gotten Him the victory. — Psalm 98:1

Photo: Ricky Lenon

OUR kind Heavenly Father, it would be presumption for us to thus address Thee were it not for the cross upon which the Prince of Life opened the way. In His dear Name we come, confessing our sins, which are too numerous for us to mention, and too grievous for us to understand; and seeking Thy gracious forgiveness and Thy Spirit's power in our full restoration to Thy rich favor.

As we attempt in our weakness to lift our eyes to the celestial sources of righteousness, may Thy merciful providences protect our vision from the influence of the flesh, the allurements of the world, and the illusions of the wicked one.

In all our thoughts, words, plans, impulses, and associations let Thy gracious Spirit have control, that when the day is ended, the memories that would otherwise bring remorse and bitter regret, may be sanctified by a calm and holy peace.

Sanctify the world with Thy truth. Lead all human genius with Thy light. Center and keep the affections of men upon Jesus Christ, our Saviour, that the strength of nations may be set in alignment with the issues of His Kingdom, to Whom we gladly ascribe glory, majesty, and power, for evermore. Amen. 

William E. Crouser, D.D.,

San Jose, California

Psalm 69:13 My prayer is unto Thee, O Lord

April 29

My prayer is unto Thee, O Lord. — Psalm 59:13

Photo: Kym McLeod

O GOD, our Father, give us Thy blessing in these moments of spiritual communion with Thee. We come before Thee in a deep sense of our own unworthiness. We have sinned in thought and word and deed. Yet hear us, as we turn to Thee again with penitent hearts. Forgive us our sins; grant us again Thy peace. And give us grace to serve Thee in newness of life, to the glory of Thy Holy Name. We thank Thee for Thy constant goodness; for the bounty which has supplied our wants; for the providence which has kept us from harm; for the love which has redeemed us from sin; for the grace which has helped us to serve Thee on earth; and for the promise of an inheritance in Heaven.

Keep us from the evil in ourselves; from the evil in the world about us; from all selfish, unkind, and impure thoughts; from all hard and bitter words; from doing that which we ought not to do, and from leaving undone that which we ought to do. Keep us in the constant sense of our membership in Christ; in the thought that we are His disciples and followers; in the love of our Father's house, and in the hope of our eternal home. We ask all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

Compiled and adapted by permission from A Book of Common Order, in use at St. Giles' Church, Edinburgh, Scotland. 

Bishop Boyd Vincent, D.D.,

Cincinnati, Ohio

I Thessalonians 5:16-23 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

April 28

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ — I Thessalonians 5:16-23

Photo: Billy Alexander

CREATE in us a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within us. Cast us not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from us. We commend to Thy loving protection all those for whom we long to pray (especially those whom we now name in our hearts before Thee …) Give to them all their heart's desire, we pray Thee, in as far as Thou seest it best, for Jesus' sake! Bring each of us, O Father, to the close of this day in peace and honor. For all those who love us so much better than we deserve, we thank Thee. For their sakes, help us to sanctify ourselves this day. And do Thou, O Lord, grant that we may abide steadfast in this purpose, and by Thy continual aid be fully master of all the desires and emotions of our hearts. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

Rev. John Edgar Park,

West Newton, Massachusetts

Psalm 67:3 Let the people praise Thee, O God

April 27

Let the people praise Thee, O God. — Psalm 67:3

Photo: Dorothy Brucks

BLESSED GOD, this day uphold us by Thy gracious omnipotent Hand. Give to us whatever measure of blessing seems best in Thy sight, and if disappointment or difficulty of any kind awaits us, help us to brace ourselves and play the part of a man, and cause us not to forget that our sorest trials are ofttimes blessings in disguise. So may we always give thanks, being persuaded that if we love Thee, all things work together for our good.

Give us at all times holy ideals, O God, and may our daily endeavor be commensurate with them. That which is dark within us, do Thou illumine by Thy Holy Spirit, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. May we be truly penitent for our sins, and may we be strengthened with might in the inner man to do Thy blessed will. Let not this day's low descending sun be unprivileged to shine upon some small deed of kindness done, or some spoken word of Christian love. May those with whom we walk and commune along life's way take knowledge that we have been with Jesus Christ, and may this day's life and every other day which in Thy goodness Thou art yet to vouchsafe unto us, make us increasingly fit for the endless and the perfect day through which we are to live in Thy presence. 

For Christ's sake. Amen. 

William E. Biederwolf, D.D.,

Chicago, Illinois

I Chronicles 28:9 If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee

April 26

If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee. — I Chronicles 28:9

Photo: Arjun Kartha

O THOU Who art Infinite Wisdom, we, Thy shortsighted children, desire Thy guidance throughout this day.

We know not what of joy or sorrow it may hold for us, but we believe Thy grace to be sufficient for its needs, and so we pray that we may appreciate and appropriate that grace so freely given. If sorrow be our lot, let that grace comfort us and make us strong to bear it. If joy be ours, let that grace keep us in humbleness and dependence upon Thee.

In the midst of the uncertainties among which we must make our way, hold us by the hand and keep us in Thy paths. Help us to put down that desire we so frequently find taking possession of us, to make explorations here and there, beyond the boundaries Thou hast marked off, and to be content to follow Thee in paths that are safe.

We are depending upon Thee. Thou hast never failed us in the past, and we trust Thee for this day. We do not know the way, but it is plain to Thee. Guide us safely, through Him Who has loved us and given Himself for us. Amen. 

J. Stewart French, D.D.,

Bristol, Tennessee

Psalm 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee

April 25

Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee. — Psalm 118:28

Photo: StockXchng - Melodi2

OUR FATHER! We thank Thee for the tenderness enwrapped in the very name by which Thou art known to us. If Thou art a Father, then we are little children. Grant to us this day the filial heart, and help us ever to trust all Thy good ways with us. We do not even know our wants, and sometimes we ask for stones, mistaking them for bread. Help us henceforth, we pray Thee, to trust ourselves to Thee, O Lord! to Thy wise counsel and Thy Father heart, and to accept with gladness whatever Thou dost give, because we are sure that Thy gifts are always best. Keep our souls, we pray Thee, in the peaceful faith that all things work together for our good.

Let our words be true this day, we pray, and let our deeds be upright. Give to us a heart for all conditions of men, and soften our spirits with the sympathies of Jesus. And if, in the secret recesses of our souls, there yet lurk some remnants of our hated sin, let the tides of forgiveness descend upon us from the heights of Thy holiness, and lo! we shall be clean. All this we know is according to Thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. And to Thee shall be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 

A. H. Chapman Morse, D.D.,

Denver, Colorado

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him

April 24

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. — Psalm 37:7

Photo: Amir Darafsheh

HOLY FATHER, we thank Thee for the gift of life, the gift of reason, the gift of love. We are little, but Thou art great; yet it is great to be but little for Thee..

With single span Thou measurest the heavens Thou hast made, but Thine whole arm Thou takest to bear one lamb. We are confident of Thy love; grant us faith, forgiveness, and Thy Spirit of power, that our assurance may be based on Thee.

Give us this day a sound mind in a sound body, health, knowledge and wisdom grant us, self-control, and a right attitude to Thee, to all men, and to all things good. Help us to know that the majestic deed is the deed of service. May we do kind, brave, beautiful things not to be seen, but to be serviceable. May we not be seeking to do great things, but to do simple things greatly. Help us know our Saviour-friend, Who bears the other end of the yoke, and makes the burden light. Let us find our happiness in our service. Comfort us in believing that angels of sorrow always heal the wounds they make. Give us noble aspirations, and pure satisfactions. In Thy wisdom and power, help us. Amen. 

Prof. M. Coover, D.D.,

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

I Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you

April 23

Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. — I Peter 5:7

Photo: Penny Mathews

OUR FATHER, we know not what a day may bring forth, but our help is in Thee. We thank Thee for Thy promised watchfulness. And so we pray for a faith that will send us forth trusting ourselves to Him Who neither slumbers nor sleeps.

Keep us, we pray Thee, true to our responsibilities as followers of Thy Son, Jesus Christ. As we, day by day, succeed in making a living, may we not fail in making a life. We would learn of Him Who intermingled heaven's glory with earth's common toil. Our tasks are too often made heavy through our forgetfulness of Thee.

May we so hunger and thirst after righteousness as to enter into the full assurance of Thy protection and help, and thus when other voices entice us, saying, "All these things will I give Thee if Thou wilt fall down and worship me," may we find our refuge in Thee, and hear Thee say, "The Lord shall preserve Thee from all evil: He shall preserve Thy soul."'

May our hearts be freed from fret and care this day, and may the peace of God which passeth all understanding be ours from this time forth, and even forevermore. Amen. 

Rev. F. A. Robinson, B.A.,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Psalm 119:171 My lips shall utter praise

April 22

My lips shall utter praise. — Psalm 119:171

Photo: Charlie Balch

OUR Heavenly Father, help us to be thankful for our home with all of its blessings and privileges. Give each of us eyes to see, and grace and strength for the duties and privileges that are ours. Help us to be home-lovers and home-makers. Grant that we may bless every home coming within the radius of our influence.

Give us the eye of pity and the hand of help for all whose needs have claims upon us. Save us from "the snare of the fowler" and from pestilence, that we may in purity and strength serve Thee.

Bless our church — Thy church — O, our God, and him who ministers to us in spiritual things, and Thy servants the world over. May our religion be real and satisfying to us, and appetizing to others. Let our love to Thee be voiced in our efforts, gifts, and prayers, in behalf of a lost world.

Help us to live in constant readiness for whatever Thy providence hath in store for us, and to say ever in word, thought and deed, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is Heaven." Amen. 

Rev. M. P. Hunt,

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Psalm 27:4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after

April 21

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after. — Psalm 27:4

Photo: Roma Flowers

WE need Thee, loving God. We are lonesome, discontented, helpless, defeated, without Thee. How shall we know ourselves aright unless Thou teach us? How shall we love goodness and strive after holiness, and know the deep joys of the soul unless Thy Spirit abide in us? How shall we be able to meet Thy just expectations unless we companion with the Most High God? How shall we bear our burdens and overcome our temptations, or be unselfish in service, or turn away from our sins, or grow into the beauty and majesty of the character of Christ, unless Thou take possession of us?.

Thankful we are, then, that Thou dost not withhold Thyself from any eager, hungry, obedient heart. We know that Thou art willing to give Thyself to us. Teach us how to open our natures to Thee. Help us to be obedient to Thy will, joyous in our allegiance, cooperative in all of Thy plans.

Disturb us when we go astray; discipline us when we are wilful; hearten us when discouraged; strengthen us when perplexed.

Through all the experiences of our lives, fashion us into the likeness of our exalted Christ, so that we may be Thy true sons and daughters. Amen. 

Philip L. Frick, Ph.D.,

Buffalo, New York

Psalm 91:14 He hath set His love upon me

April 20

He hath set His love upon me. — Psalm 91:14

Photo: Mario Alberto Magallanes Trejo

THOU God of our fathers — our Father which art in Heaven, Thou art good to all, and Thy tender mercies are over all Thy works. We thank Thee for the night and for the day; for quietness and rest and sleep, for life and light and love. We confess that we sin against Thee even in our lying down and rising up. We shield ourselves in Thy Fatherhood, and believe that for Christ's sake Thou dost forgive our sins. We commit ourselves to Thy covenant keeping for this day. Give Thine angels charge over us, and keep each one of us from harm. Guide us with Thine eye. Preserve our going out and our coming in. Keep us in health and safety in body and soul. Help us to live together in peace and love. Give us rule over our own spirits. Fit us for all Thou hast appointed to us, that we hear and do Thy holy will. May our Elder Brother walk with us all the way, and may His presence help and comfort us.

Bless our friends and neighbors, and all whom we love, especially those who may be sick or in any trouble. Comfort and speedily relieve them. Be with the great multitude that "go out this morning to toil and weariness, and give them good cheer and rest, and the salvation that is of Thee. For Christ's sake. Amen. 

Wallace Radcliffe, D.D., LL.D.,

Washington, D. C.

Psalm 67:5-7 Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him

April 19

Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. — Psalm 67:5-7

Photo: Cécile Graat

OUR FATHER in Heaven, we thank Thee for this day and all its opportunities. Help us to show our gratitude by the use we make of it. May Jesus Christ so dwell in our hearts that we shall be kept from sin. Wilt Thou rule and bless our home this day. We pray Thy blessing on friends and neighbors. May we so live before them that we may honor Thy Name. Bless, we pray, the poor and sick and suffering. May their need be to us a call to service. We pray for Thy blessing on our church. May we strive to win men to Jesus Christ.

We pray for town and state and country, that righteousness may prevail. We pray that the Gospel message may speedily go into all the world; that wars may cease; that sin and greed may no longer rule. To this end may we give as Thou hast blessed us. May the peace of God dwell in our hearts this day. We ask it all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen. 

Roger Leavitt,

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Deuteronomy 7:13 He will love thee and bless thee

April 18

He will love thee and bless thee. — Deuteronomy 7:13

Photo: Krzysztof Isbrandt

OUR Heavenly Father, Thou hast been good to us, and we come to Thee in love and gratitude to thank Thee for the right use of our minds, for health of body, and for opportunities of development and service. Help us to show our gratitude by the obedience of our lives. May we labor in joy and trust, by Thy grace, to make this world a brighter, happier, and better place for men and women to live, and for children to play and grow. May all fathers and mothers have a sacred sense of privilege and responsibility, and may the God of all grace be merciful to the multitudes of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, wives and little children, who suffer from the curse of strong drink. Lord, destroy that which would destroy those for whom Christ died. Keep all little children, all boys and girls, all young men and women, unscarred and unstained by sin, and remember in great tenderness the aged, the lonely, the sick, the tempted, the discouraged, and those who suffer for the sins of others. May joy and peace and harmony and holiness alone reign in our hearts. Bind us closer to each other, and closer to Thee. Help us to be happy, and useful, and good.

These things, with the forgiveness of sin and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we ask in the Name of the Blessed Christ, Who loved us and gave Himself for us. We can ask nothing more; we dare ask nothing less. Amen. 

Prof. Charles Scanlon, A.M.,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised

April 17

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. — Psalm 145:3

Photo: Steve Schlange

WE rejoice, gracious Lord, that Thou art willing to hear Thy children call upon Thee. No earthly ruler is as open to his subjects as Thou art to us.

From any place, not merely from a temple or a church; at any time, not only upon sacred days set apart for Thy worship; with any need or desire, Thou dost bid us open our hearts to Thee, and never dost Thou send us away without an answer.

Therefore, made bold by Thy promise and by our own experience of Thy blessings, we come to Thee once again. We praise Thee for Thy mercies, so great and numberless. We beseech Thee, O Lord, to forgive our sins, for Thou delightest to pardon; whether sins of wrongdoing, of evil passion, or of duties left undone. Forgive them all, we pray, and stamp the assurance of pardon, of peace, and of acceptance upon our hearts.

Bless us in making us more like Thyself, conformed to the image of Thy Son. Stand beside us in the hour of temptation to give us victory, and at last bring us to Thyself, to dwell with Thee forever. Amen. 

Jesse L. Hurlbut, D.D.,

Newark, New Jersey

Psalm 21:13 So will we sing and praise Thy power

April 16

So will we sing and praise Thy power. — Psalm 21:13

Photo: Jesse Schutt

OUR Divine Father, Who in holy love hast created and art sustaining us, Thy children, we invoke Thy gracious blessing upon us at the threshold of this day. Bless Thou us in our going out and our coming in. May our lives be precious in Thy sight. Fill our hearts with love, and our minds with all high and worthy purposes. In our vocations assist us to see the divinity of labor, the expansive power of sympathy, the eternal might of righteousness and integrity. May we do good to all men as we have opportunity.

Prompt us to the relief of suffering; fill us with pity for the needy; gird us with might to oppose the aggressions of evil men; supply unto us courage to bear adversity and pain. Establish Thou the labors of our hands and hearts upon us. Encourage us to defeat temptation. Bring us from toil to our firesides in tranquility, and bathe us with the peace which floweth like a river, even that which the world cannot supply.

Teach us how greatly to live and greatly to love, and at the evening time of life may there be light. In that hour may we be worthy to stand before Thee and before the Son of Man, in whose name we seek from Thee these benefits. Amen. 

Clarence M. Gallup, D.D.,

Providence, Rhode Island

Psalm 99:8 Thou answeredst them, Lord our God

April 15

Thou answeredst them, Lord our God. — Psalm 99:8

Photo: Barun Patro

OUR Heavenly Father, we bow before Thee to thank Thee this morning for Thy mercy and love that has brought us again into Thy holy presence.

We have sinned. Wilt Thou forgive us?

We thank Thee for the food Thou hast given us. Wilt Thou also feed our souls with that bread that cometh down from Heaven. We bless Thee for our home. We are thankful for our loved ones. As Thou art present with us here, wilt Thou also abide with those who are bound to us by kindred ties, but are separated from us by distance. We thank Thee for our friends and neighbors, and ask a blessing on them. We thank Thee for the church, and its influence. Give it spiritual power for its tasks in this community and in all the land.

Supply Thy limitless grace to the missionaries who in answer to prayer, Thou hast thrust into the dark places of the earth. May their message be so used by the Holy Spirit, that Thou, Oh Christ, may be known in all the world, and the coming of Thy Kingdom may be hastened!

We ask this, our Heavenly Father, in the Name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus. Amen. 

George Innes,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Habakkuk 2:4 The just shall live by faith

April 14

The just shall live by faith Habakkuk 2:4

Photo: Flávio Junior

GRACIOUS and most merciful Father, we to Thee in His hallowed Name Who loved us and gave Himself for us. We thank Thee that Thou didst guard our home and keep us in safety while we slept. We thank Thee for the promises of Thy Word, and for the assurance of their fulfilment to all who trust and obey Thee. We thank Thee for all the blessings of opportunity and service which have come to us with the morning. Help us to be faithful to Thy Word in all duty and opportunity, and to be kind to all in word and service. In every task or trial, may Thy presence attend us. Make obedience to Thy will our joy. Help us in all things to follow the example of our Lord, and thus to become like Him. Help us to be kind to the poor, and to all in need. Give comfort and healing to the sick, to the tired and lonely everywhere, and help them to look to Him whence cometh help. Come to the sinful in gracious compassion, and bless every effort to win them to Thyself. Remember our pastor, and all who preach the Gospel in our own and in heathen lands. Put away the hurt of the sinful and the erring everywhere, and hasten the coming and triumph of our Lord, And to Thy Name. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be all the praise. Amen. 

M. Rhodes, D.D.,

St. Louis, Missouri

Psalm 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land

April 13

Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land. — Psalm 101:6

Photo: Heriberto Herrera

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, in Whom we live and move and have our being, we, Thine unworthy children, come to Thee with humble minds and hearts to offer our prayer and thanksgiving. Pardon, we beseech Thee, the sins we have committed against Thee in thought, word and deed, and make us truly sorry for them with the godly sorrow that worketh repentance unto Salvation.

Bless us and our relations, friends and neighbors, and give us all things necessary both for soul and body. May Thy Holy Spirit guide Thy church, and all who minister therein, that Thy Kingdom may come, and all may do their duty in their vocation and ministry. Have pity on the sick and dying, and on all sinners. May Thy Holy Angels dwell within this place to preserve us in peace. Into Thy hands, God, we commend our bodies, souls, and spirits. May we enjoy such refreshing sleep as will fit us on the morrow to go forth to our duties and responsibilities with vigor of mind and body. Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for all Thy many and great blessings and mercies to us and to all mankind.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen. 

Bishop Harry S. Longley,

Des Moines, Iowa

Psalm 86:5 Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive

April 12

Thou Lord art good and ready to forgive. — Psalm 86:5

Photo: StockXchng - SallyDell

OUR FATHER Who art in Heaven, we come before Thee in the Name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord and Savior. For His sake bow Thine ear and hear our prayer. We bring Thee our offering of thanksgiving for all Thy loving kindness and tender mercy toward us. Thy goodness has never failed us. We humbly pray for the forgiveness of our sins. We confess that in many things we have offended and come short of Thy Holy Will. But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. Deliver us from the power of evil. Let not any sin have dominion over us. Shield us from all that would hurt us in body or spirit. Order our future, make our plans, choose our changes. Suffer us not to live selfish or useless lives. May we do good as we have opportunity, and serve our generation according to Thy Will. We commend to Thy fatherly care our loved ones who are absent from us in the flesh. Protect them from evil, and do them all the good that they need, both for this life and for that which is to come. We pray for the coming of Thy Kingdom! Pour out Thy Holy Spirit upon all Thy churches. May they bear faithful witness for Thee, and through their testimony may multitudes be brought to know Thee, and accept Thy great salvation. We humbly ask all in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

John F. Cannon, D.D.,

St. Louis, Missouri