Father, at times the way of Christ is complex to our “sin–stained” and finite minds. Forgive us for the times we have justified our vanity in the name of a good reputation. O, Lord, grant us, in this brief life, the wisdom and courage to please others, or not to please others, for the sake of Christ alone, and not our own praise. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Father in heaven, have mercy on the misery of this world. Forgive us for our part in causing the pain of others. Waken us as never before to the preciousness of your mercy bought by the blood of Christ. Fix our hopes so fully on the joy of heaven, that we become freest of all people on earth. May our everlasting memories of your grace make us glad of all you changed and all you forgave. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Gracious Father of light, give us eyes to see Your worth. Heal our blindness. Save us from the deadly disease of seeing the world as worth more than its Maker. Restore the capacity of our hearts to cherish infinite beauty and savor infinite sweetness. Deliver us from the deadening effects of thinking this short life is the main thing. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Omnipotent, all-governing Father, not a bird falls to the ground apart from You, and not a hair of our heads turns gray apart from You. Grant that we may know these great truths about You, and that we may speak them with winsome joy. Forgive us for the arrogance of denying them, and for the pride of vaunted self-sufficiency. Make us like children in our daily reliance on You, we pray. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Father, deliver us from the self-deception that makes us believe anxiety is mere precaution, and that unfaithful precaution is anything other than cloaked anxiety. O, how devious is the self-protecting soul! Have mercy on us, and make us bold. Free us from fear and from prudential avoidances of love. Make us more eager for the joy of giving than for the security of keeping. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Father, I love Your patience towards me. I love it when You describe Yourself as slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Oh, to be more like You! Have mercy on my easily angered heart! Forgive my many peeves and murmurings. Grant that I would be saturated with grace, and let me show it to others, as I desperately need it for myself. Because of Jesus, let it be so.
Lord, I pray that you would fill us with hope and joy and expectation that You have the power to put Your hand on us, and grant us the will to do what You command. You have made it plain:
We are responsible to do what you tell us to do. But we know that in ourselves we do not have the will to do it. And so we cry with Augustine, “Lord, command what You will, and give what You command.” Leave us not to ourselves. Have mercy. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Gracious Father, grant me a lowly spirit of gratitude. Make me feel the preciousness of past grace. Give me an honest memory of mercy. Forgive me for the pride of unremembered gifts of callous thanklessness. Waken faith in my wavering soul and give me strong confidence in your solid promises. Where past and future meet, make me humble and bold. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Dear Father, I confess with shame that I am wired to love the praise of man. I know this is sin, and deeply offensive to Your infinite worth and beauty. Forgive me, I pray, and make the truth of Your election and Your faith-awakening gift kill all vanity in me. Set me, O Lord, not to brooding silence, but to boasting in Your glorious name. Through Christ I pray, let it be so.
O Lord, forbid that I would be so foolish as to be a lover of wages more than a lover of undeserved rewards. Make me feel the sweetness of being shown mercy. Work childlikeness deeply into my soul, and make me find my joy and my rest in Your free gift of grace. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Yes, Lord, yes! This is our heart’s desire. Forgive us for adrenaline spurts of righteousness. Forgive us for little sprints of holiness. Forgive us for short flashes of noble-minded sacrifice. Build into the fiber of our faith a rugged, resilient, never-say-die perseverance in the cause of truth and love! Make us coronary Christians! In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Dear God and Creator and Father, I praise You for Your infinitely wise imagination! I bow with wonder at Your power to put in place the universe so full of marvels for our joy. I pray for the grace of imagination, lest I fail to render Your glory for what it really is, most beautiful of all beauties. Through Christ, I pray, let it be so.
Thank You, Lord, for the lives of flawed and faith-filled saints! Thank You for grace, amazing grace that saves and uses sinners! Lord, don’t let us limit Your power by what we see in the mirror. Help us to trust You. Help us, as William Carey said, to expect great things from God and attempt great things for God. We are not great. But You are great. Your power is made perfect in our weakness. We surrender all worldly claims on our lives. Come. Make us useful for the glory of Christ. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
O Lord, Your ways are not our ways, and Your thoughts are not our thoughts. Yours are unsearchable and often baffling to our finite minds. You have chosen to give Satan freedom to do great damage, when it would be no injustice to him to destroy him now. We bow before Your wisdom. We embrace with Jesus the cross that saves our souls and sends us into battle with faith in the superior beauty and worth of Christ. Go with us. Help us. In His great name, let it be so.
O God, You are all wise and sovereign. Therefore we thank You for keeping in Your hands, not ours, the final determination of which paths are influential for Christ in our lives. We confess our sin and our fallibility. We do not want to run the world. We want You to run it. We rejoice that our best efforts may yield modest fruit. And our most foolish choices may be made the means of great fruit. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
O Lord of hope, give us the eyes of John Newton and George Herbert. Give us eyes to see the utter unlikeliness of being loved by Christ. Take away the feeling that we deserve happiness. Cause us to be amazed at the wonder of grace. May grumbling and murmuring depart from our lips, O Lord, and make us tender toward sinners. Thank You, Father, for mercy. We cherish Your kindness and long to give to others the way You have given to us. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
O Lord, this is our heart’s desire: Make us meek, and make us mighty. Give us confidence in the finished work of Christ, and give us humility because we are so far from perfection. Open our eyes to the wonder of what You have already done. And forbid that we would claim more now than is true. We are weak, we are sinful, and we need Your help. Thank You for our permanent acceptance in Christ. Thank You for our daily help from Christ. Thank You for laying hold on us. Now complete the work You have begun. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Open the eyes of our hearts, Father, to see precious and limited role of Your Law in bearing the fruit of love in our lives. Lead us into deep and personal union with Jesus. Let this relationship with the living Christ transform our minds and wills so that we want what He wants and hate what He hates. Make us, by this union, radically loving people. In Jesus’ name, we pray, let it be so.
Gracious, all-knowing Father, we praise You for Your infinite wisdom, and for Your wise and holy purposes that govern all You do, and all You permit to be done. We rejoice and take heart from the precious truth that nothing befalls us but by Your loving will toward us Your children. We pray that You will protect Your church from harmful error, and lead Your flock in the path of truth. Expose our idols, O God. And grant us to treasure Christ above all things. In His name we pray, let it be so.
Father, we confess that we are the children, and You are the Father. We are the learners, and You are the Teacher. We are sinful and fallible, You are holy and all-wise. Teach us to measure our thoughts by Yours and not the other way around. Humble us under Your mighty hand. Forbid that we would get angry with You, or criticize You, or be disappointed with You. Make us tremble at such insults. Oh, how deep are Your riches and Your wisdom! How unsearchable Your judgments! How inscrutable Your ways! We praise You! In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Lord, have mercy on us in our frail and fallible condition. You are very powerful, and grass but we. We flourish and are gone. Grant us grace to trust that You are good in all Your works and all Your ways. May we never doubt Your sovereignty, even in the most painful times? Let the bones, which You have broken rejoice. Though You cause grief, have compassion on us according to Your steadfast love. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Yes, Lord, we do take heart from Your New Covenant promises. They are the sweetest ones of all. And from this side of the cross we see that they are all blood bought and secure. Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus Christ to be for us, by His blood, the yes and the AMEN to all Your promises. He is now the great ground of our hope and joy. Don’t let us despair in the battle of this brief life. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
AMEN, Lord! Grant that we will love Christ above all things. And may we spend our pilgrim life learning to love this world less and heaven more. Put us out of taste with the delicacies of the devil, and give us a liking for the solid joys of Christ. Guard us from the allurements of the lodgings of this journey, and fix our eyes on the end. And so, Father, make us useful to this world, loving, helping, serving here, while leading people up to God. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Merciful Father, help us be ready to die well, Teach us how to help each other die! You have shown us that it will not be easy. But, Oh, how many promises You have given to help us say, “To die is gain.” Deliver us from fear. Give us unshakeable hope. Remind us that suffering may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Make us feel that this slight momentary affliction, this vapor, is working for us an eternal weight of glory. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Father in heaven, we pray that You will work in us the will to fight the suicidal sin that our will desires. We confess that there is a war within us. We grieve over the remnants of our corruption. Help us to set our faces like flint against the desire for anything above Christ. And grant that we would treasure Him above all. In His name we pray, let it be so.
So, Father, open our minds, enlarge our minds, fill our minds, transform our minds, so that we think Your thoughts after You. Incline our hearts to Your word, and not getting gain. Have mercy on us in our foolish additions to things that dull us to the delights of knowing You in Your Word. You have multiplied, O Lord our God, Your wondrous thoughts toward us. Your thoughts are very deep! All praise and honor to You! In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Father, indeed we do pray for gainsayers, but not for them only, but for ourselves also. We have not seen and savored You as we ought. We have not worshiped You with the white-hot affections that You deserve. We have been lukewarm and half-hearted. Forgive us, O Lord, our merciful God. And lead us now into lasting joy. Enthrall us with Yourself. And break the power of all lesser pleasures. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
And so, Father, take the swagger out of our indignation. Take self-pity out of our hearts, and presumption from our lips. Make us feel that mercy is our life. Teach us deeply that freely we have received, and freely we must give. Make us brokenhearted, happy, useful sojourners. In His name we pray, let it be so.
Lord, let us never cease to marvel at Your mercy and Your might! These are the twin wonders along with Your wisdom that give us hope when all around our soul gives way. Your mercy, Your might, Your wisdom! You are very great, and we praise You. Strengthen us the way You did Paul by word and, if necessary, by affliction. May Satan’s devices in our lives ever be turned against his evil designs and made to serve Your righteous ones. Grant us always to believe that Your invisible hand rules the world and is ruled by a heart of holy love and perfect wisdom. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus! And while You tarry, keep us free from the sin of this world. Oh, make our little lives count for the glory of Your name and for the fame of You Father. Rivet our attention on Your cross, and fuse our affections to Yourself. Waken our compassion for all who suffer, especially those who are rushing toward everlasting misery because of unbelief. So open our mouths and open our hands and open our wallets while we have breath, and make us the most radically loving people on earth, for the joy of all peoples and renown of Your name, AMEN.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Four Faithful Sayings
1Tim.1:12And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1Tim. 4:6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 11These things command and teach. 12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2 Tim.2:8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Titus 3:1Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
“It is a faithful saying.”
— 2 Timothy 2:11
Paul has four of these “faithful sayings.” The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” The next is in 1 Timothy 4:6, “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.” The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, “It is a faithful saying—If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him”; and the fourth is in Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” We may trace a connection between these faithful sayings. The first one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in the free grace of God, as shown to us in the mission of the great Redeemer. The next affirms the double blessedness, which we obtain through this salvation—the blessings of the upper and nether springs—of time and of eternity. The third shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” The last sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good works. Thus we have the root of salvation in free grace; next, the privileges of that salvation in the life which now is, and in that which is to come; and we have also the two great branches of suffering with Christ and serving with Christ, loaded with the fruits of the Spirit. Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The apostle of the Gentiles proved them to be faithful, they are faithful still, not one word shall fall to the ground; they are worthy of all acceptation, let us accept them now, and prove their faithfulness. Let these four faithful sayings be written on the four corners of my house.
1Tim. 4:6If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 7But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 9This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. 10For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 11These things command and teach. 12Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2 Tim.2:8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Titus 3:1Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
“It is a faithful saying.”
— 2 Timothy 2:11
Paul has four of these “faithful sayings.” The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” The next is in 1 Timothy 4:6, “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.” The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, “It is a faithful saying—If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him”; and the fourth is in Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” We may trace a connection between these faithful sayings. The first one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in the free grace of God, as shown to us in the mission of the great Redeemer. The next affirms the double blessedness, which we obtain through this salvation—the blessings of the upper and nether springs—of time and of eternity. The third shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” The last sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good works. Thus we have the root of salvation in free grace; next, the privileges of that salvation in the life which now is, and in that which is to come; and we have also the two great branches of suffering with Christ and serving with Christ, loaded with the fruits of the Spirit. Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The apostle of the Gentiles proved them to be faithful, they are faithful still, not one word shall fall to the ground; they are worthy of all acceptation, let us accept them now, and prove their faithfulness. Let these four faithful sayings be written on the four corners of my house.
The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723)
Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake. Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever. 2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things. 3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again. 4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it. 5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. 6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live. 7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life. 8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. 9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances, which attend death. 10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell. 11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder. 12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by. 13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality. 14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge. 15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings. 16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good. 17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. 18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world. 19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump. 20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking. 21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
(Resolutions 1 through 21 written in on setting in New Haven in 1722)
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of. 23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution. 24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it. 25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it. 26. Resolved, to east away such things, as I find do abate my assurance. 27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions. 28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same. 29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept. 30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before. 31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution. 32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me. 33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722. 34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity. 35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722. 36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722. 37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722. 38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722. 39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723. 41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723. 42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23. 43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723. 44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723. 45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723. 46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family. 47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peace_able, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723. 48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723. 49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it. 50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723. 51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723. 52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723. 53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723. 54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723. 55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723. 56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be. 57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723. 59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13. 60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723. 61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723. 62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723. 63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14' and July '3' 1723. 64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723. 65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723. 66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise. 67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them. 68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723. 69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723
1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad's of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever. 2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things. 3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again. 4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it. 5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can. 6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live. 7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life. 8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God. 9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances, which attend death. 10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell. 11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don't hinder. 12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by. 13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality. 14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge. 15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings. 16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good. 17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die. 18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world. 19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump. 20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking. 21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
(Resolutions 1 through 21 written in on setting in New Haven in 1722)
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of. 23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God's glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution. 24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it. 25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it. 26. Resolved, to east away such things, as I find do abate my assurance. 27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions. 28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same. 29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept. 30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before. 31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution. 32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, "A faithful man who can find?" may not be partly fulfilled in me. 33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722. 34. Resolved, in narration's never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity. 35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722. 36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722. 37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722. 38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord's day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722. 39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723. 41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723. 42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23. 43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God's, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723. 44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723. 45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723. 46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family. 47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peace_able, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723. 48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723. 49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it. 50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723. 51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723. 52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723. 53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723. 54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723. 55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723. 56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be. 57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723. 59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13. 60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723. 61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723. 62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; "knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord." June 25 and July 13, 1723. 63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14' and July '3' 1723. 64. Resolved, when I find those "groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those "breakings of soul for the longing it hath," of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear', of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723. 65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton's 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723. 66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise. 67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them. 68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723. 69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A TEACHER'S PRAYER
Dear God,
Enable me to teach with wisdom, for I help to shape the mind.
Equip me to teach with truth, for I help to shape the conscience.
Encourage me to teach with vision, for I help to shape the future.
Empower me to teach with love, for I help to shape the world.
Amen.
Enable me to teach with wisdom, for I help to shape the mind.
Equip me to teach with truth, for I help to shape the conscience.
Encourage me to teach with vision, for I help to shape the future.
Empower me to teach with love, for I help to shape the world.
Amen.
I Pray for My Pastors
23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 25Brethren, pray for us. 26Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
[The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.] [1]
“Brethren, pray for us.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:25
This one morning in the year we reserved to refresh the reader’s memory upon the subject of prayer for ministers, and we do most earnestly implore every Christian household to grant the fervent request of the text first uttered by an apostle and now repeated by us. Brethren, our work is solemnly momentous, involving weal or woe to thousands; we treat with souls for God on eternal business, and our word is either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. A very heavy responsibility rests upon us, and it will be no small mercy if at the last we be found clear of the blood of all men. As officers in Christ’s army, we are the especial mark of the enmity of men and devils; they watch for our halting, and labour to take us by the heels. Our sacred calling involves us in temptations from which you are exempt, above all it too often draws us away from our personal enjoyment of truth into a ministerial and official consideration of it. We meet with many knotty cases, and our wits are at a non plus; we observe very sad backslidings, and our hearts are wounded; we see millions perishing, and our spirits sink. We wish to profit you by our preaching; we desire to be blest to your children; we long to be useful both to saints and sinners; therefore, dear friends, intercede for us with our God. Miserable men are we if we miss the aid of your prayers, but happy are we if we live in your supplications. You do not look to us but to our Master for spiritual blessings, and yet how many times has He given those blessings through His ministers; ask then, again and again, that we may be the earthen vessels into which the Lord may put the treasure of the gospel. We, the whole company of missionaries, ministers, city missionaries, and students, do in the name of Jesus beseech you
“Brethren, pray for us.”[2]
[1]The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
[2]Spurgeon, Charles H., Morning and Evening, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
[The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.] [1]
“Brethren, pray for us.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:25
This one morning in the year we reserved to refresh the reader’s memory upon the subject of prayer for ministers, and we do most earnestly implore every Christian household to grant the fervent request of the text first uttered by an apostle and now repeated by us. Brethren, our work is solemnly momentous, involving weal or woe to thousands; we treat with souls for God on eternal business, and our word is either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. A very heavy responsibility rests upon us, and it will be no small mercy if at the last we be found clear of the blood of all men. As officers in Christ’s army, we are the especial mark of the enmity of men and devils; they watch for our halting, and labour to take us by the heels. Our sacred calling involves us in temptations from which you are exempt, above all it too often draws us away from our personal enjoyment of truth into a ministerial and official consideration of it. We meet with many knotty cases, and our wits are at a non plus; we observe very sad backslidings, and our hearts are wounded; we see millions perishing, and our spirits sink. We wish to profit you by our preaching; we desire to be blest to your children; we long to be useful both to saints and sinners; therefore, dear friends, intercede for us with our God. Miserable men are we if we miss the aid of your prayers, but happy are we if we live in your supplications. You do not look to us but to our Master for spiritual blessings, and yet how many times has He given those blessings through His ministers; ask then, again and again, that we may be the earthen vessels into which the Lord may put the treasure of the gospel. We, the whole company of missionaries, ministers, city missionaries, and students, do in the name of Jesus beseech you
“Brethren, pray for us.”[2]
[1]The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
[2]Spurgeon, Charles H., Morning and Evening, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
John Piper defines what a good teacher is...
· A good teacher asks himself the hardest questions, works through to answers, and then frames provocative questions for his learners to stimulate their thinking.
· A good teacher analyzes his subject matter into parts and sees relationships and discovers the unity of the whole.
· A good teacher knows the problems learners will have with his subject matter and encourages them and gets them over the humps of discouragement.
· A good teacher foresees objections and thinks them through so that he can answer them intelligently.
· A good teacher can put himself in the place of a variety of learners and therefore explain hard things in terms that are clear from their standpoint.
· A good teacher is concrete, not abstract, specific, not general, precise, not vague, vulnerable, and not evasive.
· A good teacher always asks, "So what?" and tries to see how discoveries shape our whole system of thought. He tries to relate discoveries to life and tries to avoid compartmentalizing.
· The goal of a good teacher is the transformation of all of life and thought into a Christ-honoring unity.
· A good teacher analyzes his subject matter into parts and sees relationships and discovers the unity of the whole.
· A good teacher knows the problems learners will have with his subject matter and encourages them and gets them over the humps of discouragement.
· A good teacher foresees objections and thinks them through so that he can answer them intelligently.
· A good teacher can put himself in the place of a variety of learners and therefore explain hard things in terms that are clear from their standpoint.
· A good teacher is concrete, not abstract, specific, not general, precise, not vague, vulnerable, and not evasive.
· A good teacher always asks, "So what?" and tries to see how discoveries shape our whole system of thought. He tries to relate discoveries to life and tries to avoid compartmentalizing.
· The goal of a good teacher is the transformation of all of life and thought into a Christ-honoring unity.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Monday Evening: Bounty
Great and only Potentate, You have made summer and winter, day and night; each of these revolutions serves our welfare and is full of Your care and kindness.
Your bounty is seen in the relations that train us, the laws that defend us, the homes that shelter us, the food that builds us, the raiment that comforts us, the continuance of our health, members, senses, understanding, memory, affection, will.
But as stars fade before the rising sun, You have eclipsed all these benefits in the wisdom and grace that purposed redemption by Jesus, Your Son.
Blessed be Your mercy that laid help on one that is mighty and willing, one that is able to save to the uttermost.
Make us deeply sensible of our need of His saving grace, of the blood that cleanses, of the rest He has promised.
And impute to us that righteousness which justifies the guilty, gives them a title to eternal life, and possession of the Spirit, May we love the freeness of salvation, and joy in its holiness, Give us faith to grasp Thy promises, that are our hope, provide for every exigency, (particular situation) and prevent every evil;
Keep our hearts from straying after forbidden pleasures;
May Your will bind all our wishes; Let us live out of the world as to its spirit, maxim, manners, but live in it as the sphere of our action and usefulness;
May we be alive to every call of duty, accepting without question You determination of our circumstances and our service. Amen.
Your bounty is seen in the relations that train us, the laws that defend us, the homes that shelter us, the food that builds us, the raiment that comforts us, the continuance of our health, members, senses, understanding, memory, affection, will.
But as stars fade before the rising sun, You have eclipsed all these benefits in the wisdom and grace that purposed redemption by Jesus, Your Son.
Blessed be Your mercy that laid help on one that is mighty and willing, one that is able to save to the uttermost.
Make us deeply sensible of our need of His saving grace, of the blood that cleanses, of the rest He has promised.
And impute to us that righteousness which justifies the guilty, gives them a title to eternal life, and possession of the Spirit, May we love the freeness of salvation, and joy in its holiness, Give us faith to grasp Thy promises, that are our hope, provide for every exigency, (particular situation) and prevent every evil;
Keep our hearts from straying after forbidden pleasures;
May Your will bind all our wishes; Let us live out of the world as to its spirit, maxim, manners, but live in it as the sphere of our action and usefulness;
May we be alive to every call of duty, accepting without question You determination of our circumstances and our service. Amen.
Monday Morning: God Over All
O God All Sufficient, You have made and uphold all things by the word of Your power, darkness is Your pavilion, You walk on the wings of the wind; all nations are nothing before You; one generation succeeds another, and we hasten back to dust; the heavens we behold will vanish away like the clouds that cover them, the earth we tread on will dissolve as a morning dream;
But You are, unchangeable and incorruptible, forever and ever, God over all, blessed eternally.
Infinitely great and glorious are You.
We are Your offspring and Your care.
Your hands have made and fashioned us.
You have watched over us with more than parental love, more than maternal tenderness.
You hold our soul in life, and not suffered our feet to be moved.
Your divine power has given us all things necessary for life and godliness.
Let us bless You at all times and forget not how You have forgiven our iniquities, healed our diseases, redeemed our lives from destruction, crowned us with loving-kindness and tender mercies, satisfied our mouths with good things, renewed our youth like the eagle’s.
May Your Holy Scriptures govern every part of our lives, and regulate the discharge of all our duties, so that we may adorn Your doctrine in all things. Amen.
But You are, unchangeable and incorruptible, forever and ever, God over all, blessed eternally.
Infinitely great and glorious are You.
We are Your offspring and Your care.
Your hands have made and fashioned us.
You have watched over us with more than parental love, more than maternal tenderness.
You hold our soul in life, and not suffered our feet to be moved.
Your divine power has given us all things necessary for life and godliness.
Let us bless You at all times and forget not how You have forgiven our iniquities, healed our diseases, redeemed our lives from destruction, crowned us with loving-kindness and tender mercies, satisfied our mouths with good things, renewed our youth like the eagle’s.
May Your Holy Scriptures govern every part of our lives, and regulate the discharge of all our duties, so that we may adorn Your doctrine in all things. Amen.
Tuesday Evening: Before Sleep
God of All Sovereignty,
Your greatness is unsearchable, Your name most majestic, Your glory above the heavens;
Ten thousand ministers to You, ten thousand times ten thousand stand before You;
In Your awful presence we are less than nothing.
We do not approach You because we deserve Your notice, for we are sinners;
Our necessities compel us, our broken hearts incite us, The Mediator draws us, Your acceptance of the others moves us.
Look upon us and be merciful unto us;
Give us faith to believe, and, believing, to have life in Jesus;
May we enter into His sufferings?
Let us see Your hand in the instruments of our grief, rejoicing that they are from Your over-ruling providence.
Let not our weeping hinder sowing; nor sorrow, duty.
While living in a world of change let us seek the abiding city.
Be with us to our journey’s end that we may glorify You in death as in life.
We bless You for preservation, supplies, mercies, and to You, keeper of souls, we commit all we are and have.
May not evil befall us, nor sickness come nigh us, no horror disturb us!
May our conscience be clear, our hearts pure, and our sleep sweet!
And with the innumerable company, who neither slumber nor rest we join in ascribing blessing, honor, glory, and power to the Lamb upon the throne, for ever and ever.
Your greatness is unsearchable, Your name most majestic, Your glory above the heavens;
Ten thousand ministers to You, ten thousand times ten thousand stand before You;
In Your awful presence we are less than nothing.
We do not approach You because we deserve Your notice, for we are sinners;
Our necessities compel us, our broken hearts incite us, The Mediator draws us, Your acceptance of the others moves us.
Look upon us and be merciful unto us;
Give us faith to believe, and, believing, to have life in Jesus;
May we enter into His sufferings?
Let us see Your hand in the instruments of our grief, rejoicing that they are from Your over-ruling providence.
Let not our weeping hinder sowing; nor sorrow, duty.
While living in a world of change let us seek the abiding city.
Be with us to our journey’s end that we may glorify You in death as in life.
We bless You for preservation, supplies, mercies, and to You, keeper of souls, we commit all we are and have.
May not evil befall us, nor sickness come nigh us, no horror disturb us!
May our conscience be clear, our hearts pure, and our sleep sweet!
And with the innumerable company, who neither slumber nor rest we join in ascribing blessing, honor, glory, and power to the Lamb upon the throne, for ever and ever.
Tuesday Morning: God Creator and Controller
Most High God,
The universe with all its myriad creatures belongs to You, made by Your Word, upheld by Your power, governed by Your will.
But You are also the Father of mercies, the God of all grace, the bestower of all comfort, the protector of the saved.
You have been mindful of us, have visited us, preserved us, given us a goodly heritage- the Holy Scriptures, the joyful gospel, the Saviour of souls,
We come to You in Jesus’ name, making mention of His righteousness only, pleading His obedience and sufferings Who magnified the law both in its precepts and penalty, and made it honorable.
May we be justified by His blood, saved by His life, joined to His Spirit.
Let us take up His cross and follow Him.
May the agency of Your grace prepare us for Your dispensations.
Make us willing that You should choose our inheritance and determine what we shall retain or lose, suffer or enjoy;
If blessed with prosperity may we be free from its snares, and use, not abuse its advantages;
May we patiently and cheerfully submit to those afflictions which are necessary.
When we are tempted to wander, hedge up our way, excite in us abhorrence of sin, wean us from the present evil world,
Assure us that we shall at last enter Immanuel’s land where none is ever sick, and the sun will always shine. Please let this be so.
The universe with all its myriad creatures belongs to You, made by Your Word, upheld by Your power, governed by Your will.
But You are also the Father of mercies, the God of all grace, the bestower of all comfort, the protector of the saved.
You have been mindful of us, have visited us, preserved us, given us a goodly heritage- the Holy Scriptures, the joyful gospel, the Saviour of souls,
We come to You in Jesus’ name, making mention of His righteousness only, pleading His obedience and sufferings Who magnified the law both in its precepts and penalty, and made it honorable.
May we be justified by His blood, saved by His life, joined to His Spirit.
Let us take up His cross and follow Him.
May the agency of Your grace prepare us for Your dispensations.
Make us willing that You should choose our inheritance and determine what we shall retain or lose, suffer or enjoy;
If blessed with prosperity may we be free from its snares, and use, not abuse its advantages;
May we patiently and cheerfully submit to those afflictions which are necessary.
When we are tempted to wander, hedge up our way, excite in us abhorrence of sin, wean us from the present evil world,
Assure us that we shall at last enter Immanuel’s land where none is ever sick, and the sun will always shine. Please let this be so.
Wednesday Evening: God All-Sufficient
King of Glory, Divine Majesty,
Every perfection adorns Your nature and sustains Your throne;
The heavens and earth are Yours; the world is Yours and its fullness.
Your power created the universe from nothing; Your wisdom has managed all its multiple concerns, presiding over nations, families, individuals.
Your goodness is boundless; all creatures that wait on You are supplied by You, are satisfied by You.
How precious are the thoughts of Your mercy and grace!
How excellent Your loving-kindness that draws men to You!
Teach us to place our happiness in You, the blessed God, never seeking life among the dead things of earth, or asking for that which satisfies the deluded; But may we prize the light of Your smile, find our heaven in You.
You have attended to our happiness more than we can do;
Though we are fallen creatures You have not neglected us.
In love and pity You have provided us a Savior;
Apply His redemption to our hearts, by justifying our persons, and sanctifying our natures.
We confess our transgressions, have mercy on us.
We are weary, give us rest, ignorant, make us wise unto salvation, helpless, let Your strength be made perfect in our weakness, poor and needy, bless us with Christ’s unsearchable riches, perplexed and tempted, let us travel on unchecked ,undismayed, knowing that You have said,
“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
Blessed be Your name! Amen.
Every perfection adorns Your nature and sustains Your throne;
The heavens and earth are Yours; the world is Yours and its fullness.
Your power created the universe from nothing; Your wisdom has managed all its multiple concerns, presiding over nations, families, individuals.
Your goodness is boundless; all creatures that wait on You are supplied by You, are satisfied by You.
How precious are the thoughts of Your mercy and grace!
How excellent Your loving-kindness that draws men to You!
Teach us to place our happiness in You, the blessed God, never seeking life among the dead things of earth, or asking for that which satisfies the deluded; But may we prize the light of Your smile, find our heaven in You.
You have attended to our happiness more than we can do;
Though we are fallen creatures You have not neglected us.
In love and pity You have provided us a Savior;
Apply His redemption to our hearts, by justifying our persons, and sanctifying our natures.
We confess our transgressions, have mercy on us.
We are weary, give us rest, ignorant, make us wise unto salvation, helpless, let Your strength be made perfect in our weakness, poor and needy, bless us with Christ’s unsearchable riches, perplexed and tempted, let us travel on unchecked ,undismayed, knowing that You have said,
“I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
Blessed be Your name! Amen.
Wednesday Morning: True Christianity
Lord of Heaven,
Your goodness is inexpressible and inconceivable.
In the works of creation You are the almighty, in the dispensations of providence all-wise, in the gospel of grace all love, and in Your Son You have provided for our deliverance from the effects of sin, the justification of our persons, the sanctification of our natures, the perseverance of our souls in the path of life.
Though exposed to the terrors of Your law, we have refuge from the storm; though compelled to cry, “Unclean”, we have a fountain for sin; though creature-cells of emptiness we have a fullness accessible to all, and incapable of reduction.
Grant us always to know that to walk with Jesus makes other interests a shadow and a dream.
Keep us from intermittent attention to eternal things; save us from the delusion of those who fail to go far in religion, who are concerned but not converted, who have another heart but not a new one, who have light, zeal, confidence, but not Christ.
Let us judge our Christianity, not only by our dependence upon Jesus, but by our love to Him, our knowledge of Him.
Give us religion that is both real and progressive, that holds on its way and grows stronger, that lives and works in the Spirit that profits by every correction, and injured by no carnal indulgence. This I pray, Amen.
Your goodness is inexpressible and inconceivable.
In the works of creation You are the almighty, in the dispensations of providence all-wise, in the gospel of grace all love, and in Your Son You have provided for our deliverance from the effects of sin, the justification of our persons, the sanctification of our natures, the perseverance of our souls in the path of life.
Though exposed to the terrors of Your law, we have refuge from the storm; though compelled to cry, “Unclean”, we have a fountain for sin; though creature-cells of emptiness we have a fullness accessible to all, and incapable of reduction.
Grant us always to know that to walk with Jesus makes other interests a shadow and a dream.
Keep us from intermittent attention to eternal things; save us from the delusion of those who fail to go far in religion, who are concerned but not converted, who have another heart but not a new one, who have light, zeal, confidence, but not Christ.
Let us judge our Christianity, not only by our dependence upon Jesus, but by our love to Him, our knowledge of Him.
Give us religion that is both real and progressive, that holds on its way and grows stronger, that lives and works in the Spirit that profits by every correction, and injured by no carnal indulgence. This I pray, Amen.
Thursday Evening’s Prayer for Protection
O Lord our God, You are our Preserver, Governor, Saviour, and coming Judge.
Quicken our souls to call upon Your name; detach us from the influence of the flesh and the senses;
Impress us with the power of faith; Promote in us spirituality of mind that will render our services acceptable to You, and delightful and profitable to ourselves.
Bring us into that state which attracts Your eye, and prepare us to receive the proofs of Your love.
Show us our danger that we may fly to thee for refuge.
Make us sensible of our sin’s disease, that we may value the good Physician.
Placard to us the cross, that it may slay the enmity of our hearts.
Help us to be watchful over our ways, jealous over our tempers, diligent over our hearts.
When we drop, revive us, when we loiter, quicken us, when we go astray, restore us.
Possess us with more of that faith which is the principle of all vital godliness.
May we be rich in faith, be strong in faith, live by faith, walk by faith, experience the joy of faith, do the work of faith, hope through faith.
Perceiving nothing in ourselves, may we find in the Saviour , wisdom, Righteousness , Sanctification, and Redemption. Amen.
Quicken our souls to call upon Your name; detach us from the influence of the flesh and the senses;
Impress us with the power of faith; Promote in us spirituality of mind that will render our services acceptable to You, and delightful and profitable to ourselves.
Bring us into that state which attracts Your eye, and prepare us to receive the proofs of Your love.
Show us our danger that we may fly to thee for refuge.
Make us sensible of our sin’s disease, that we may value the good Physician.
Placard to us the cross, that it may slay the enmity of our hearts.
Help us to be watchful over our ways, jealous over our tempers, diligent over our hearts.
When we drop, revive us, when we loiter, quicken us, when we go astray, restore us.
Possess us with more of that faith which is the principle of all vital godliness.
May we be rich in faith, be strong in faith, live by faith, walk by faith, experience the joy of faith, do the work of faith, hope through faith.
Perceiving nothing in ourselves, may we find in the Saviour , wisdom, Righteousness , Sanctification, and Redemption. Amen.
Thursday Morning: The Giver
Creator, Upholder and Proprietor of all things,
We cannot escape from Your presence and control, nor do we desire to do so.
Our privilege is to be under the agency of Your omnipotence, righteousness, wisdom, patience, mercy and grace;
For You are Love with more than parental affection.
We admire Your goodness, stand in awe of Your power, abase ourselves before Your purity.
It is the discovery of Your goodness alone that can banish our fear allure us into Your presence, help us to bewail and confess our sins.
We review our past guilt and are conscious of present unworthiness.
We bless You that Your steadfast love and attributes are essential to our happiness and hope;
You have witnessed to us Your grace and mercy in the bounties of nature, in the fullness of Your providence, in the revelations of Scripture, in the gift of Your Son, in the proclamation of the gospel.
Make us willing to be saved in Your own way, perceiving nothing in ourselves but all in Jesus.
Help us not only to receive Him but to walk in Him, commune with Him, follow Him as dear children, imperfect, but still pressing forward, not complaining of labor, but valuing rest, not murmuring under trials, but thankful for our state.
And by so doing let us silence the ignorance of foolish men. Amen.
We cannot escape from Your presence and control, nor do we desire to do so.
Our privilege is to be under the agency of Your omnipotence, righteousness, wisdom, patience, mercy and grace;
For You are Love with more than parental affection.
We admire Your goodness, stand in awe of Your power, abase ourselves before Your purity.
It is the discovery of Your goodness alone that can banish our fear allure us into Your presence, help us to bewail and confess our sins.
We review our past guilt and are conscious of present unworthiness.
We bless You that Your steadfast love and attributes are essential to our happiness and hope;
You have witnessed to us Your grace and mercy in the bounties of nature, in the fullness of Your providence, in the revelations of Scripture, in the gift of Your Son, in the proclamation of the gospel.
Make us willing to be saved in Your own way, perceiving nothing in ourselves but all in Jesus.
Help us not only to receive Him but to walk in Him, commune with Him, follow Him as dear children, imperfect, but still pressing forward, not complaining of labor, but valuing rest, not murmuring under trials, but thankful for our state.
And by so doing let us silence the ignorance of foolish men. Amen.
Friday Evening: The Mediator
O God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, We hope in Your Word.
There we see You, not on a fearful throne of judgment, but on a throne of grace waiting to be gracious and exalted in mercy.
There we hear You saying, not “Depart ye cursed’, but “Look unto me and be ye saved, for I am God and there is none else.”
They that know Your name put their trust in You.
How many now glorified in heaven, and what numbers living on earth, are Your witnesses, O God, exemplifying in their recovery from the ruins of the Fall the freeness, riches and efficacy of Your grace!
All that were ever saved were saved by You, and will through eternity exclaim, “Not unto us, but unto Your name give glory for Your mercy and truth’s sake.”
You have chosen to transact all Your concerns with us through a Mediator in whom all fullness dwells and who is exalted to be Prince and Savior.
To Him we look, on Him we depend, through Him we are justified.
May we derive relief from His sufferings without ceasing to abhor sin, or to long after holiness; feel the double efficacy of His blood, tranquillizing and cleansing our consciences;
Delight in His service as well as in His sacrifice; be constrained by His love to live not to ourselves but to Him;
Cherish a grateful and cheerful disposition, not murmuring and repining if our wishes are not indulged, or because some trials are blended with our enjoyments,
But, sensible of our desert, and impressed with the number and greatness of Your benefits, may we bless and praise You at all times. Amen.
There we see You, not on a fearful throne of judgment, but on a throne of grace waiting to be gracious and exalted in mercy.
There we hear You saying, not “Depart ye cursed’, but “Look unto me and be ye saved, for I am God and there is none else.”
They that know Your name put their trust in You.
How many now glorified in heaven, and what numbers living on earth, are Your witnesses, O God, exemplifying in their recovery from the ruins of the Fall the freeness, riches and efficacy of Your grace!
All that were ever saved were saved by You, and will through eternity exclaim, “Not unto us, but unto Your name give glory for Your mercy and truth’s sake.”
You have chosen to transact all Your concerns with us through a Mediator in whom all fullness dwells and who is exalted to be Prince and Savior.
To Him we look, on Him we depend, through Him we are justified.
May we derive relief from His sufferings without ceasing to abhor sin, or to long after holiness; feel the double efficacy of His blood, tranquillizing and cleansing our consciences;
Delight in His service as well as in His sacrifice; be constrained by His love to live not to ourselves but to Him;
Cherish a grateful and cheerful disposition, not murmuring and repining if our wishes are not indulged, or because some trials are blended with our enjoyments,
But, sensible of our desert, and impressed with the number and greatness of Your benefits, may we bless and praise You at all times. Amen.
Friday Morning: Remembering the Gospel is
Creator of the ends of the earth, Governor of the universe, Judge of all men, Head of the church, Saviour of sinners;
Your greatness is unsearchable, Your goodness infinite, Your compassions unfailing, Your providence boundless, Your mercies ever new. We bless You for the words of salvation.
How important, suitable, encouraging are the doctrines, promises, and invitations of the gospel of peace!
We are lost: but in it You have presented to us a full, free and eternal salvation; weak: but here we learn that help is found in One that is mighty, poor: but in Him we discover unsearchable riches, blind: but we find He has treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We thank You for Your unspeakable gift.
Your Son is our only refuge, foundation, hope, confidence; we depend upon His death, rest in His righteousness, desire to bear His image; May His glory fill our minds, His love reign in our affections, His cross inflame us with ardor.
Let us as Christians fill our various situations in life, escape the snares to which they expose us, discharge the duties that arise from our circumstances, enjoy with moderation their advantages, improve with diligence their usefulness, And may every place and company we are in be benefited by us. Amen.
Your greatness is unsearchable, Your goodness infinite, Your compassions unfailing, Your providence boundless, Your mercies ever new. We bless You for the words of salvation.
How important, suitable, encouraging are the doctrines, promises, and invitations of the gospel of peace!
We are lost: but in it You have presented to us a full, free and eternal salvation; weak: but here we learn that help is found in One that is mighty, poor: but in Him we discover unsearchable riches, blind: but we find He has treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We thank You for Your unspeakable gift.
Your Son is our only refuge, foundation, hope, confidence; we depend upon His death, rest in His righteousness, desire to bear His image; May His glory fill our minds, His love reign in our affections, His cross inflame us with ardor.
Let us as Christians fill our various situations in life, escape the snares to which they expose us, discharge the duties that arise from our circumstances, enjoy with moderation their advantages, improve with diligence their usefulness, And may every place and company we are in be benefited by us. Amen.
Saturday Evening: Future Blessings
O Lord God,
There is no blessing we implore but You are able to give, have promised to give, and have given already to countless multitudes, all unworthy and guilty like ourselves;
Make us willing to receive the supply of our need from Your bounty.
To this end convince us of sin; soften our hard hearts, to bewail our folly, ingratitude, pride, unbelief, rebellion, corruption.
Through the law may we die to the law, then look with wonder, submission, delight, to the provision You have made for the glory of Your Name in the salvation of sinners.
Give us a hope that makes us not ashamed, a love that excites to holy obedience, a joy in You that is our strength, a faith in Your Son who loved us and died for us.
May we persevere in duty when not fully conscious of You, wait upon You and keep Your way, be humble and earnest suppliants at Your feet, live continually as on the brink of eternity.
Let us be at Your disposal for the duties and events of life, submit our preferences to Your wisdom and will, resign our enjoyments if You should require it as our absolute Proprietor and best Friend.
In our unworthiness and provocations make us grateful for the means of grace and the ordinances of religion and teach us to profit by them more than we have done.
Help us to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, to enter upon the Sabbath mindful of its solemnities, duties, privileges, setting all things worldly aside while we worship Thee.
May we know the blessedness of men whose strength is in You and in whose hearts is the highway to heaven?
There is no blessing we implore but You are able to give, have promised to give, and have given already to countless multitudes, all unworthy and guilty like ourselves;
Make us willing to receive the supply of our need from Your bounty.
To this end convince us of sin; soften our hard hearts, to bewail our folly, ingratitude, pride, unbelief, rebellion, corruption.
Through the law may we die to the law, then look with wonder, submission, delight, to the provision You have made for the glory of Your Name in the salvation of sinners.
Give us a hope that makes us not ashamed, a love that excites to holy obedience, a joy in You that is our strength, a faith in Your Son who loved us and died for us.
May we persevere in duty when not fully conscious of You, wait upon You and keep Your way, be humble and earnest suppliants at Your feet, live continually as on the brink of eternity.
Let us be at Your disposal for the duties and events of life, submit our preferences to Your wisdom and will, resign our enjoyments if You should require it as our absolute Proprietor and best Friend.
In our unworthiness and provocations make us grateful for the means of grace and the ordinances of religion and teach us to profit by them more than we have done.
Help us to be in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, to enter upon the Sabbath mindful of its solemnities, duties, privileges, setting all things worldly aside while we worship Thee.
May we know the blessedness of men whose strength is in You and in whose hearts is the highway to heaven?
Saturday Morning: God’s Good Pleasure
Sovereign Lord,
Your will is supreme in heaven and earth, and all beings are creatures of Your power.
You are the Father of our spirits; Your inspiration gives us understanding, Your providence governs our lives.
But, O God, we are sinners in Your sight; You have judged us so, and if we deny it we declare You a liar.
Yet in Christ, we Your rebellious subjects, are reconciled to You; give us the ear of faith to hear Him, the eye of faith to see Him, the hand of faith to receive Him, the appetite of faith to feed upon Him; that we might find in Him light, riches, honor, and eternal life.
You are the inviting One, may we hearken to You; the Almighty Instructor, teach us to live to You; the Light-Dweller, inaccessible to man and angels, hiding Yourself behind the elements of creation, but known to us in Jesus. Possess our minds with grandeur of Your perfections.
Your love to us in Jesus is firm and changeless; nothing can separate us from it, and the enjoyment of it nothing can make us miserable.
Preserve us from hypocrisy and formality in religion; let it not be vain, deceiving our own hearts, but pure.
Enable us to remember what You are and what we are, to recall Your holiness and our unworthiness;
Help us to approach You clothed with humility, for vanity, forwardness, insensibility, disorderly affection, backwardness to duty, proneness to evil are in our hearts.
Let us never forget Your patience, wisdom, power, faithfulness, care, and never cease to respond to Your invitations.
Amen.
Your will is supreme in heaven and earth, and all beings are creatures of Your power.
You are the Father of our spirits; Your inspiration gives us understanding, Your providence governs our lives.
But, O God, we are sinners in Your sight; You have judged us so, and if we deny it we declare You a liar.
Yet in Christ, we Your rebellious subjects, are reconciled to You; give us the ear of faith to hear Him, the eye of faith to see Him, the hand of faith to receive Him, the appetite of faith to feed upon Him; that we might find in Him light, riches, honor, and eternal life.
You are the inviting One, may we hearken to You; the Almighty Instructor, teach us to live to You; the Light-Dweller, inaccessible to man and angels, hiding Yourself behind the elements of creation, but known to us in Jesus. Possess our minds with grandeur of Your perfections.
Your love to us in Jesus is firm and changeless; nothing can separate us from it, and the enjoyment of it nothing can make us miserable.
Preserve us from hypocrisy and formality in religion; let it not be vain, deceiving our own hearts, but pure.
Enable us to remember what You are and what we are, to recall Your holiness and our unworthiness;
Help us to approach You clothed with humility, for vanity, forwardness, insensibility, disorderly affection, backwardness to duty, proneness to evil are in our hearts.
Let us never forget Your patience, wisdom, power, faithfulness, care, and never cease to respond to Your invitations.
Amen.
Sunday Evening: The Teacher
O God, We bless You, our Creator, Preserver, benefactor, Teacher, for opening to us the volume of nature where we may read and consider Your works.
You have this day spread before us the fuller pages of revelation, and in them we see what You would have us do, what You require of us, what You have done for us, what You have promised to us, what You have given us in Jesus.
We pray for a conscious experience of His salvation, in our deliverance from sin, in our bearing His image, in our enjoying His presence, in our being upheld by his free Spirit.
Let us not live uncertain of what we are, of where we are going.
Bear witness with our spirit that we are Your children; and enable each one to say, ‘I know my Redeemer.”
Bless us with a growing sense of this salvation.
If already enlightened in Christ, may we see greater things; If quickened, may we have more abundant life, If renewed, let us go on from strength to strength.
Give us closer abiding in Jesus that we may bring forth more fruit, have a deeper sense of our obligations to Him, that we may surrender all, have a fuller joy, that we may serve Him more completely.
And may our faith work by love towards Him who died, towards our fellow believers, towards our fellow men. Amen.
You have this day spread before us the fuller pages of revelation, and in them we see what You would have us do, what You require of us, what You have done for us, what You have promised to us, what You have given us in Jesus.
We pray for a conscious experience of His salvation, in our deliverance from sin, in our bearing His image, in our enjoying His presence, in our being upheld by his free Spirit.
Let us not live uncertain of what we are, of where we are going.
Bear witness with our spirit that we are Your children; and enable each one to say, ‘I know my Redeemer.”
Bless us with a growing sense of this salvation.
If already enlightened in Christ, may we see greater things; If quickened, may we have more abundant life, If renewed, let us go on from strength to strength.
Give us closer abiding in Jesus that we may bring forth more fruit, have a deeper sense of our obligations to Him, that we may surrender all, have a fuller joy, that we may serve Him more completely.
And may our faith work by love towards Him who died, towards our fellow believers, towards our fellow men. Amen.
Sunday Morning – Worship
O Lord, We commune with You every day, but week days are worldly “daze”, and secular concerns reduce heavenly impressions.
We bless You therefore for the day sacred to our souls when we can wait upon You and be refreshed;
We thank You for the local church by use of which we draw near to You and You to us;
We rejoice in another Lord’s Day when we call off our minds from the cares of the world and attend upon You without distraction;
Let our retirement be devout, our conversation edifying, our reading pious, our hearing profitable, that our souls may be quickened and elevated.
We are the house of prayer; Your sanctuary, pour upon us the spirit of grace and supplication;
Awaken in us every grateful and cheerful emotion;
We are looking to You for instruction, give testimony to the Word preached, and glorify it in the hearts of all who hear; may it enlighten the ignorant, awaken the careless, reclaim the wandering, establish the weak, comfort the feeble-minded, make ready a people for their Lord.
Be a sanctuary to all who cannot come, Forget not those who never come, and do bestow upon us benevolence towards our dependants, forgiveness towards our enemies, peaceableness towards our neighbors, openness towards our fellow-Christians. In Jesus’ name, let this be so?
We bless You therefore for the day sacred to our souls when we can wait upon You and be refreshed;
We thank You for the local church by use of which we draw near to You and You to us;
We rejoice in another Lord’s Day when we call off our minds from the cares of the world and attend upon You without distraction;
Let our retirement be devout, our conversation edifying, our reading pious, our hearing profitable, that our souls may be quickened and elevated.
We are the house of prayer; Your sanctuary, pour upon us the spirit of grace and supplication;
Awaken in us every grateful and cheerful emotion;
We are looking to You for instruction, give testimony to the Word preached, and glorify it in the hearts of all who hear; may it enlighten the ignorant, awaken the careless, reclaim the wandering, establish the weak, comfort the feeble-minded, make ready a people for their Lord.
Be a sanctuary to all who cannot come, Forget not those who never come, and do bestow upon us benevolence towards our dependants, forgiveness towards our enemies, peaceableness towards our neighbors, openness towards our fellow-Christians. In Jesus’ name, let this be so?
Worship
Glorious God,
It is the flame of my life to worship You, the crown and glory of my soul to adore You, heavenly pleasure to approach You.
Give me power through Your Holy Spirit to help me worship now, that I may forget the world, be brought into fullness of life, be refreshed, comforted, and blessed.
Give me knowledge of Your goodness that I might not be over-awed by Your greatness;
Give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, Son of David,that I might not be terrified, but be drawn near with filial love, with holy boldness; He is my Mediator, Brother, Interpreter, Branch, Daysman, Lamb; Him I glorify, in Him I am set on high.
Crowns to give I have none, but what You have given I return, content to feel that everything is mine when it belongs to You, and more fully mine when I have yielded it to You.
Let me live wholly to my Savior, free from distractions, from burdensome anxiety, from hindrances to the pursuit of the narrow way.
I am pardoned through the blood of Jesus, give me a new sense of it, may I come every day to the fountain, and every day be washed anew, that I may worship You always in spirit and truth. Amen
It is the flame of my life to worship You, the crown and glory of my soul to adore You, heavenly pleasure to approach You.
Give me power through Your Holy Spirit to help me worship now, that I may forget the world, be brought into fullness of life, be refreshed, comforted, and blessed.
Give me knowledge of Your goodness that I might not be over-awed by Your greatness;
Give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, Son of David,that I might not be terrified, but be drawn near with filial love, with holy boldness; He is my Mediator, Brother, Interpreter, Branch, Daysman, Lamb; Him I glorify, in Him I am set on high.
Crowns to give I have none, but what You have given I return, content to feel that everything is mine when it belongs to You, and more fully mine when I have yielded it to You.
Let me live wholly to my Savior, free from distractions, from burdensome anxiety, from hindrances to the pursuit of the narrow way.
I am pardoned through the blood of Jesus, give me a new sense of it, may I come every day to the fountain, and every day be washed anew, that I may worship You always in spirit and truth. Amen
The Lord’s Supper
Jesus, Almighty God of All Good, how majestic is your name in all the earth, Your name is Jesus for You save Your people from their sins, these are our sins that we confess, cleanse us from them.
We thank You that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ; teach us to see in them Your loving purposes and the joys and strengths of our souls.
You have prepared for us a feast; and though unworthy to sit down as guests, we wholly rest on the merits of Jesus, and hide ourselves beneath His righteousness; Hearing His tender invitation and seeing His wondrous grace, we cannot hesitate, but must come to You in love. Help us to quit praying selfishly and be spent for others as the bond servants of Jesus. After all, in reality, that is the meaning of being made broken bread and poured out wine.
May Your Holy Spirit enliven our personal faith rightly to discern and spiritually to apprehend the Savior. While we gaze upon the emblems of our Savior’s death, may we ponder why He died, and hear Him say, “I gave my life to purchase yours, presented myself an offering to atone for your sin, shed my blood to blot out your guilt, opened my side to make you clean, endured your curses to set you free, bore your condemnation to satisfy divine justice.”
O may we rightly grasp the breadth and length of this design, draw near, obey, extend the hand take the bread, receive the cup, eat and drink, testify before all men that we do for ourselves, gladly, in faith, reverence and love, receive our Lord, to our lives, strength, nourishment, joy, and delight.
In this supper we remember your eternal love, boundless grace, infinite compassion, agony, cross, redemption, and receive assurance of pardon, adoption, life, and glory.
As the outward elements nourish our bodies, so may Your indwelling Spirit invigorate our souls, until that day when we hunger and thirst no more, and sit with Jesus at His heavenly feast,
Thank You for this bread which symbolizes your broken body, we eat it, and remember Your death until you come again to receive us unto Yourself. Amen.
We thank You that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ; teach us to see in them Your loving purposes and the joys and strengths of our souls.
You have prepared for us a feast; and though unworthy to sit down as guests, we wholly rest on the merits of Jesus, and hide ourselves beneath His righteousness; Hearing His tender invitation and seeing His wondrous grace, we cannot hesitate, but must come to You in love. Help us to quit praying selfishly and be spent for others as the bond servants of Jesus. After all, in reality, that is the meaning of being made broken bread and poured out wine.
May Your Holy Spirit enliven our personal faith rightly to discern and spiritually to apprehend the Savior. While we gaze upon the emblems of our Savior’s death, may we ponder why He died, and hear Him say, “I gave my life to purchase yours, presented myself an offering to atone for your sin, shed my blood to blot out your guilt, opened my side to make you clean, endured your curses to set you free, bore your condemnation to satisfy divine justice.”
O may we rightly grasp the breadth and length of this design, draw near, obey, extend the hand take the bread, receive the cup, eat and drink, testify before all men that we do for ourselves, gladly, in faith, reverence and love, receive our Lord, to our lives, strength, nourishment, joy, and delight.
In this supper we remember your eternal love, boundless grace, infinite compassion, agony, cross, redemption, and receive assurance of pardon, adoption, life, and glory.
As the outward elements nourish our bodies, so may Your indwelling Spirit invigorate our souls, until that day when we hunger and thirst no more, and sit with Jesus at His heavenly feast,
Thank You for this bread which symbolizes your broken body, we eat it, and remember Your death until you come again to receive us unto Yourself. Amen.
Eager to Share
Eager to Share
Lord Jesus, the more a believer comes to comprehend all he has in You the
more eager he should be to share You with others. Let us learn to be in practice what we
already are in Christ, because we love and have faith toward our Lord Jesus.
We pray that the sharing of our faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every
good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Let us give much joy and comfort to others
from our love, as the hearts of saints are refreshed through us. Let us not cease to give
thanks, remembering others in our prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of
You, having the eyes of our hearts enlightened, that we may know what is the hope to
which You have called us, what are the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and
what is the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the
working of Your great might that You worked in Christ when You raised Him from the dead
and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority
and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also
in the one to come. And it is my prayer that our love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, so that we may approve what is excellent, and so be pure
and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through
Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. We do not ceased to pray, asking that we may
be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to
walk in a manner worthy of You Lord, fully pleasing to You, bearing fruit in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God. Please, Father, let this be so.
Lord Jesus, the more a believer comes to comprehend all he has in You the
more eager he should be to share You with others. Let us learn to be in practice what we
already are in Christ, because we love and have faith toward our Lord Jesus.
We pray that the sharing of our faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every
good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Let us give much joy and comfort to others
from our love, as the hearts of saints are refreshed through us. Let us not cease to give
thanks, remembering others in our prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of glory, may give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of
You, having the eyes of our hearts enlightened, that we may know what is the hope to
which You have called us, what are the riches of Your glorious inheritance in the saints, and
what is the immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the
working of Your great might that You worked in Christ when You raised Him from the dead
and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority
and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also
in the one to come. And it is my prayer that our love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, so that we may approve what is excellent, and so be pure
and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through
Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. We do not ceased to pray, asking that we may
be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to
walk in a manner worthy of You Lord, fully pleasing to You, bearing fruit in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God. Please, Father, let this be so.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
My Prayer
Oh Lord my God, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! Let us arise and come unto our Father. Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight Oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. You make us to lie down in green pastures. You lead us beside still waters. You restore our souls. You lead us in the paths of righteousness for your namesake. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Help us to be still and know that you are our God, taking time to be holy, help us to exalt your name among the unbelieving. You are exalted in all the earth! You are our fortress and our rock! Though evil abounds your grace abounds more, deeper and wider than all our sin. Jesus Christ shall destroy all the evil works of darkness. If our God were for us, nothing shall stand against us! You are good Father, your mercy is everlasting and your Truth endures to all generations! You are merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. You remember that we are dust and our days are as grass. Bless the Lord oh our souls! Let young men and girls, old timers and children, praise the name of the Lord, for Your name alone is excellent, Your glory is above the earth and heaven. Praise You, the Lord! How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You. You alone are the Lord! You are worthy, Oh Lord to receive glory and honour and power for You have created all things and for Your pleasure they all are and were created. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing! Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever!
As those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, guide our feet in the way of peace. You have given us spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Make us holy and without blame before You in love. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit as You have sealed us with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the down payment of our inheritance, unto the praise of Your glory. Help us to worship and bow down, and to kneel before our God and maker. Soften our hearts; help us not to provoke You to anger, for You are our God. Keep us from error in our hearts, and help me to know Your ways. Let us have rest as we rest in You, the Lord Sabboth. Holy, holy, holy are you Lord God, who was, and is, and is to come. You are worthy Oh Lord to receive glory and honour, and power, for You have created all things for Your pleasure.
Your Word has said, and we trust with all our being, that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Help us to see our sins as You see them, with Your pure eyes and loving heart. Help us to acknowledge our sins. Blot out our transgressions; cleanse us thoroughly from our inequity. Cleanse us as only You can, make us whiter than snow dear Lord. Our vilest and most disgusting sins are hypocrisies, concupiscence, idolatries, adulteries, lying, stealing, murders, covetousness, slothfulness on the Lord’s day, “Lord, we have trusted thee, and thy name is Jesus, for thou dost save thy people from their sins; Lord, these are our sins; save us from them!”[1] Help us not to worship and sware by the Lord while at the same time, swearing by an idol set up in our own minds. Help us our God to love you with all our hearts, souls, strengths, and minds. Teach us how to, not only love our neighbors, but our enemies as ourselves. Please heal our infirmities, open our eyes that we may see spiritual truths you have for us, dig out our ears that we might have ears to hear Your Word, let us walk uprightly, no longer bent over by the load of guilt & shame, cleanse the leprosy of our flesh. Healed by You, let us by your grace help others who have been wounded. If when we know to do well, and don’t do it, we know this is sin. Only You dear Lord can strengthen us to turn our backs on the pleasures of sin, and to payback what is owed to those we have defrauded. Help us to accept by faith the new lives you have given us, and the cleansing that comes with confession.
We know and trust that we are in Christ, that is, we are new creatures, separated from what we were. All things our old selves love, we want them to die. We want all things to become new in You! Father, teach us that patient silence is the best reply to a gainsaying world? Calm endurance answers some questions infinitely more conclusively than the loftiest eloquence. Please Lord; help us to be anvils that break a host of hammers by quietly bearing their blows.
Teach us to rejoice all the time, to have joy even in times of sorrow! Help us to have Your Word in our hearts abundantly that we are always in an attitude of prayer and praise because our thoughts are filled with You. How do we thank You for those things that hurt and bring tears to our eyes? Show us how to use these things to draw us closer to You? What is it that You want us to do, to accomplish Your will in our lives, concerning Your Son Jesus Christ? What saith my Lord unto His servant? …(Selah)…
Theo, if you would know the path of duty, take Me for your compass; if you would steer your ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if you would let Me, your Heavenly Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand you might well avoid, if you would leave to My sovereign will to choose and to command. “As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he’ll cut his own fingers;” this is a great truth. “He that goes before the cloud of God’s providence goes on a fool’s errand;” and so he does. You must mark God’s providence leading you; and if providence tarries, tarry till providence comes. He, who goes before providence, will be very glad to run back again. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which you shall go,” is God’s promise to you. Bring all perplexities to Me, and say, “Lord, what will You have me to do?” Leave not your chamber this morning without enquiring of Me!!
“Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”
— Psalm 73:24
The Psalmist felt his need of divine guidance. He had just been discovering the foolishness of his own heart, and lest he should be constantly led astray by it, he resolved that God’s counsel should henceforth guide him. A sense of our own folly is a great step towards being wise, when it leads us to rely on the wisdom of the Lord. The blind man leans on his friend’s arm and reaches home in safety, and so would we give ourselves up implicitly to divine guidance, nothing doubting; assured that though we cannot see, it is always safe to trust the all-seeing God. “Thou shalt,” is a blessed expression of confidence. He was sure that the Lord would not decline the condescending task. There is a word for thee, O believer; rest thou in it. Be assured that thy God will be thy counselor and friend; he shall guide thee; he will direct all thy ways. In his written Word thou hast this assurance in part fulfilled, for Holy Scripture is his counsel to thee. Happy are we to have God’s Word always to guide us! What were the mariners without his compass? And what were the Christian without the Bible? This is the unerring chart, the map in which every shoal is described, and all the channels from the quicksand of destruction to the haven of salvation mapped and marked by one who knows all the way. Blessed be thou, O God, that we may trust thee to guide us now, and guide us even to the end! After this guidance through life, the Psalmist anticipates a divine reception at last—“and afterward receive me to glory.” What a thought for thee, believer! God himself will receive thee to glory—thee! Wandering, erring, straying, yet he will bring thee safe at last to glory! This is thy portion; live on it this day, and if perplexities should surround thee, go in the strength of this text straight to the throne. [2]
Take away the fear in our hearts and replace it with perfect love by Your Holy Spirit. Help us not to hate reproof, correction, and instruction, but make us perfect and upright! Teach us to fear You, help us to hate evil in our hearts and to turn from it. Show us how to despise this present world, help us to be Spiritually minded and not fleshly in our thoughts. Only you dear father can arm us to stand against our adversary. Let us show to ourselves, and to others the proof of your strength and your good and acceptable will. Let us not even give the appearance of impropriety, for Your namesake. Thank you dear Father for our names being written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, for your indwelling Holy Spirit, and for the Word of God written in our own languages, that we may read it through, pray it in, and by your grace, live it out. Thank you for my dear wife, my precious children, my friends, my acquaintances, and my colleagues. Thank you for a Bible believing local church with godly pastors and fellow deacons. Thank you for the freedom bought for us by brave men who died that we may worship you according to the dictates of our conscience. Thank you heavenly Father, for the food in our bellies, the clothes on our backs, and the roves over our heads. You are our strength and shield, as we trust in You, we are helped. Our hearts rejoice and our songs will praise You. You our Lord are the strength of the people you have saved. Bless your inheritance as you feed us and lift us up forever.
Calm our anxieties, precious Lord, as we pray, and seek Your will, thanking You always. Help us to make You know our true desires. Let Your peace that comes only from You, watch over and guard our emotions and reasoning, for this purpose, that our will might be subject to You, blessed Lord! Oh, that you would bless us indeed, and enlarge our territories, that Your hand would be with us, and that you would keep us from evil. Hear my prayers for my beloved wife and daughters, help Karen, Amy, & Kristin, to be strong women who workout everyday to keep their bodies in shape, but also women of strength who kneel in prayer to keep their souls in shape, make them strong women who aren’t afraid of anything, but also women of strength who show courage even in the midst of their fear, make them strong women who won’t let anyone get the best of them, but also women of strength, who give the very best of themselves to others, make them strong women who walk sure footedly through this world, but also women of strength who know that when they fall, God will catch them, make them strong women who wear the look of confidence on their faces, but also women of strength who wear grace , graciously, make them strong women who have confidence that their faith is strong enough for the journey, but also women of strength that know in their hearts, that it is in the journey that their faith is made strong. Be with my dear sons Will & Mark helping them with their quiet time, taking time to be holy & being still and knowing that you are God. Let them exalt Your name among the unbelieving & ungodly, let them exalt You where ever in the world they may be, let them be lead by you to lead their wives & children in family devotions. Bless my dear grandsons Jacob Tyler, Jack Edwards, and Jesse Mark; as well as my granddaughters Emma K and Olivia Elaine; let them grow up in the nurture, admonition & adoration, of You, Lord. Bless my close friends, my acquaintances, my colleagues, and my local church, the President of the United States, the United States House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. Hear my prayers for the children of Israel, and for the peace of Jerusalem. Hear oh Lord my plea concerning work, my character, my health, my joys and my sorrows. “Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may see my Saviour present with me.” Help me to Humble myself before Your mighty hand Oh God, that You may exalt me in due time. Show me how to cast all my cares upon You, and give me confidence that You care for me.
Now unto You who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. “Come, Lord, and abide with us. Come, and occupy alone the throne of our hearts; reign there without a rival, and consecrate us entirely to thy service. Open thou our hearts and our whole being to thine incoming, and uphold us with thy free Spirit when we shall have received that Spirit in our inward parts.” Glory to our Father, to the Son, to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen!
These are the words spoken in prayer by T. R. Edwards who was baptized into the Universal Church by the Holy Spirit on 20 April 1969, and then baptized into the local church at Worthington, Pennsylvania, by Pastor Donald Lumeree on 20 July 1969.
[1]Spurgeon, Charles H., Morning and Evening, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
[2]Spurgeon, Charles H., Morning and Evening, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
As those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, guide our feet in the way of peace. You have given us spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Make us holy and without blame before You in love. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit as You have sealed us with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the down payment of our inheritance, unto the praise of Your glory. Help us to worship and bow down, and to kneel before our God and maker. Soften our hearts; help us not to provoke You to anger, for You are our God. Keep us from error in our hearts, and help me to know Your ways. Let us have rest as we rest in You, the Lord Sabboth. Holy, holy, holy are you Lord God, who was, and is, and is to come. You are worthy Oh Lord to receive glory and honour, and power, for You have created all things for Your pleasure.
Your Word has said, and we trust with all our being, that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Help us to see our sins as You see them, with Your pure eyes and loving heart. Help us to acknowledge our sins. Blot out our transgressions; cleanse us thoroughly from our inequity. Cleanse us as only You can, make us whiter than snow dear Lord. Our vilest and most disgusting sins are hypocrisies, concupiscence, idolatries, adulteries, lying, stealing, murders, covetousness, slothfulness on the Lord’s day, “Lord, we have trusted thee, and thy name is Jesus, for thou dost save thy people from their sins; Lord, these are our sins; save us from them!”[1] Help us not to worship and sware by the Lord while at the same time, swearing by an idol set up in our own minds. Help us our God to love you with all our hearts, souls, strengths, and minds. Teach us how to, not only love our neighbors, but our enemies as ourselves. Please heal our infirmities, open our eyes that we may see spiritual truths you have for us, dig out our ears that we might have ears to hear Your Word, let us walk uprightly, no longer bent over by the load of guilt & shame, cleanse the leprosy of our flesh. Healed by You, let us by your grace help others who have been wounded. If when we know to do well, and don’t do it, we know this is sin. Only You dear Lord can strengthen us to turn our backs on the pleasures of sin, and to payback what is owed to those we have defrauded. Help us to accept by faith the new lives you have given us, and the cleansing that comes with confession.
We know and trust that we are in Christ, that is, we are new creatures, separated from what we were. All things our old selves love, we want them to die. We want all things to become new in You! Father, teach us that patient silence is the best reply to a gainsaying world? Calm endurance answers some questions infinitely more conclusively than the loftiest eloquence. Please Lord; help us to be anvils that break a host of hammers by quietly bearing their blows.
Teach us to rejoice all the time, to have joy even in times of sorrow! Help us to have Your Word in our hearts abundantly that we are always in an attitude of prayer and praise because our thoughts are filled with You. How do we thank You for those things that hurt and bring tears to our eyes? Show us how to use these things to draw us closer to You? What is it that You want us to do, to accomplish Your will in our lives, concerning Your Son Jesus Christ? What saith my Lord unto His servant? …(Selah)…
Theo, if you would know the path of duty, take Me for your compass; if you would steer your ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if you would let Me, your Heavenly Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand you might well avoid, if you would leave to My sovereign will to choose and to command. “As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he’ll cut his own fingers;” this is a great truth. “He that goes before the cloud of God’s providence goes on a fool’s errand;” and so he does. You must mark God’s providence leading you; and if providence tarries, tarry till providence comes. He, who goes before providence, will be very glad to run back again. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which you shall go,” is God’s promise to you. Bring all perplexities to Me, and say, “Lord, what will You have me to do?” Leave not your chamber this morning without enquiring of Me!!
“Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”
— Psalm 73:24
The Psalmist felt his need of divine guidance. He had just been discovering the foolishness of his own heart, and lest he should be constantly led astray by it, he resolved that God’s counsel should henceforth guide him. A sense of our own folly is a great step towards being wise, when it leads us to rely on the wisdom of the Lord. The blind man leans on his friend’s arm and reaches home in safety, and so would we give ourselves up implicitly to divine guidance, nothing doubting; assured that though we cannot see, it is always safe to trust the all-seeing God. “Thou shalt,” is a blessed expression of confidence. He was sure that the Lord would not decline the condescending task. There is a word for thee, O believer; rest thou in it. Be assured that thy God will be thy counselor and friend; he shall guide thee; he will direct all thy ways. In his written Word thou hast this assurance in part fulfilled, for Holy Scripture is his counsel to thee. Happy are we to have God’s Word always to guide us! What were the mariners without his compass? And what were the Christian without the Bible? This is the unerring chart, the map in which every shoal is described, and all the channels from the quicksand of destruction to the haven of salvation mapped and marked by one who knows all the way. Blessed be thou, O God, that we may trust thee to guide us now, and guide us even to the end! After this guidance through life, the Psalmist anticipates a divine reception at last—“and afterward receive me to glory.” What a thought for thee, believer! God himself will receive thee to glory—thee! Wandering, erring, straying, yet he will bring thee safe at last to glory! This is thy portion; live on it this day, and if perplexities should surround thee, go in the strength of this text straight to the throne. [2]
Take away the fear in our hearts and replace it with perfect love by Your Holy Spirit. Help us not to hate reproof, correction, and instruction, but make us perfect and upright! Teach us to fear You, help us to hate evil in our hearts and to turn from it. Show us how to despise this present world, help us to be Spiritually minded and not fleshly in our thoughts. Only you dear father can arm us to stand against our adversary. Let us show to ourselves, and to others the proof of your strength and your good and acceptable will. Let us not even give the appearance of impropriety, for Your namesake. Thank you dear Father for our names being written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, for your indwelling Holy Spirit, and for the Word of God written in our own languages, that we may read it through, pray it in, and by your grace, live it out. Thank you for my dear wife, my precious children, my friends, my acquaintances, and my colleagues. Thank you for a Bible believing local church with godly pastors and fellow deacons. Thank you for the freedom bought for us by brave men who died that we may worship you according to the dictates of our conscience. Thank you heavenly Father, for the food in our bellies, the clothes on our backs, and the roves over our heads. You are our strength and shield, as we trust in You, we are helped. Our hearts rejoice and our songs will praise You. You our Lord are the strength of the people you have saved. Bless your inheritance as you feed us and lift us up forever.
Calm our anxieties, precious Lord, as we pray, and seek Your will, thanking You always. Help us to make You know our true desires. Let Your peace that comes only from You, watch over and guard our emotions and reasoning, for this purpose, that our will might be subject to You, blessed Lord! Oh, that you would bless us indeed, and enlarge our territories, that Your hand would be with us, and that you would keep us from evil. Hear my prayers for my beloved wife and daughters, help Karen, Amy, & Kristin, to be strong women who workout everyday to keep their bodies in shape, but also women of strength who kneel in prayer to keep their souls in shape, make them strong women who aren’t afraid of anything, but also women of strength who show courage even in the midst of their fear, make them strong women who won’t let anyone get the best of them, but also women of strength, who give the very best of themselves to others, make them strong women who walk sure footedly through this world, but also women of strength who know that when they fall, God will catch them, make them strong women who wear the look of confidence on their faces, but also women of strength who wear grace , graciously, make them strong women who have confidence that their faith is strong enough for the journey, but also women of strength that know in their hearts, that it is in the journey that their faith is made strong. Be with my dear sons Will & Mark helping them with their quiet time, taking time to be holy & being still and knowing that you are God. Let them exalt Your name among the unbelieving & ungodly, let them exalt You where ever in the world they may be, let them be lead by you to lead their wives & children in family devotions. Bless my dear grandsons Jacob Tyler, Jack Edwards, and Jesse Mark; as well as my granddaughters Emma K and Olivia Elaine; let them grow up in the nurture, admonition & adoration, of You, Lord. Bless my close friends, my acquaintances, my colleagues, and my local church, the President of the United States, the United States House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Supreme Court. Hear my prayers for the children of Israel, and for the peace of Jerusalem. Hear oh Lord my plea concerning work, my character, my health, my joys and my sorrows. “Lord, open thou mine eyes, that I may see my Saviour present with me.” Help me to Humble myself before Your mighty hand Oh God, that You may exalt me in due time. Show me how to cast all my cares upon You, and give me confidence that You care for me.
Now unto You who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of Your glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. “Come, Lord, and abide with us. Come, and occupy alone the throne of our hearts; reign there without a rival, and consecrate us entirely to thy service. Open thou our hearts and our whole being to thine incoming, and uphold us with thy free Spirit when we shall have received that Spirit in our inward parts.” Glory to our Father, to the Son, to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, Amen!
These are the words spoken in prayer by T. R. Edwards who was baptized into the Universal Church by the Holy Spirit on 20 April 1969, and then baptized into the local church at Worthington, Pennsylvania, by Pastor Donald Lumeree on 20 July 1969.
[1]Spurgeon, Charles H., Morning and Evening, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
[2]Spurgeon, Charles H., Morning and Evening, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
My Testimony
Rom. 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom. 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom. 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom. 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom. 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1Jn. 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Jas. 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
2 Cor. 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Yes, Lord, yes! This is our heart’s desire. Forgive us for adrenaline spurts of righteousness. Forgive us for little sprints of holiness. Forgive us for short flashes of noble-minded sacrifice. Build into the fiber of our faith a rugged, resilient, never-say-die perseverance in the cause of truth and love! Make us coronary Christians! In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
AMEN, Lord! Grant that we will love Christ above all things. And may we spend our pilgrim life learning to love this world less and heaven more. Put us out of taste with the delicacies of the devil, and give us a liking for the solid joys of Christ. Guard us from the allurements of the lodgings of this journey, and fix our eyes on the end. And so, Father, make us useful to this world, loving, helping, serving here, while leading people up to God. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Lord, let us never cease to marvel at Your mercy and Your might! These are the twin wonders along with Your wisdom that give us hope when all around our soul gives way. Your mercy, Your might, Your wisdom! You are very great, and we praise You. Strengthen us the way You did Paul by word and, if necessary, by affliction. May Satan’s devices in our lives ever be turned against his evil designs and made to serve Your righteous ones. Grant us always to believe that Your invisible hand rules the world and is ruled by a heart of holy love and perfect wisdom. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus! And while You tarry, keep us free from the sin of this world. Oh, make our little lives count for the glory of Your name and for the fame of You Father. Rivet our attention on Your cross, and fuse our affections to Yourself. Waken our compassion for all who suffer, especially those who are rushing toward everlasting misery because of unbelief. So open our mouths and open our hands and open our wallets while we have breath, and make us the most radically loving people on earth, for the joy of all peoples and renown of Your name, AMEN.
Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom. 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom. 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Rom. 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom. 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom. 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1Jn. 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Jas. 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
2 Cor. 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
Yes, Lord, yes! This is our heart’s desire. Forgive us for adrenaline spurts of righteousness. Forgive us for little sprints of holiness. Forgive us for short flashes of noble-minded sacrifice. Build into the fiber of our faith a rugged, resilient, never-say-die perseverance in the cause of truth and love! Make us coronary Christians! In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
AMEN, Lord! Grant that we will love Christ above all things. And may we spend our pilgrim life learning to love this world less and heaven more. Put us out of taste with the delicacies of the devil, and give us a liking for the solid joys of Christ. Guard us from the allurements of the lodgings of this journey, and fix our eyes on the end. And so, Father, make us useful to this world, loving, helping, serving here, while leading people up to God. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Lord, let us never cease to marvel at Your mercy and Your might! These are the twin wonders along with Your wisdom that give us hope when all around our soul gives way. Your mercy, Your might, Your wisdom! You are very great, and we praise You. Strengthen us the way You did Paul by word and, if necessary, by affliction. May Satan’s devices in our lives ever be turned against his evil designs and made to serve Your righteous ones. Grant us always to believe that Your invisible hand rules the world and is ruled by a heart of holy love and perfect wisdom. In Jesus’ name, let it be so.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus! And while You tarry, keep us free from the sin of this world. Oh, make our little lives count for the glory of Your name and for the fame of You Father. Rivet our attention on Your cross, and fuse our affections to Yourself. Waken our compassion for all who suffer, especially those who are rushing toward everlasting misery because of unbelief. So open our mouths and open our hands and open our wallets while we have breath, and make us the most radically loving people on earth, for the joy of all peoples and renown of Your name, AMEN.
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