1 Samuel 7:12 Hitherto hath the Lord helped us

December 9

Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. — 1 Samuel 7:12

Photo: Casey Bisson

O LORD, our Lord, Creator, preserver and bountiful benefactor of men, in Whom we live and move and have our being, we adore Thee for Thy loving kindness and tender mercies. With shame in our hearts we confess before Thee our many sins. Our lives do not meet Thy requirements. Our footsteps have wandered from the pathway of rectitude. Our Father, look upon us in mercy, and do Thou be pleased to have pity upon us in our sins. Look upon Thy Son, Who died for us, and do Thou for His sake accept us as righteous before Thee. Grant that our sins may not only be blotted out of the book of Thy remembrance, but that by the power of the Holy Ghost we may be enabled to die unto sin, and to live unto righteousness. Comfort the disconsolate, cheer the saddened, bring friends to the friendless, teach the ignorant, give visions to trembling faith, set the star of hope in the overhanging clouds, and hurry the forces of truth towards the consummation of Thy kingdom. We can trust all to Thee. As our Shepherd, lead us today. As our King, defend us from the enemies that watch for our souls. As our priest, teach us the will of God for our salvation. O God, our Father, overshadow our pathway with Thy merciful providence, and let each one of us bear some part in the advancement of the Redeemer's glorious Kingdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

W.J. McMillan, D.D.,

Baltimore, Maryland

Romans 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness

November 19

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. — Romans 6:18

Photo: Bert Mutsaers

HEAVENLY FATHER, we thank Thee for the rest which has come to our bodies in sleep. During the long hours of the night Thou hast been watching over us. Thou art always mindful of us, not only in the night, but also in the workaday. Help us, dear Father, to be as mindful of Thee as Thou are thoughtful of us. Forbid that we forget our God. May we not become so occupied with worldly affairs that we have no time or place for Thee.

As we talk to Thee, our sins rise like mountains from the deep. We are ashamed of our weaknesses. We confess everything, and plead for Thy forgiveness. Leave us not in our humiliation, but take us by the hand and lift us up. Give us the assurance that our sins are pardoned, and help us to live this day as the blessed Jesus did every day.

We pray for the discouraged and distressed; Lord, give them cheer. We pray for all the people who are living in darkness; Lord, give them light. We pray for those who fight against themselves, against each other and against God; Lord, give them peace. We ask it all in the name of Jesus, for Thy glory and for our good. Amen.

Luther E. Todd, D.D.,

St. Louis, Missouri           

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit

November 18

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. — Ephesians 6:18

Photo: Nadia Szopińska

WE COME before Thee, our Father and our God, to worship, to praise Thy name, and to thank Thee for Thy great mercy and Thy many blessings. We confess our sins, but we come with boldness to Thy throne of grace, for our trust is in Him Who is our Advocate and our Mediator. We pray that Thou wilt show to each one of us Thy will for this day, and help us to do it, not going in our own selfish and sinful ways. O Lord, grant that Thy will may be done more and more by all men, and that Jesus may not only be given a place in the throne room of our hearts, but may we let Him be seated on the throne and crown Him Lord of all. Our Father, we ask that Thy Holy Spirit may be our comforter, our guide and our helper this day. May we let our light so shine today--in the home, on the street, at work or at play--that others may be drawn to Him Who is the Light of the World. We pray that it may be our earnest desire to know Christ better, and to make Him known. Help us to watch and be faithful, so when He comes He may find us with lamps trimmed and burning. And all we ask is in His own blessed name. Amen.

Rev. J. L. Read,

Little Rock, Arkansas

Isaiah 12:4 Praise the Lord, call upon His name

November 17

Praise the Lord, call upon His name. — Isaiah 12:4

Photo: Jason Conlon

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, in Whom we live and move and have our being, from Thy kind hand comes down every good and perfect gift; and we humbly thank Thee for all Thy loving kindness to us.

We come before Thee confessing our sins, for which we ask Thy forgiveness. Bless us in our bodies and our spirits, which are Thine. Grant us food and strength and clothing and shelter as we need. And give us grace to know and do Thy holy will. Make the path of duty plain before us; keep us from temptation and from sin, enabling us to glorify Thee upon the earth.

Bless, too, all our loved ones whom, in the arms of our prayer, we would bring before Thee. Heal any who are sick, comfort the sorrowful, and strengthen any who are faltering; grant them each one Thy favor, in which is life; Thy loving kindness, which is better than life.

Remember graciously the community in which we dwell, in all its interests temporal and spiritual. Prosper Thy Church among us, and give success to its work. Bless our country, and make us that happy people whose God is the Lord. Send out Thy light and Thy truth, and hasten the coming of Thy Kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thomas H. Law, D.D.,

Spartanburg, South Carolina

Mark 11:24 Believe that you shall receive them, and ye shall have them

November 4

Believe that you shall receive them, and ye shall have them. — Mark 11:24

Photo: Robert Aichinger

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Father in Heaven, God and Father or our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we would wait on Thee that Thy Holy Spirit may enable us to worship Thee. We are not worthy of the least of Thy mercies, yet hast Thou enriched us in all needed good things. We pray Thee to search us and show us our sins; and, as we confess, we would trust Thee to forgive, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We would thank Thee for the blessings Thou hast bestowed upon us, and if we have any enemies, bless them and give us right spirits toward them. If any dear to us are unsaved, bring them to repentance and faith in our Savior, to serve Him as Lord. Jesus is the true vine. We who are His disciples are the branches. Enable us to abide in Him, and may the Holy Spirit bring forth from His life the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Bring Thy people up to the help of the Lord against the mighty. Send forth Thy light and truth. Send forth laborers into the harvest, and bless the labors of those whom Thou hast already sent forth. Give us some place and part in this day in Thy service. We ask all for Jesus' sake. Amen.

A.D. McClure, D.D.,

Wilmington, North Carolina

Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord and His strength

July 24

Seek the Lord and His strength. — Psalm 105:4

Photo: Shutterstock

MOST gracious God, our Heavenly Father, source of every blessing, giver of every good and perfect gift, we adore Thee; We praise Thee; we magnify Thy Holy Name. Every day we receive new proofs of Thy care over us, new pledges of Thy love and favor. Thou hast made bountiful provision for all our physical needs; the seasons come and go, the sun shines, the rain falls, the harvests never fail: we have homes and friends; for all these things help us to be truly grateful. Help us to be no less thankful for "that bread which came down out of heaven," for the ever-flowing fountains of living water, for that home not made with hands, for that Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. We remember with affectionate sympathy all kinds and conditions of men--the poor, the destitute, and him that hath no helper.

Do Thou bless our home. May it ever be Thy dwelling place. Be Thou in our midst, O Lord. May Thy angels encamp round and about us, and keep us in all Thy ways. And when our race has been run, and our work done, receive us into the everlasting habitations. Our sins have been many; we confess them; we repent of them; do Thou forgive them all. In the Name of Him Who loved us and gave His life for us. Amen.

P. W. Snyder, D. D.,

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Daniel 9:4 I prayed unto the Lord, my God, and made my confessions

June 17

I prayed unto the Lord, my God, and made my confessions. — Daniel 9:4

Photo: Shutterstock

EVERLIVING, everloving God, our Heavenly Father, we bless and praise Thee, that Thou didst set the human race in families for its higher development and its greater influence. This morning we bless Thy holy name that we have been called into this family now before Thee in prayer.

May we gratefully recognize our duty and our responsibility to Thee, and to one another, and to this community.

Keep us this day from sin, as we do the tasks of the day. Watch Thou over us and guard us from danger. Teach us how to live unselfishly, each for the other, in all the little things of the home.

May we, as father and mother, as brothers and sisters, fulfill our tasks to each and to all, with the blessed example of our Elder Brother always before our minds.

Prosper the work of each one of us, and the labors and business of all our neighbors. Grant, above all, to our family the real and abiding prosperity of a rich and helpful faith in our Lord and Master, to Whom be praise, and glory, now and forever. Amen.

L. B. Wolf, D.D.,

Baltimore, Maryland

Philippians 2:10-13 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure

June 6

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. —Philippians 2:10-13

Photo: Shutterstock

MERCIFUL GOD, our Father, we thank Thee for health, and life, and every good gift. Thou hast created us in Thine own image, and highly endowed us as thinking creatures. We recognize Thy divine right to rule over us, and we pray that we may be kept true and right before Thee. Give us grace for this day's duties, and make us kindly disposed toward our fellow men. Support Thy people everywhere in the midst of difficulties, and bring this world to Thyself. Regard with much mercy the poor and unfortunate. Redeem men from the sins that beset them. For ourselves, our loved ones, our community, and our nation, we make our humble prayer.

Mercifully grant unto us all those blessings Thou seest we need, through the merits of Jesus Christ our adorable Saviour. Amen.

Prof. Charles G. Heckert, D.D.,

Springfield, Ohio

Ezra 10:11 Make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers

June 4

Make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers. — Ezra 10:11

Photo: Shutterstock

OUR Father in Heaven, we bow before Thee in gratitude for the care of the night, and for the light and hope of the new day. Grant that we may enter upon it in the joy of forgiven sin. Bring us to its close with souls unstained by conscious disobedience. Give us wisdom through the indwelling of Thy Holy Spirit that the choices of the day may be right. Keep us from the follies into which we shall be tempted to fall; preserve us from harm and danger of every kind. Bestow upon us the grace of love. Help us to love Thee and Thy Kingdom, and our fellow men. Let Thy gracious presence today attend all with whom our lives are linked. Give them every blessing we ask for ourselves. Be in the hearts and homes especially present to our daily thoughts. Keep from sin and shame and harm all who are dear to us. Have mercy upon Thy people of all creeds and tongues. Build up a holy Church throughout the world. Give victory to those who in hard places witness for Christ. Deal tenderly with men everywhere who have missed the way. Minister to the poor and the sick, the prisoner, and the oppressed. Rebuke and save those who plot evil against their neighbor. Win victory for Thyself in the affairs of our nation, and the nations of the earth. We offer these our morning prayers in the Name of Thy Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rev. Hubert C. Herring,

Boston, Massachusetts

Isaiah 63:9 In his love and in his pity he redeemed them.

January 21

 In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. ~ Isaiah 63:9

Photo: Csaba J. Szabo

Our God, Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our Father through Him, we thank Thee most heartily for Thy very gracious disposition towards us. In Thy love Thou hast redeemed us, in the fullness of Thy grace Thou hast given unto us Thy Holy Spirit, the blessed Word, and all things needful for our spiritual welfare. 

We are grateful, our God, for Thy good providence, whereby we enjoy the comforts and blessings of the life that now is. We humbly and earnestly pray for faith, hope, and love; for purity in our lives, for a discernment of divine leadership, and that trust in Thee whereby anxiety is banished.

We pray for family happiness, for Thy presence in our home and in each of our hearts; and we ask Thee, most merciful God, to grant us pardon for all our sins which we freely confess. We ask for a rich blessing upon the household of God upon earth, upon the nation in which we live, and upon all people.

We present our recognition of Thee, our thanksgiving, our petitions, and confession in the name of Jesus, Who taught us to pray, and for His sake.  Amen

Rev. Robert W. Watson, D.D.,

Pittsburg, Kansas