Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 15:57

December 28

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.— Ephesians 5:20
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 15:57

Photo: Bryan Wintersteen

OUR Heavenly Father, for all Thou hast given and all Thou hast forgiven, we thank Thee. For every gift of nature, and Thy favoring providences, and Thy great salvation through Christ, we thank Thee.

For blessings within us and around us; for everything by which Thou hast brought good and drawn us to Thyself through all our lives and the lives of our kin; for our power of understanding, of loving, of homemaking, of sharing friendships; for the good hope concerning loved ones who have gone from the ways of earth, and for our own expectation of sharing heaven's joy with them through Christ's saving merit--we thank Thee.

Help us, O Father, to live and work with the cheer of a grateful spirit, overcoming all trouble by the patience of hope and the wisdom of love. So may we share the fellowship of all who follow Christ, both near about us and in all the world. Amen.

Rev. William Allen Knight, LL.D.,

Boston, Massachusetts

Luke 6:37 Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven

December 8

Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. — Luke 6:37

Photo: Clint McMahon

OUR Heavenly Father, we turn for a little while at the threshold of this new day to be with Thee. Refresh us with a new vision of Thy face. Speak to us Thy will that we may do it. Make all the day cheerful by Thy presence and fellowship.

We thank Thee for life and work in such a beautiful world. Give us, we beseech Thee, that due sense of all Thy mercies that our hearts may be thankful, and that we show forth Thy praise not only with our lips but in our lives. Perfect us in love, that we may conquer all selfishness and learn how to pardon as we pray for forgiveness.

May our home life be sanctified today, and all the days, by the presence of the divine Guest. As we go out among men to do our work, touching the hands and lives of our fellows, make us friends of all--true representatives of Thine. Ballast our activities for the day with high purposes. Show us how to fill it with enriching service, that night may bring a peaceful pillow. Bless the home life of our nation, and all the nations. Let every palace, mansion and cottage in the whole earth become the house of God and the gate of heaven. Amen.

Bishop H.H. Fout, D.D,

Indianapolis, Indiana

Psalm 55-17 Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous be moved

November 24

Evening and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous be moved. — Psalm 55:17

Photo: Johan van den Berg

OUR Father in Heaven, look upon us, we beseech Thee, in Thine infinite love and compassion. Dwell Thou with us, that being molded by Thy good Spirit, we may have fellowship with Thee as Thy children. Help us at all times to trust Thee. Appoint for us what Thou willest, and make us ready to receive with thankfulness whatsoever seemeth good to Thee concerning us. Go with us in every mission on which Thou art pleased to send us, and in Thy service we may find rest.

Lighten our darkness, we entreat Thee, that we may behold Thy face, and in Thy tender mercy, do Thou temper the storm lest our weak faith fail. Forgive our sins, and day by day deliver us from their power. We commit all our loved ones to Thy keeping. Do Thou watch over them and bless them. And as Thou givest us a taste of Thy joy in loving our friends, lead us into the fullness of the joy of loving all whom Thou lovest, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

William Farquharson, D.D.,

Agincourt, Ontario, Canada

Psalm 147:1 Its good to sing praises unto our God

November 14

Its good to sing praises unto our God. — Psalm 147:1

Photo: Stock Xchng

OUR Father, for such Thou hast taught us to call Thee, we thank Thee that we may be brought into Thy family through living, loving, faith in Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Elder Brother. And we thank Thee for all that may mean to us. We thank Thee for a Father's love. Keep us ever, we pray Thee, within the circle of that love. We thank Thee for the oversight and protection that Thou dost give us day by day. As we go out from the home, go Thou with us, and when we return at eventide may we bring Thee with us, to be with us in the breaking of bread and through all the hours of darkness, until morning break and the shadows flee away. Draw all members of the family circle into real fellowship with Thy Son, that we may be cleansed from all sin, and may be kept by His power from falling, and may be presented at last faultless before Thy presence with exceeding great joy. Make us to be more tender and thoughtful of one another, and of all our companions. Forgive all display of temper and hasty speech, give us the love that suffereth long and is kind. Bless with us all the needy and distressed. Bless all mankind. Redeem the world lying in sin, and hasten the coming of Thy Kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ernest Thompson, D.D.,

Charleston, West Virginia

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing

October 14

Pray without ceasing. — 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Photo: Markus Biehal

OUR blessed Savior, Who dost dwell in our hearts by faith, grant us such a clear consciousness of Thine indwelling that each may be able to say, "I live, and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me." Show us that our interests and Thine are one. Enable us so to surrender ourselves to Thee that Thou mayest work in us both to will and to work for Thy good pleasure. Establish Thy rule over every part of our nature. Subdue our passions and energies to Thy Will. In Thy light may we see our faults and failures, and, as they are revealed, do Thou remove them, and finish in us the work Thou hast begun. Grant us grace today to let Christ live out His lfe in us. May He so possess our spirits and so govern our lives, that men, beholding us, may think of Him; listening to us, may hear His message; and in fellowship with us, may feel the influence of His Spirit. Keep up from stifling the voice within. Keep us from becoming so engrossed with our worldly pursuits that we lose sight of the Christ Who reigns in our souls, and Who is our very life. Lord Jesus, make us Thine instruments, prepare us for Thy service, and use us as Thou wilt for the fulfillment of Thy purposes. Then grant us the joy of Thine approval. For Thine own Name's sake. Amen.

George C. Pidgeon, D. D.,

Toronto, Canada

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

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go

August 12

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. — Psalm 32:8

Photo: Shutterstock

We praise Thy name, our Father, that Thou hast again brought us to the sweet consciousness of life and to realization of Thy divine grace and loving favor. We are grateful to The for all the mercies so abundantly bestowed upon us through Thy Son. Grant unto us this day Thy watch-care and guidance, that we may in nothing offend Thee or bring reproach upon Thy Name.

May we, by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, be led into that truth which will enable us to glorify Thee in our lives. Keep our minds from error and our hearts from sin. May all our thoughts be true, our loves be pure, and our actions right before Thee. Give unto us and ours the things necessary for our temporal comfort and our spiritual good. Bless Thou the toil of our hands and make it abound to the welfare of our fellow men and to Thine own glory. Help us to be ever conscious of the presence and fellowship of Thy dear Son, our Savior and Friend.

Comfort, we pray Thee, those who are in sorrow. Strengthen those who are weak. Be Thou beside the beds of suffering, to ease pain, strengthen courage and inspire hope. we ask all in the name of Him Who dwelleth in our hearts through faith. Amen.

Rev. Daniel McGurk,

Cincinnati, Ohio

Deuteronomy 33:25 And as thy days so shall thy strength be

July 5

And as thy days so shall thy strength be. — Deuteronomy 33:25

Photo: Shutterstock

OUR Gracious Heavenly Father, for the light of another day we thank Thee, for Thy watch care over us during the past night, when unconscious and helpless, we sought rest for our weary bodies. Thou hast granted to us another day wherein to honor and glorify Thy Holy Name. May it be lived for Thee. May all the words spoken to one another and all the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight. Strengthen us with might by Thy Spirit in our inmost being that we shall be fortified against every temptation. Reveal to us more and more the unspeakable privilege of continuous fellowship with Thee. Shed abroad in our hearts that love, so unnatural to us but of Thyself, which shall enable us to love the unlovely, and the unloved, those who may slight or insult us, and those who may despise and hate us. Fill our hearts with peace through the clear consciousness of sins forgiven, with joy unspeakable that our names are written in Heaven, and with hope not only for the resurrection which awaits us but for Thy speedy appearing. May our witness be so clear and unmistakable that some soul ere this day is over shall be led to acquaintance with Thee our adorable Lord and Savior. Amen.

Rev. Henry W. Stough, D.D.,

Wheaton, Illinois

Proverbs 15:29 He heareth the prayer of the righteous

June 1

He heareth the prayer of the righteous. —Proverbs 15:29

Photo: StockXpert

GRACIOUS and loving Father, with what tenderness Thou has guarded and guided us! Gratefully we acknowledge Thy goodness.

We crave a closer fellowship with Thee. Show us the plan and program of life marked out for us in Thy loving kindness and infinite wisdom. The struggle up is hard. O empower us for life's tasks and temptations. Grant us trustful resignation where mystery surrounds the way Home. Keep us calm while all about us is turbulent. Keep us patient when conditions are most trying. May the Redemptive Passion of Jesus Christ be in reality imparted to us, so that we shall delight to render humble service to Thee. Help us to love our fellow men. Make us willing to undertake hard and apparently impossible tasks when we are impressed that it is Thy will. We would know the truth. Reward us with revelations which will build us and bless us. We pray for those in deep affliction. Teach us how to bear comfort to the sad, hope to the discouraged, peace to the troubled, confidence to the belated and overwhelmed. On every child of humanity may the healing rays from the Sun of Righteousness fall. Make us ready for service and sacrifice. Protect us, and provide for all our needs, and grant the forgiveness of all sin, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

A.Z. Conrad, D.D.,

Boston, Massachusetts

John 11:22 Ask of God, and He will give it Thee

March 8

Ask of God, and He will give it Thee. — John 11:22

Photo: Darwin Bell

OUR Father, we thank Thee for the home with its protection and loving fellowship. Whatever else it may or may not be rich in, make it rich in the presence of Thy Holy Spirit in fullness and power.

Forgive and forget, we beseech Thee, for the sake of our Savior and Thy dear Son, the sins of our lives, and cleanse us in His precious Blood.

Send each one of us forth filled with the spirit of our Master, which is the spirit of unselfish service. Strengthen us to do every proper task, teach us to be kind and helpful to others in Christ's name, make of us blessed channels of Thy mercies, and lead us into that pathway of life in which we can best glorify Thee and serve our fellowmen.

Make our home life continually more Christ-like, and may that life as well as our individual lives react for good on all with whom we come in contact. Hasten, through the service of our lives, the coming of Thy worldwide Kingdom, and the crowning of King Jesus, in Whose Name we pray. Amen.

Prof. William J. Martin,

Davidson, North Carolina