2 Timothy 2:22 Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace

October 15

Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace. — 2 Timothy 2:22

Photo: Kym McLeod

ALMIGHTY GOD, our gracious Heavenly Father, we, Thy needy children, would draw near to Thee. We come with confidence, for Thou hast already manifested Thy interest in us this day. Thou hast raised us from rest in slumber, and so given us a new opportunity to do Thy will.

Add, we beseech Thee, to these evidences of Thy favor, all needed goodness and mercy; goodness to provide for our ever-returning wants of body and soul; mercy to pardon our past transgressions, and to protect us against future temptations. Grant us also grace this day to manifest the Spirit of Jesus Christ in all we shall think, and say, and do.

Show Thy loving favor to all who are near and dear to us. Guide, we pray Thee, all who occupy positions of authority and trust in Church, in State, in industry, in education, in society, and in the home. Hasten, O God, the time when every knee shall bow in the name of Jesus, and every tongue shall confess Him as Lord. These blessings, and whatever else Thou seest we shall need this day, we ask through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior. Amen.

Lewis Seymour Mudge, D.D.,

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit

July 19

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. — Galatians 5:22-25

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HEAVENLY Father, we thank Thee for having kept us through the death of sleep and brought us to the life of another day. Be with us during the hours of this day, and grant us grace to spend them profitably. Give us wisdom to know Thy will for us and patience and perseverance to fulfill it.

Grant us the grace of love, and help us with purity and discretion to show it forth to our kindred and friends and neighbors. Help us to be industrious, and so to do our duty as to merit Thy approval.

We ask Thy care of all the members of this home, and Thy blessing upon all for whom we ought to pray (especially … ). Guard and grant our rulers and spiritual pastors wisdom from above. Keep us under Thy watchful providence, that the day may be spent in Thy presence, without sin, and in the service of Him through Whom all blessings come, our Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bishop Theodore DuBose Bratton.,

Jackson, Mississippi

Psalm 98:2:3 The Lord hath made known His salvation; His righteousness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God

June 28

The Lord hath made known His salvation; His righteousness hath He openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered His mercy and His truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. — Psalm 98:2-3

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ALMIGHTY GOD AND HEAVENLY FATHER, Who, through Thine only begotten Son didst sanctify the ties of marriage and home, we heartily thank Thee for Thy loving care and watchful providence over us from the beginning of our lives to this day. We praise Thee for all our happiness and joys; for the gifts of affection and sympathy toward one another; for any chastening of sorrow or tribulation with which Thou has seen fit to visit us. And we beseech Thee to continue Thy gracious goodness towards us. Give us grace to do our daily duties faithfully, as parents or children, as members of Thy Church, and as citizens of the nation. Pardon all our offenses, and make us sorry for them with the godly sorrow that worketh repentance unto salvation. Comfort the distressed; bless the work of the clergy and all other servants of Thy Kingdom. Bring the nations into Thy fold, and add the heathen to Thy inheritance, so that righteousness and peace, truth and justice, fellowship and good-will may prevail among men, to the honor and glory of Thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Bishop Frederick B. Howden, D.D.,

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Psalm 9:10 They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee

June 13

They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee. — Psalm 9:10

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O GOD, Thou art our Father and our Mother too, and under no circumstances can we get beyond the tireless search of Thy love. Ever since we were born Thou hast cared for us as though Thou hadst no other children, and still Thou dost follow us with ten thousand loving persuasions and infinite solicitude.

Grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy goodness may lead us to deeper consecration and to more heroic endeavor to extend Thy Kingdom. May we prove our love for God, Whom we have not seen, by self-denying service in behalf of our brother who is ever before our eyes. Save us from selfishness, from pharisaic and bigotry, from pride and vain glory, and all narrow-mindedness and uncharitableness.

May we make our Master visible to some who have not yet beheld Him, and may we help our neighbors and associates to think of Him Who came not to be ministered unto but to minister; Who would not save Himself, but saved others, and gave His blessed life that we might live a life of Christ-like courage and sacrifice. Hear us, Father, for all sorts and conditions of men. Make wars throughout the world to cease, and bring this poor little sin-cursed planet back into Thy bosom! Amen.

Dillon Bronson, D.D.,

Boston, Massachusetts

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a pure heart in full assurance of faith

June 12

Let us draw near with a pure heart in full assurance of faith. — Hebrews 10:22

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OUR GOD and Father, we come to Thee with grateful hearts for all Thy mercy and goodness toward us. We know we are unworthy of the least of Thy favors. We have nothing in ourselves to commend us to Thee, except our weakness and need; but we rejoice that, notwithstanding our unworthiness, Thou dost bid us come to Thee and tell Thee our sins, and beseech Thy forgiveness. We plead for Thy grace, and the strength Thou alone canst give, for every experience of life. We pray that Thou wilt draw us nearer to Thyself. May we ever be consious of Thy presence, and be uplifted by the assurance of Thy guidance and fellowship. Make the better and nobler life of the Spirit more real to us day by day. Take Thou possession of all our thoughts, and fill us with Thy Holy Spirit. Enable us to overcome every temptation, and to know and to do Thy holy will. Lead us by Thy mighty and loving hand always, and make our lives a blessing to other souls. When Thou art done with us here, receive us, we pray, to Thy self, in the upper and better world.

We ask all this in the name of and for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

A. Judson Rowland, D.D.,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Psalm 74-21 Let the poor and needy praise Thy name

June 3

Let the poor and needy praise Thy name. — Psalm 74:21

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OUR Father in Heaven, we kneel together to thank Thee for Thy goodness and mercy, which have been so manifest in our lives. Thy good gifts have not failed, morning nor evening. When we have forgotten Thee in the absorption of work and play, when we have neglected Thee through lack of gratitude and love, Thou hast continually looked upon us to bless and keep us.

We beseech Thee, blessed Lord, to keep us from all unholy desires and practices, and to inspire within us a love for Thee, for all our fellow men and all good work. We ask Thee to open doors and opportunity to us, that we may in some way each day honor Thy Name and establish Thy will in the world. Give us the highest privilege of hourly fellowship with Thee, that we may be confident of Thy nearness to us and Thy interest in our affairs.

Forgive the many things that marred our lived and stained our souls. We are ashamed of them, and turn from them in sincere repentance, blessing Thee that there is forgiveness and cleansing in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

In His Name we ask all these good and precious gifts. Amen.

W. Cortland Robinson, D.D.,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Matthew 6:25-26 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life

May 27

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? — Matthew 6:25-26

Photo: Eva Schuster

ALMIGHTY GOD, Thou Who art the Creator, the Preserver, and the Beneficent Ruler of the universe -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, we praise and magnify Thy Great and Excellent Name, not only because of Thy Majesty and Glory, but also because of Thy Divine Love and Compassion. We thank Thee for Thy goodness, and all the blessing of life, and we most humbly beseech Thee to forgive our sins, to increase our faith, and to make us love Thee more and serve Thee better. We pray for the peace of the world, for the spread of Thy Gospel, and the salvation of mankind. Do Thou most graciously grant us in this life food, raiment, shelter, home, friends, and happiness, and in the world to come, life everlasting.

We ask it in the Name and for the sake of Thy Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen. 

Judge Henry J. Harter,

Canton, Ohio

Psalm 122:1,9 Let us go into the house of the Lord - I will seek Thy good

January 27

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within Thy gates, O Jerusalem. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love Thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek Thy good. — Psalm 122:1-2;6;9

Photo: Keith Syvinski

A Prayer for Sunday Morning

O LORD, Jesus Christ, Who on this day didst arise from the grave, send forth Thy quickening Spirit, we beseech Thee, upon Thy people, that they may rise to newness of life. Drive away worldly cares, lift up our minds to high and noble thoughts, and to spiritual desires.

Hear the prayers of all that are offered in public and in private, for themselves and for their brethren. Grant that all who can may attend the public worship of Thy church, and approach Thee with reverence and confidence. Bless the ministrations of Thy Word and Sacraments. Inspire those who speak and act in Thy name, with the spirit of truth, and love, and power.

Meet the varied needs and fulfill the desires of Thy people. Bind us in fellowship one with another, as with Thyself. Enable us to go forth from the worship and instruction of Thy holy day with renewed strength and courage to perform the duties and bear the trials which are appointed for us.

Grant this, and all our petitions, for Thy Holy Name's sake. Amen.

Bishop Arthur C. A. Hall,

Burlington, Vermont