Mark 1:35 Jesus departed into a solitary place and there prayed

November 3

Jesus departed into a solitary place and there prayed. — Mark 1:35

Photo: Caleb Turner

O GOD, our Father, in the opening of the new day we look up into Thy face to thank Thee for the care of the night and for the joy of another morning.

The new day will bring its blessings; may we be able to see and seize them. In the new day we shall have opportunity--opportunity to be kind--may we remember that kind words can never die.

We shall have opportunity to bear or share another's burden; may we, like the Great Burden Bearer, tenderly, tactfully enter into and share the needs of others.

Joys may come, sorrows may fall upon our hears, surprises may wait us at some turn in the way, but do Thou, ever-present, loving Father, show us that no joy or sorrow or surprise can come to us, Thy children, without Thy knowledge.

Teach us to thank Thee for the joys; to remember, when we must weep, that "Jesus wept"; and to trust all the unexpected--the surprises--to Him Who doeth all things well, and to radiantly hope for the day when "we shall know, even as we are known." Amen.

A.E. Piper, D.D.,

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord

November 2

Commit thy way unto the Lord. — Psalm 37:5

Photo: StockXchng

O GOD, we come to Thee as children come to their father to ask of Thy loving care and protection. We know not what awaits us of joy or sorrow, of life or death, and before we enter this untried, unknown future we would commit our way to Thee, remembering Thy promise that Thou wilt direct our paths. We thank Thee for the common blessings of life which have come to us so noiselessly as to be almost unnoticed and forgotten. We thank Thee for the special blessings which are the evidences of Thy personal care over us. Because of Thy promise of forgiveness, we come and ask Thy mercy for our sins, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. We pray that Thou wilt give us moment by moment both spiritual and material blessings. Help us to trust Thee when we cannot understand, knowing Thy word is true that all things work together for good to them that love God. We pray that all those who belong to us may belong to Thee, and that Thy benefits and blessings may extend to all mankind everywhere. Hasten the day when Christ shall reign in every home and heart throught the entire world. May not one of our dear ones and friends be missing in that land of glad and blessed reunion beyond the valley of the shadow. We give Thee praise for the privilege of prayer and for the gifts which have been and will be ours because of Thy loving-kindness and tender mercy. Amen.

Johnston Myers, D.D.,

Chicago, Illinois

Psalm 28:9 Save Thy People and bless Thine inheritance

October 23

Save Thy People and bless Thine inheritance. — Psalm 28:9

Photo: StockXchng

OUR gracious and kind Heavenly Father! We lift our hearts to Thee at dawn, though we painfully recognize and feel our unworthiness of Thy uncounted mercies which are new every morning and fresh every evening. We throw ourselves upon Thy clemency. Put Thy protecting hand, with its tender touch, upon our drooping heads, and though we venture not to look up, may we hear Thy reassuring and forgiving voice. Here we are grouped together at the foot of Thy cross, because we know Thou hast room for us all in Thy great yearning heart. We long for Thy tender caress and Thy smile of forgiveness. Put about us Thy everlasting mighty arms, and carry us safely through this day. As we take up life's business afresh and hasten out into the wild hurry of the world, be Thou ever near us. Be Thou our traveling companion. We need Thy presence every passing moment. For the gift of Thy Son, our adorable Christ, we thank Thee, O God. He brought eternal calm to our surging hearts, and made our sin-tattered lives to rejoice. Give us a new vision of Him as we toil this day. May we see the rift in the clouds as we look up to behold Him. Soften our hearts, direct our thoughts, steady our step, and shelter us by Thy care until our traveling days are done, we humbly ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Rev. F. W. Mueller,

Cleveland, Ohio

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

September 29

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. — Philippians 1:6

Photo: Justin Dodge

OUR Heavenly Father we thank Thee for the communion of saints, Thy believing people, for the joy of fellowship in the Gospel, the incentives to faith, hope, and love. Receive too, our thanks for access to the throne of grace and for the blessed privilege of communing with Thee, for the peace in our hearts which passeth understanding, for the remission of sin through faith in the atoning merits of Thy Son, for the precious assurances of Thy Word that Thou Who has begun a good work in us wilt perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. We rejoice to know that when we are weak Thou art strong and mighty to save them to the uttermost who come to God. Remove from us all unkind judgments, unjust criticisms, all disparagement and distrust of our fellow-Christians. For Thy merciful protection, Thy provident care, Thy never-failing love, we render unto Thee the gratitude of our hearts. Defend us in the dark hour of temptation lest we fall and sin against Thee. Perfect the good work which Thou hast begun in us. Bless, we beseech Thee, the labors of Thy Church at home and abroad. May Thy kingdom come. May the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in its wings for all the nations of the earth. Pardon our sins. Lead us in the way of truth, and unto Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, be glory and dominion now and evermore. Amen.

Rev. George Taylor Rygh, LITT.D.,

Minneapolis, Minnesota

II Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work

September 14

Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work. — II Thessalonians 2:16-17

Photo: Flickr: WaitingForTheWord

O MERCIFUL GOD and Heavenly Father, we give Thee hearty thanks for all Thy benefits and blessings of the past. Continue to us this day, we beseech Thee, Thy watchful care and protection, as Thou hast through all our days. Keep all the members of this household from all accidents which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul. Teach us what things are right to do, and make us wise and strong to do Thy will. Comfort all the sick and sorrowful, the poor and distressed, and put it into our hearts to help them, and show us how to do it. Bless and direct Thy Church. Give its ministers wisdom, zeal and faithfulness, and make each member of it faithful to Thee, and ready to do Thy will. Call sinners to repentance, and inspire all Thy people to obedience to Thy law and to service of their fellow- men. All this we ask through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bishop Francis Key Brooks,

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure

September 2

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. — 1 John 3:1-3

Photo: Shutterstock

OUR Father, in thankfulness we come to Thee, remembering the night of rest, and the new light of another day. Every day is the record of Thy tender mercy, the providing care, Thy patient love. No need have we to put Thy love to the test, for Thy hast overwhelmed us with blessings beyond our most eager asking. Thou art in Thyself promise and fulfillment, and we have found the yoke easy and the burden light in our co-work with Thy Son, Jesus, the Christ.

Once more we renew our purpose to serve Thee; once more we lift our praises to Thee, for to us has come down through the years the story of Thy patient love to mankind everywhere, and the experience of it in our daily toil. Father, be with us in all that we do in the fulfilling of Thy will, and save us for service in Jesus' name. Amen.

Philip Eugene Howard, B.A.,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania