Thursday, December 31, 2009

"The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil 4:5,6

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

December 29

"Help us, our loving Lord, no longer to be controlled by our appetites, our desires, our selfish aims. May we be controlled by your will and Spirit. May your Spirit dwell within us, to help us choose and act aright. Amen."

Monday, December 28, 2009

December 28

"Knowing, O God, the sin of the human heart, and knowing tha all have sinned, may we realize as well that you have conquered sin. May we fear you and trust you. May sin find its Conqueror in our lives this day as Christ fights our battles with and for us. We ask in his name. Amen."

December 27

"We thank you that you took upon yourself the form of sinful man and became like us. With the same power that made you like us may we gain the victory which will make us like you. For your name's sake. Amen."

Saturday, December 26, 2009

December 26

"Blessed Master, may the simple story of your birth - the faith, the humility, the gentleness, the joy, the gifts, the consecration - prompt us to learn again the real and valuable lessons of life. May we sing again the angels' song, and join with them in the glad praise of the Christmas season. Amen."

Friday, December 25, 2009

December 25

"O you who are the Giver of every good and perfect gift, may this day be merry with child voices and childhood memories; bright with loving gifts of self-forgetfulness; peaceful with quiet thoughts and sure promises. May the angels echo in our hearts all day the good tidings of great joy. In the name of Christ. Amen."

Christmas Day

"O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray. Be born in us today. May we, like the shepherds, go back to our tasks with their joy of constant inspiriation. May life's common fields echo and reecho with the angels' song, as we reflect the life of him whose childlike spirit we have gained. In his name. Amen."

Christmas Day

Dear, loving Father, as we bow before you on this happy Christmas morning, may we realize how near you are to every heart; how you love the little children; how you give yourself to men and women, and how we may wish for each other a merry, blessed Christmas by giving to one another the spirit of our Master. For his sake. Amen."

Thursday, December 24, 2009

December 24

"Infinite and eternal God, may the wise men from far nations bring again their treasured gifts to you, and gaze upon your simplicity and sinlessness. May the vision abide as they return with them to their peoples. And may our boys gain the inspiring vision of the heavenly Jerusalem for all of life's journey. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

December 23

"Shine into our lives, o Star of Bethlehem. Led by your constant light, may we never dread the night, nor fear the dangers of life's journey. May we, like the wise men of old, pass through formal Jerusalem, even to Bethlehem, and find the manger and bow before the real King of love and light. Amen."

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

December 22

"Dear Saviour, may we always live as in your presence. When trouble and loss come, may we know that you are near. May death and the grave lose their sting in the triumph of faith, and may we know the glory of your resurrection. Amen."

Monday, December 21, 2009

December 21

"May we, our Father in heaven, give to the world the good seed of your living truth. May we scatter it everywhere, not questioning our responsibility because we doubt the fitness of the soil. Help us today to do our part in sowing the seed, and will you guide us to the good ground. For Jesus' sake. Amen."

Sunday, December 20, 2009

December 20

"O you who are our infinite Creator, may we listen and heed, and then build and complete. Grant to us listening hearts and willing hands, that in the day of storm our rock-firm houses may stand, and honor the Master Builder. Amen."

Saturday, December 19, 2009

December 19

"Build us up, dear Lord, with and in your truth. May we spend more time with you in your living Word, studying its simplicity, memorizing its messages, and gaining its spirit. May we speak the truth always and never depart from it. And may we give it to others whenever we speak. For your name's sake. Amen."

Friday, December 18, 2009

"The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous." Prov 15:29

December 18

"O God of love, teach us to love you as we ought. Teach us to give up to others. May we understand your law of sacrifice and surrender. May we love each other by obeying your law of yeilding love, and may we learn to love by giving ourselves. Amen."

Thursday, December 17, 2009

December 17

"Our loving and gracious Father, may we find and remain in the secret place of safety. May we be kept by your almighty power as we live in your presence. May we have the constant peace and confidence of those who know and trust you. For your name's sake. Amen."

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

December 16

"Our heavenly Father, may we glory in the persecution which comes to those who seek the victory over wrong. Raise up men who will hurl defiance against those whose ill-gotten gains are destroying human life. Save the young womanhood of our day from becoming prey to avarice, and may we hear the song of victory, even if it come from a prison cell. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen."

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

December 15

"Dear Lord, we would rejoice constantly in you. We would gain that quiet, controlled character which knows your constant presence and receives your peace. May we learn with your servant of old to be content wherever placed by you, ever knowing the blessing of high and pure thoughts. Amen."

Monday, December 14, 2009

December 14

"O you who are our Father in heaven, fill us, we pray you, with a more controlling love for you. May we prize life's values, but not as we prize you and your works. May we attempt great things for you by a living faith in the power of the unattained in Christ. In his name. Amen."

Sunday, December 13, 2009

December 13

"Our blessed Master, free us, we pray you, from the false estimates of the Christian life. May we not feel that we are bound to do right, but freed from doing wrong. May we glory in hard work, and in the victory of faith to conquer our own selves. For your name's sake. Amen."

Saturday, December 12, 2009

December 12

"O Lord, our Master, life is a troubled sea with many who know they are perishing, but do not know your wonderful presence. May we, your followers, not only cry to you, but tell others that you are ready to dwell with everyone, that you are waiting to be asked to speak peace and quietness. Amen."

Friday, December 11, 2009

December 11

"Our gracious and loving Father, grant to us your constant peace, that we may not injure our lives and dispositions by worry. May we take your at your word, and trust you. May we care less for life's appearances and more for life's higher values, looking to you daily and hourly for strength of heart and courage. For Jesus' sake. Amen."

Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Devil Fears

The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless works and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray." - Samuel Chadwick

December 10

"Dear Master, may we strive to understand your purposes, following you so closely in the ordinary things of life that we never wait for the miraculous or extreme. May we bear bravely each lonely burden, trusting your unseen hand to help and direct, May the wave become a way because our eyes ever meet thine. Amen."

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

December 9

"Our dear Saviour, whose readiness to help precedes our sense of danger, give us knowledge of your power to protect, that we may never fear the waves that break and roar. May we know that you are near, amid every difficulty, and that you will pilot us home in safety. Amen."

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

December 8

"Dear Father in heaven, teach us to realize how you have provided for your children, and to long for opportunities of showing your greatness to all men, our brothers, many of whom have been estranged from you by false gods. In the name of your dear Son, our Lord. Amen."

Monday, December 7, 2009

December 7

"Dear Christ, give to your followers appreciation of human needs. Make us less bitter in criticism, more gentle in sympathy, and more generous with your invitations. Make us better servants, that we may follow our Master's example more truly, going about doing good and helping the heavily burdened. Amen."

Sunday, December 6, 2009

December 6

"Dear Father, help us to remember that God is stronger than all the forces of evil, and that though the message of the gospel the right must win, no matter how long the battle. Give us the courage of Christ, together with his patience and forbearance. In his name. Amen."

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Sundays in December

Our loving Lord, we long to emulate your example in filling the Sabbath with deeds of loving service. May this day be a day of holy purpose, gentle life and constant blessing. May the eyes of the blind be opened at your divine touch. Amen."

December 5

"Eternal and most merciful God, we thank you that you are a God of justice as well as a God of love. We thank you that those who despise your law and waste and ruin your children shall suffer punishment. We thank you that vengeance is yours, that you will repay. Save us all from your wrath. In Christ's name. Amen."

Friday, December 4, 2009

December 4

"Dear Father, in heaven, save us, we pray you, from allowing selfishness and sin to gain any power over us. May we be so bear to you through the knowledge of your Word that ew may flee from teh merest suggestion of wrong. May one sin never seek to protect another, because we kill the first sin before it grow. By the Saviour's power. Amen."

Thursday, December 3, 2009

December 3

"Dear Saviour, you who left the glory of your Father's mansions to open for us the gates of the kingdom, who did bid us to become heirs with you, grant us of your Spirit, that this wealth may make us better able to serve you. Amen."

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

December 2

"Dear Lord and Master, we thank you for your protecting care and your saving power. May the children profit by the example of those who have gone before. May no opposition of our enemies tempt us to compromise, but may we resist evil always more definitely. Amen."

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

December 1

"Our loving Lord and Master, may we see beyond the judgment to your mercy and loving-kindness. May life be filled with sweet rather than with bitter, with joy rather than with sorrow, because we trust your perfect plan and know that all things work together for good to them that love you. May we all have a victorious home in the great future you have provided for your own. Amen."

November 30

"Our blessed Lord, we praise you for your constant presence in our lives. May we know that you are close at hand when there is no evidence of you. May we trust and obey you even if we seem to destroy our hopes and your plan, knowing that you will speak when you are ready. Give us a trust like Abraham's. In the Saviour's name. Amen."

November 29

"Almighty God, our Fahter in heaven, may we be great in faith and hope. Grant to us, we pray you, the vision of the unseen, that we may not let the seen become a fence to hide from us your great beyond. May we know that your promises are sure and dependable. Trusting you, may our faith never flag. For Jesus' sake. Amen."