05.01. FIRST WEEK

FIRST WEEK

SUNDAY MORNING

We begin this Sunday with You, our Father. It is Your day. You claim it for Yourself, and we desire to make it Yours indeed. You have given it to us, not as a hardship, a burdensome observance — but a day of blessing. We need its rest that we may keep well and strong; we need its spiritual privileges that our hearts may be kept warm and loving. If we had no Sunday, we would soon let You slip out of our thoughts, out of our life. So we thank You for the day which You have ordained in love for us. May this Sunday be full of blessing for us. We would leave the world outside. Help us to keep the day so as to please You and receive good for ourselves. In the quiet around us may we hear Your voice of gentle stillness speaking to us words of love. May our home life be made sweet by Your presence with us. Our minds have been ruffled and distracted by the cares of the week. Give us Your peace this morning. May all fret and anxiety be taken out of our hearts. If the world has gotten too strong a hold on us in the six days past, may Your grace now so possess us that You shall rule again supreme in our lives. May our love for You be strengthened, so as to expel the love of the world.

Sanctify to us, all of this day’s privileges. As we read Your word, may its lessons be made plain to us. Help us to receive its instruction into our hearts, so that our lives shall be controlled by it. As we pray, may Heaven’s blessings be given to us:
comfort for our sorrow,
strength for our weakness,
guidance for our feet, and
wisdom for our ignorance. As we seek to be a blessing to others — may we receive the mind that was in Christ Jesus. We ask all in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

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SUNDAY EVENING At the close of this blessed Sunday, we come to You, our Father, with our evening worship. We thank You for all the day has been to us, with its quiet, its sweet home life, its services, and its opportunities for ministry. Sanctify to us all these privileges, and may their influence follow us all the week. May we be able to bear our burdens more cheerfully, to do our work better, to endure our struggles more victoriously, by reason of this Sunday’s blessing.

We desire to grow in grace, in knowledge of spiritual things, and in whatever things are lovely. May the results of this day’s rest and teachings abide in us . . .
in quickened spiritual life,
in deeper earnestness, and
in intenser hunger and thirst after righteousness. May Your words which we have read and heard stay with us, hidden in our hearts, helping us to live more worthily. May they . . .
comfort our sorrow,
strengthen our weakness,
enrich our knowledge, and
brighten our paths for us.

We beseech You, O God, to follow with Your blessing, the work which has been done this day in the churches. Thousands of earnest ministers have preached the gospel; bless every word spoken in love for Jesus. Let not a grain of the golden seed of truth be lost — but may the Holy Spirit use sermons and lessons and the words dropped by the wayside, to do good.

We remember in special love all our friends, all who are dear to us, all who speak our names to You in prayer. Whatever their circumstances, grant them the blessing which they need.

Receive us now into Your care for the night. Spread over us the sheltering wings of Your love and keep us, we ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

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MONDAY MORNING

We are beginning another work-day week, our Father, and we desire Your blessing. Sanctify to us the Sunday’s rest, and may its lessons not be forgotten. May we carry them with us into the busy days. We shall have so much to do that we may not find time for quiet thoughts; but may the memories of Sunday cling to us through all the hours and prove continual inspirations to us. May the Sunday songs keep singing in our hearts all the while, as we go about our work, making music there wherever we go.

Help us to live out, this week, in our common, everyday life — the things we learned yesterday in Your sanctuary. We want to make all our faith real in actual life. We have seen visions of spiritual beauty as we meditated upon Your word; we desire to get these visions into our life, so that we shall have the beauty of the Lord upon us. We have read again Your commandments as they are written in Your word; we desire now to keep these commandments, so that our lives shall conform to Your holy law. But it is hard for us to be holy and to do right. We make good resolves on Sunday, and we intend to keep them. But in the busy week-days we forget our good resolutions, and easily drop back into our old carelessness. We need more and more of Your grace, to help us to be faithful and to do our best. The spirit is willing — but the flesh is weak. Strengthen us, our Father, that we may diligently perform our vows, keep our promises, and fulfill our intentions of obedience and service. So may Sunday’s life flow over into our week-days, making them all bright with love and truth and holiness. Let us not fail in any part of our work, duty, or struggle. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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MONDAY MORNING The evening has come, and we draw near to You, our Father, to close the day where we began it — at Your feet. We asked You to help us to keep the vows made upon Sunday, and to realize the visions of holiness we had as we looked into Your face.

We thank You for the help You have given us this day. You have remembered us and imparted to us Your grace. You have guarded us in the day’s dangers. You have led us through the perplexing ways. We thank You for all the blessings we have received from You, since we went out this morning. But we must confess our sins. We have failed at many points. We have not done all that we promised to do. We found ourselves too weak for . . .
the duties,
the temptations,
the struggles, and
the burdens of the day.

We ask You to forgive us. We always have to ask this of You, for we are always coming short. But this evening we plead that You will help us to grow holier and stronger, so that we shall sin less against You tomorrow than we did today, and each new day live a little nearer to You. We long . . .
to grow in grace,
to overcome our faults,
to put on new beauties of character,
to be less easily vanquished in temptation. So our prayer is that You will cleanse us and sanctify us, that You will put more of Your Spirit into our hearts, that we may be holier children.

If we have hurt any one today by impatient word, by harsh act, by unkindness or rudeness, or by severe judgment — may you forgive us and help us to undo the wrong. If we have failed to show kindness which we ought to have shown, or if we have withheld help which we ought to have given — may You forgive us and teach us to be more ready to do all our duty of love hereafter. We ask all in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

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TUESDAY MORNING

O Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, hear our prayer. Lamb of God, who by Your bitter anguish redeemed us from eternal Hell, have mercy on us, and bless us. We adore You, we praise Your name, we worship You, Son of God, who sits and reigns with Your Father in the heavenly glory. What shall we render to You for Your great love, and Your infinite sacrifice on our behalf? Your mercy is boundless, Your grace is beyond comprehension. We lift our eyes to Your cross this morning, for it was there You paid the price of our redemption. May there come from Your cross into each of our hearts, as we bow here — a beam of Your love, which shall shine into the depths of our souls, and kindle an answering love which shall consume our whole being in devotion. We desire to go all this day under the influence of Your cross. Help us to remember all the time that we are Yours, purchased by You, even at the cost of Your precious blood!

Let us do nothing that will be unworthy of Your ownership in us.

Keep our hearts pure, that we may see You with uninterrupted vision.

Keep our lips clean, that we may speak Your name with reverence and worthy honor.

Keep our hands unstained, that their touch may leave only blessings.

Keep our lives unspotted, that wherever we go the light of Your holiness may shine in us.

We ask You, blessed Redeemer, to keep near us all the day, and to keep us near to You. There is no safe place in this world but close to Your side. Hide us in the cleft of the Rock of Ages. Wash away all our sins in Your all-cleansing blood. Fill our hearts Your Holy Spirit. We ask all these favors and blessings, in Your precious name, Savior divine. Amen.

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TUESDAY EVENING

Jesus Christ, strong Son of God, bless us tonight. Forgive us our sins. We love You — You know that we love You — but our lives are not worthy expressions of our love. We confess that we seem not to love You at all, we are so unfaithful. We thank You that Your love is not dependent upon ours. You love us in spite of all our sins and all our failures. Your love is like the waters of the sea, which fill all the depths and flow in immeasurable floods from shore to shore. Your love covers all our sins, and fills and overflows all the depths of our evil nature. You love Your redeemed people unto the end, unto the uttermost. You love us with an everlasting love. You loved us so much that You gave Yourself for us, to redeem us and to purify and to save us. This evening we would hide away in Your love. It is a better place to hide, than even the shelter of a mother’s love. We are weary — and we find rest in You. We are weak — and being close to You makes us stronger, for strength passes from You to us. We are unholy — and Your pure love cleanses and purifies us. We are harsh and ungentle — and Your love . . .
warms our hearts into gentleness,
softens our harshness, and
blesses us with a spirit of tenderness.

Draw us near Yourself precious Savior — near Your own heart. It was there that John learned his lesson in loving which made him such a beautiful disciple — and we would nestle in the same transforming bosom, that we, too, may learn the same lesson of love. May we become transfigured, by being with You.

Now, blessed Jesus, we are going to our rest for the night. We shall not be afraid, for You will keep us. Let no evil come to us. Give us refreshing sleep. All we ask is in Your name, O Lamb of God. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ WEDNESDAY MORNING Our heavenly Father, as the light of this new day streams over the earth, so may the light of Your love stream upon us, into our hearts and all about us. We cannot live without You! Manifest Your grace and mercy to us. We are not worthy — not worthy to gather up the crumbs that fall from our Master’s table — but You have invited us to come near to You, not merely to eat the crumbs that fall — but to sit at Your table as Your guests, and to share all the blessings of Your grace! So we would now be filled with good things from Your hand. Give us water to drink from the river of Your pleasures.

We desire to go out today under Your eye and to keep close to You all the time. Show us the way, for we cannot find it ourselves, and could never get home without Your guidance. Put good thoughts into our hearts, for we can think beautiful thoughts only when they first drop from Heaven, like stars, and begin to glow in us! Every good thing comes down from above. As every stream is born in the skies, in the clouds — so every good thing in life is born in Heaven, comes out of Your very heart! Send down into our hearts, good and beautiful thoughts and feelings — that from our lives, may go divine blessings to all whom we come into contact with.

Father, fit us now for making other lives holy this day. May the fire of love burn in our hearts, and may other lives be kindled into loving, and be lighted into brightness from our lives. May we be able to be comforters of those who are in sorrow. May we bear one another’s burdens. May we witness in all ways to . . .
the greatness of Your mercy,
the tenderness of Your love, and
the abundance of Your grace.

We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ WEDNESDAY EVENING Our heavenly Father, You have brought us to the close of another day. We know not through what perils we have come safely, because You have watched over us. We know not how near we were to death, and how Your hand led us along the narrow ledge. We know not among what enemies we have passed unharmed, because You shut the lions’ mouths. We know not from what fatal paths we were kept, because You led us by the right way, past the ways that opened to the gates of death. We thank You, not only for the narrow escapes which we made — but also for the safe paths in which there were no perils. It has been a profitable day for us, because Your hand has marked out the way for us.

Now we leave the day with You — its work, its duty, its mistakes, its sins.

All that we have stained — will You cleanse?

All that we have done wrong — will You set right?

All that we have broken — will You restore? The poor fragments of obediences, lying scattered on our path — may You gather up and form into something beautiful even yet. You are able to use our broken things. You are building up the walls of Your temple, with the broken things of earth. So receive our day with all in it that is marred, broken, and spoiled — and make it a profitable day, a day of grace and beauty.

Sanctify our influence to every life which we have touched. Let no hurt go to anyone, from word or example of ours. Bless to us the impressions we have received from others.

Take us now into Your care for the night. We cannot keep ourselves, and therefore we put all in Your keeping. We will lie down in peace, because You are guarding us. Keep us in safety, we ask in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THURSDAY MORNING

O God of Bethel, God of our fathers, be our God. Bless us, make Your face to shine upon us, and be gracious unto us. Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, and give us Your peace. We would not dare go out into the great world this morning, if we did not have You to go with us. But You are everywhere. Where can we go from Your presence? Into whatever corner of the earth we might be cast — we will see You bending over us. Nothing can separate us from Your love! No power can snatch us out of Your hand! We will go out from the shelter of our happy home, into a world filled with dangers — but we do not fear, for we shall be with You wherever we may go.

We consecrate ourselves now to You. You have redeemed us, and we are Yours. We recognize Your claim, Your rightful ownership in us — and present ourselves to You as freewill offerings. Yet we know how hard it is to give ourselves to You, for our evil hearts keep drawing us away continually. Take us then, O God — for we cannot give ourselves to You. In temptation, may You shelter us, and let us not sink away into destruction. If we come under the power of evil — may You lead us safely through it. Save us from all that would dishonor You or hurt our own lives.

We ask for grace to make this a holy day. Help us to do our common tasks, in a way that will please You. Save us . . .
from indolence,
from covetousness,
from all neglect of duty,
from all evil tempers or feelings,
and from all resentments.

Help us to be patient toward all men, to be forbearing, kind, thoughtful, courteous, loving, and prayerful. Guard us, and bring us home at nightfall in peace. We ask all in the name of Jesus our Redeemer. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THURSDAY EVENING

Night has drawn its veil over the world again, and we come to take refuge in You. You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. We fear not the darkness, for You are in it. It is but Your garment enfolding You. You are as truly in the darkness, as in the light. May the wings of night be to us as Your wings — under whose shadow we shall find refuge, warmth, and blessing.

Some things have not gone well today. We have had our troubles. Our hearts have been hurt. You are the healer — will You heal us? Take the tangled threads out of our clumsy hands, disentangle them and weave them into a web of beauty! Take the dark things of the day’s providences, the things that seem wrong, and by the power of Your grace, transmute them into blessing. Help us indeed to keep our hands off the strange, complex affairs of our lives — for we would only spoil the pattern which You are fashioning in us, if we attempted to adjust these complicated affairs. May You take entire charge of the myriad things of our lives that are beyond our managing, and bring good and only good out of them.

We ask for a more perfect faith, that we may never doubt Your love or Your goodness for a moment. Save us from all fear and from all unbelief. Help our half-beliefs, our little faiths. Help us to see the invisible things, and to rest upon them as upon an eternal rock!

Forgive the sins of this day. Accept our thanks for all Your goodness. Shelter us tonight, and bless us in our sleep, giving us renewal of strength. May we rise in the morning, if we are still in this world, ready for a new day of service. We ask all for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

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FRIDAY MORNING

Almighty God, our Father, another day has opened for us, and we would begin it with You. If we have a little talk with You, we shall be ready to go forth to our work. If we can look into Your face and have You look into our face — we shall not be afraid to go out to meet any danger.

We thank You for the rest of the past night. Many have died since the sun went down — but we have been spared. Now we would give ourselves to You for this new day. We would make it a holy day, and we ask You for grace to do so. May Your word be a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. May its teachings be in our hearts, and may we have grace to follow them. Order our steps according to Your word. Let no iniquity have dominion over us. Take not Your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation. Our trust is only in Jesus Christ. We are unworthy in ourselves, for we have sinned and our hearts are evil. But Jesus died for us, and in His name we come, asking for Your favor and blessing. We thank You for Your love, from which neither death nor life can separate us. May we abide in Your love, and may Your peace be upon us always.

We ask a blessing for all with whom we associate in our common days. Make them all Your friends. Draw them all to Yourself. Help us so to walk before You, that our example shall impress them, and make them think of God and heavenly realities. May we speak Your words to those who are in sorrow or in sin — and may Your grace and peace pass through us to many. We put our hands now into Yours as we go out. Lead us, bless us, keep us, use us! We ask in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

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FRIDAY EVENING

We wait at Your feet, O God, for Your blessing at the close of this day. The darkness is around us — but the darkness and the light are both alike to You. Your care is as perfect and as full of blessings, in the shadows of the night — as in the sunshine of the day. This has been a profitable day to us. We have been led by You along paths we did not know ourselves, and could not have found but for Your guidance. Forgive us if we were not willing at every step, to take Your way. If any of us have gotten off the road, out of the path, forgive us, and bring us back again before we sleep. We want to take Your plan for our life, and we do not want to mar it by rebelling against You and choosing our own foolish way.

Now at the close of the day, we lay all our work before You. Nothing is finished, until it has Your blessing. Bless the work of our hands. Correct the mistakes. Fill up the beauty of which we have sketched only the barest outlines in our poor efforts. Make all our work holy, and take it into Your own hands, to become part of Your work, to be wrought into Your great plan.

We ask You to bless to others whom we have met today, the influence of our lives upon them. Wherein we have not lived so as to represent Jesus truly to others — may you forgive us. Let no evil influence, go out from our errors.

We pray for all our friends everywhere. We pray for the sick, for the lonely who keep their watch tonight, for the sailor on the sea, for the tempted, the weary, the sorrowing. We ask all these blessings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ SATURDAY MORNING

We come now to the close of another week, our Father, and wait for its last morning blessing. We have failed in many ways, and with humility and penitence, we confess our failures. We ask for grace to make this last day of the week, better than any of the others, to do its duties and tasks more faithfully, and to live more in accordance with Your pure and holy laws.

We thank You for all Your mercies. Blessings have come to us in abundant measure. The evils we dreaded when the week began, have not come. The clouds we thought we saw gathering, and which we feared would bring darkness and storm — were either blown away from our sky, or coming, brought only gentle rains which have blessed our fields, leaving them more fertile. The labors we feared would be too great for our strength, have been endured, and we have had strength for them as they came.

We thank You, too, for all the blessings of the week, which came to us in so many ways — through Your providences, through our friends, through our work. We have had bread to eat, and clothing to wear. We have had health and life’s comforts. You have not once failed us!

We put up fervent prayers this morning for our neighbors. Some of them are in trouble. In some homes there is sickness. May You send there Your tender grace and Your gentle healing. Give strength to all who suffer, that they may be enabled to endure patiently, and may suffering work good in their souls. Remember the homes which have been darkened by sorrow. Through the clouds, may mourning ones see glimpses of Heaven’s glory. Bless those of our neighbors who are not yet Your friends, who still resist Your love. Lead them to the surrender of their lives to You. We ask all in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ SATURDAY EVENING

Dear heavenly Father, our hearts are very glad tonight as we think of the wise way You have led us this week. It has been a profitable week, a week full of loving-kindness and tender mercy. You have walked with us all the days, and have guarded us all the nights. You have brought to us many blessings which will make the week bright in memory. We . . .
have met new friends,
have read new books,
have had prayers answered,
and have new joys.
For all these things we are very grateful.

Look over the record which is now spread out before You. You see many spots and stains — things done which we ought not to have done — and things left undone, which we ought to have done. Speak forgiveness to our hearts. We plead, too, for grace to make the new week before us better than this has been. We cannot change the past — but we would save what remains. Prepare us for the Lord’s Day, and may Sunday prepare us for the new week. Let Your Word search us and find in us whatever is not right — and then make us clean. Our thoughts go out tonight toward Your ministering servants who are preparing for Your work on the morrow. Fill them with Your Spirit, and lead them into the truth which they will present to Your people. Give them profitable messages — messages of life, peace, and comfort — to speak to Your people. Teach them what You would have them say. Hold them very close to Your heart tonight, that they may be ready for their sacred work. Give them sympathy, that they may come near to those to whom they will minister. Baptize them with a sense of human need, that they may be true helpers of those who are hungering for the bread of life. We ask all in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

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