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

Psalm 95:2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving

September 16

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. — Psalm 95:2

Photo: Chris Wittwer

O LORD GOD, our Father, Saviour and Guide, by Whose gracious and bountiful providence we have been nourished and sustained until this hour, and Whose redemptive, all-embracing love we greatly rejoice, accept, we beseech Thee, the sincere and profound gratitude of our hearts for Thine unfailing mercy and goodness. Pardon, we implore Thee, all our failings, faults and follies. By the Spirit dwelling within us, sweeten our dispositions and chasten all our appetites and desires. Sanctify our home, light it with the lamp of Thy presence continually, and warm it with the fire of Thy love.

Make Thy way plain before our eyes, and lead us onward and upward. Sanctify unto us all our trials and difficulties. Help us over the hard places, and in the smooth places suffer us not to forget our constant need of Thee. Quicken and intensify our love to Thee, and help us to be compassionate and generous in all our dealings with our fellow men. Enable us to do justly and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Thee. May we not be overcome of evil, but may we overcome evil with good.

O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish Thou the righteous! And may the whole earth be filled with Thy glory! Amen.

W. H. Cline, D. D.,

Georgetown, Ontario, Canada

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

Photo: Shutterstock

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 119:171 My lips shall utter praise

April 22

My lips shall utter praise. — Psalm 119:171

Photo: Charlie Balch

OUR Heavenly Father, help us to be thankful for our home with all of its blessings and privileges. Give each of us eyes to see, and grace and strength for the duties and privileges that are ours. Help us to be home-lovers and home-makers. Grant that we may bless every home coming within the radius of our influence.

Give us the eye of pity and the hand of help for all whose needs have claims upon us. Save us from "the snare of the fowler" and from pestilence, that we may in purity and strength serve Thee.

Bless our church — Thy church — O, our God, and him who ministers to us in spiritual things, and Thy servants the world over. May our religion be real and satisfying to us, and appetizing to others. Let our love to Thee be voiced in our efforts, gifts, and prayers, in behalf of a lost world.

Help us to live in constant readiness for whatever Thy providence hath in store for us, and to say ever in word, thought and deed, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is Heaven." Amen. 

Rev. M. P. Hunt,

Fayetteville, Arkansas