Romans 5:1 We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

December 26

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. — Romans 5:1

Photo: Christian Fenech

OUR Father, Thou Who sitteth upon a throne high and lifted up, Whose glory fills the Heavens, make us conscious this morning that Thou art not far from any one of us, Thy children. Thou has revealed Thy nearness to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us to see that our selfishness is the only thing that can separate us from Thee. Take out of our hearts every selfish impulse, and fill them with a holy love for Thee. Then we know that there shall be fulfilled for us the promise of Jesus, that Thou, our Father and He, our Brother, shall come in and dwell with us this day. Speak to us by Thy still, small voice.

Christmas day has come and gone. We have given and we have received the tokens of friendship and love. We cannot repeat these gifts every day, but we earnestly beseech Thee that the Christmas spirit may abide in our hearts and in the hearts of mankind everywhere. Take out of our hearts every trace of jealously and hatred toward any of Thy children, and give us the attitude toward all mankind which was in Jesus Christ our Lord. Hasten the day when our ears shall hear the morning stars singing together and all the sons of men joining with the angelic choir in the anthem of the first Christmas morning, "Peace on earth among men of good will." Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Frank W. Padelford,

Boston, Massachusetts

Psalm 65:2 O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come

December 16

O Thou that hearest prayer, unto Thee shall all flesh come. — Psalm 65:2

Photo: StockXchng

MOST Gracious Father, from Whom all good gifts come, grant us, we entreat Thee, the gift we need above all others, Thy Holy Spirit to help our infirmities, that our worship may be purged from all unreality. We long to pray to Thee sincerely, but we cannot unless Thou dost cleanse our hearts from the dross of vain desire. Free us from selfishness in our prayers; deliver us from asking for those things that will minister chiefly to our earthly pleasure. Thou must inspire the petitions which Thou alone canst answer. We are conscious of our sinfulness, but cannot be truly sorry for our misdoings until Thou dost move us to honest contrition and unfeigned repentance. We would be grateful to Thee for the multitude of Thy tender mercies, but it is not until Thou dost grant us a due sense of Thy goodness, and awaken within us sincere gratitude, that our cold hearts are ready to praise Thee.

Our love languishes and dies except Thy Spirit shall quicken it into a living flame. Our good deeds cry aloud to Thee for pardon, if Thou dost not inspire them and purify them by Thine own indwelling.

We would live the prayer life; we would learn what it is to pray without ceasing. To this end do Thou come and dwell within us, O Thou Spirit of Christ! We want day by day to glorify Thee, our Father, and to serve our fellows, even as did Jesus, Thy well-loved Son. In His Name. Amen.

S.P. Rose, D.D.,

Montreal, Canada

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

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble ; and He knoweth them that trust in Him

October 28

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble ; and He knoweth them that trust in Him. — Nahum 1:7

Photo: Arjun Kartha

OUR Father, we thank Thee for Thy revelation of love through Jesus Christ, and for all that He has brought to our lives of inspiration and guidance and hope. We thank Thee for the tasks Thou hast given us, and for Thy presence and help as we undertake them. Help us, we pray, to live in unbroken companionship with Thee; to draw life from Thy life; to show Thee forth as we have to do with our fellowmen in the ways of common life. Be quick to strengthen us when the lure of the world is strong upon us, and when we are tempted to put the things that perish above the things that are eternal. Give us a great hunger after righteousness, and help us to be genuine in all that we do and say and think.

As Thy disciples, Christ, may we come to be more like Thee each day, as in ever-increasing measure the spirit which was in Thee comes to dwell in us. Help us to love God and our neighbors with all our hearts. Keep us from selfishness. Forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake. Amen.

Lathan A. Crandaix, D.D.,

Minneapolis, Minnesota  

Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for help

September 27

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for help. — Psalm 146:5

Photo: StockXchng-WinterDove

WE REJOICE, O God, that we art not lonely orphans in the world. We gladly realize that we can look unto Thee and call Thee "our Father." Lead us to note Thy nearness. In the midst of the hurry and flurry of the day, quiet our lives and prompt us to listen to Thy voice, and to interpret aright Thy message. We thank Thee for the bright sunshine and the blue heavens, for fresh air and wholesome food. We praise Thee for the privilege of study and meditation; for uplifting books and ennobling thoughts. We are grateful for good friends and loving companions. May our lives, as well as our lips, tell Thee of our gratitude. Speak with our tongues; work with our hands; send our feet on Thy errands; possess our whole being; "Let that mind be in us which was in Christ Jesus."

Save us from listlessness and laziness; keep us from flimsiness and frivolity; deliver us from selfishness; fill us with cheer, and lead us to brighten the lives of all we meet. Remove from us all malice and meanness. Help us to flee from evil, follow after righteousness, and fight the good fight of faith. Broaden our vision, deepen our earnestness, lengthen our love, intensify our reverence and increase our usefulness, we ask in our Master's name. Amen.

Francis Harvey Green, A.M., LITT. D.,

West Chester, Pennsylvania

Luke 6:37 Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven

August 11

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

Photo: Shutterstock

WITH grateful hearts, our Father, we humbly bow around this family altar. We are Thy children. We confess our sins and acknowledge Thy loving kindness and tender mercies. Forgive us our sins and create in us forgiving hearts. Make us as willing to forgive as we are to be forgiven. Enlarge upon us Thy loving kindness and encircle us with Thy unwearied compassion.

Broaden our sympathies, and save us from selfishness. Open our ears to the cry of our next door neighbor and to the call of the man of Macedonia. Multiply our opportunities for doing good and consecrate our energies to Thy service. Warm our hearts to respond to the needs of our fellow-man, and make us messengers of strength and comfort to the discouraged and broken-hearted. Fill us with Thy Spirit, energize us with Thy love, and use us to Thy glory. Continue to beautify our lives with Thy blessings, strengthen us in the hour of our temptation, and sustain us when we pass through the valley of deep darkness. And now, Father, we thank Thee for everything that makes us better children of Thine; for everything that makes us more beloved of Thee, and more useful in the world ; for our home, our family and the Church. But above all, we thank Thee for Thy Son, our Savior, in Whose name we pray. Amen.

Rev. Ira M. Boswell,

Georgetown, Kentucky