1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end He may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His Saints

October 7

Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end He may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His Saints. — 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

Photo: Odan Jaeger

ALMIGHTY GOD, our Father, help us to receive this day as a fresh gift from Thy loving hand, and to use it earnestly and joyfully. Give us for its tasks, we pray Thee, vigor of body, clearness of mind and definiteness of purpose, but above all, the right spirit and the pure heart.

 Look graciously upon our loved ones; place upon them Thy guiding and restraining hand. Comfort all who are sick and in sorrow; heal the wounded in spirit; recall the wandering. Strengthen all who are working earnestly for the Kingdom of our Lord, and grant that throughout the world this may be a day of great progress toward righteousness and peace.

Thy Kingdom come. Thy will in us and in all men be done, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Alexander MacColl, D.D.,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Psalm 139:4, 23-24 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting

September 24

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. — Psalm 139:4, 23-24

Photo: Alex Fiodorov

O GOD, we give Thee thanks for Thy great goodness, and Thy unfailing kindness. Day after day Thou hast bestowed upon us gifts according to our need. Teach us so to use them that in all our doings we may glorify Thy name, and further Thy righteous cause.

Above all, Most merciful Father, we bless Thee for Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Savior. For His sake, do Thou receive us, and grant us Thy Spirit, that we may be enabled to follow in His footsteps, and to grown in His likeness. Prepare us, Heavenly Father, for all the appointments of Thy wise and loving Providence. May we be found, in them all, diligent, brave and faithful!

We commend to thy love and care all that are dear to us, and all men everywhere in their need of Thee. May Thy gracious hand lead and keep them till the discipline of life is over! Then may we and they be brought into Thy glorious presence, and find a place in Thine everlasting kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

T. B. Kilpatrick, D.D.,

Toronto, Canada

Psalm 69:32 Your heart shall live that seek God

September 3

Your heart shall live that seek God. — Psalm 69:32

Photo: Shutterstock

O LORD, our gracious Father, we would bring to Thee our thanksgiving for all Thy great kindness and love to us. We bless Thee for all remembered or forgotten of Thy providences. We bless Thee for all the way by which the Lord our God hath led us, and whilst Thou hast been so gracious in the past, we thank Thee that we can hope in Thee perfectly for all the future.

Strengthen us, we pray Thee, that we may draw near to Thee with lowly and obedient spirits. Do Thou quicken us, that we may call upon Thy Name with more earnestness of desire, and more true submission, and more true faith than we sometimes have. We acknowledge that, as we go about our daily work, we too often forget Thee, for Whose sake and by Whose strength it should all be done. We confess that we yield for too much to the temptations that are around us, drawing us away from Thee. We live as if the present world were all we had to do with or depend upon. Do Thou deliver us, we pray Thee, from all foolish over-estimate of the worth of transitory things here, and enable us to rise above the temptations of the fleeting present, and to find in Thyself the treasure that the world cannot give, and no change can take away. Amen.

Rev. W. A. Cameron, B.A,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth or rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

July 29

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth or rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. — Matthew 6:19-21

Photo: RGBStock - Jill Smith

OUR gracious Father, we would take account of this day in Thy presence. It is Thy gift to us--new, and speaking of Thine unfailing care; clean, and may we keep it so, and return it to Thee so filled that the day may be pleasing to Thee, and honor to our living Lord, and a help to those with whom we live and work. Grant us some new manifestation of Thyself today; some deeper experience of Thy grace; a clearer vision of our field of service and more joy in its work. May we have a real inclination to our duty, and an honest preference for Thy will. So may our fellowship with Thee be unbroken today. We commit ourselves and friends, with our needs and anxieties, to Thy faithful keeping. Therefore may we be glad and free from care. May the day come soon when all the earth shall seek its refuge in Thee. Forgive our sins, and make us more like our Master--sensitive and strong, unselfish and true, for His Name's sake. Amen.

Rev. Emory W. Hunt,

Newton Centre, Massachusetts

Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies

May  8

Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies. – Psalm 119:36

Photo: StockXchng

Our Father, we thank you for the gift of life, for soundness of body and sanity of mind, for keenness of conscience and strength of will, for power of choice and privilege of service. We thank You that You set the solitary in families, for membership in the great family circle where You are our Father. We lift our hearts to You in thanksgiving for all the gifts that make life so rich and worth living – for love of father, mother, brother, sister. We thank You for friends, for education, for our country.

We ask You for power to live as we ought, to serve as we should. We ask You to bless our family, our neighborhood, our city, our state, our nation. Grant Your grace upon those that You have placed to govern and lead us. Grant Your wisdom to our teachers, Your blessing upon our schools, hospitals, prisons, that out of sorrow and suffering we may gain strength and patience. Make and keep the nations of the earth righteous, that we may have peace. Lead us through the valley of the shadow of death to the city where there is no night, no sin, no sorrow, no death.

All these favors we ask through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Orrin Philip Gifford, D.D.,

Brookline, Massachusetts