05.03. THIRD WEEK

THIRD WEEK

SUNDAY MORNING As we begin this holy Sunday, our Father, may You give us indeed a Sunday blessing. On this day which reminds us of our Savior’s rising from the grave — may we rise anew to a holier, truer, and heavenlier life. May we walk in the sunshine of Your own love. As we wait upon You, may You renew our strength so that we may be able to run without being weary, and to walk without being faint, on the week-days which lie before us.

We ask that You will bless us in our private and public worship on this holy Sunday. May Your blessing rest upon all worshiping assemblies of Your people. May this be a day of spiritual renewal in all the churches. Bless all Sunday schools. May Your grace fill the heart of every teacher; and may every child that receives instruction, be blessed through Your holy word. Bless all of Your missionaries, and fill them with Your Holy Spirit, to fit them for worthy service.

We pray that You will bless us in our worship today. Help us to leave behind every worldly thought and care, as we enter Your sanctuary. As we wait before You, may we receive instruction from Your word and inspiration from Your Spirit, so that we may be strong for battle and for duty. Help us today in our ministering to others. May we be enabled in our own home to give to each other the blessing of love and peace. Help us to carry . . .
comfort to some sorrowing one,
cheer to one who is discouraged, and
sympathy to one who is in distress.

We give ourselves to You for a Sunday of blessing, love, and peace. May our home receive new divine influences from above. May this be a shining day in the story of our lives. And we will give the praise and the honor to You forever. Amen.

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SUNDAY EVENING

We thank You, O God, for this blessed day. It opened with grace, and grace has brightened all its sacred hours. We have seen Your face, and our hearts have been made to rejoice. We have waited upon You, and You have renewed our strength. We went to Your sanctuary, and You met us there and blessed us. We prayed to You, and You came near to us in love, breathing Your own life into our souls.

Sanctify to us all the lessons and influences of the day. Help us to remember the words You have spoken to us. May we carry in our hearts — new impulses, warmer desires, heavenlier aspirations, from Sunday’s devotions. May we be stronger for duty, more brave and heroic for struggle, gentler-hearted, with tenderer sympathies, and sweeter affections — because today we have seen You.

Bless to all Your people everywhere, Sunday’s rest and worship. May good follow every sermon preached, every lesson taught in the Sunday school, and every holy word spoken in public or in private. May Your people be strengthened in their faith, may their love be increased, and may their zeal be more fervent — because of this day’s ministrations of Your word.

We plead now for special grace to fit us for the work of the week that lies before us. We cannot forecast even one day. What the future, even the nearest future, has in store for us — we cannot tell. But You know, and we will go on into the unopened hours without fear. All will be well, because You will lead us, and we are not afraid to trust You. Choose the path for us. We would not choose for ourselves, if we might, for Your knowledge is so much better than ours. So we commit all to You, and we will go on in Your name. Amen.

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MONDAY MORNING

Father, as the brightness of a new day has come to us, we wait before You to get Your blessing. We desire to make this a new beginning of life. We would forget the things that are past. We would forget . . .
our past mistakes and sins,
our past sorrows, and
our past battles and struggles.

We begin this new day, asking for grace to live a new life that shall honor You, and bless the world. As we go forth to our day’s tasks, we ask for Your special presence with us. We plead Your promises. You have said, "As your days — so shall your strength be!" You have said, "Lo I am with you always — even unto the end of the world!" We wait for the fulfillment of these promises. We need Your guidance and help at every step. We are weak — but You can make us strong to endure. May You empower us with Your Spirit, that we may carry something of the love of Jesus to those whom we shall meet. We desire to live in the world, as those who belong to Heaven, carrying Heaven’s love in our hearts, and Heaven’s brightness in our faces.

Conscious of our weakness, we cast our lives with all their burdens of infirmity, upon You — and ask You to keep us. May You watch over each one of us and bring us all together again in the evening, if it be Your will. But if our circle should be broken, if any of us should be taken away from earth — receive us into the Father’s house, to go no more out forever!

We pray for those with whom life will go hard today — for the poor, the sick, the tempted, those in sorrow’s darkness. Manifest Yourself to them in tender love.

Hear us in these our morning prayers. Keep us from all evil. Help us to faithfully do every duty. We ask all this in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

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MONDAY EVENING

Now at the closing of the day, our Father, we come back again to You. You have heard our prayers. You have kept us from accident and harm. You have blessed us in many ways. We thank you for the blessings we have had, for the health and comfort of the day. We now bring all that we have done, to Your feet. Whatever of it has pleased You — accept and bless. The things we have done that did not please You — we beg You to forgive, cleansing our hearts from sin. The efforts we have made to help or comfort others — please accept and use. We have tried to be cheerful in difficulties and under discouragements. We thank You for the strength You have given us, helping us to endure. If we have cast shadows upon any other life today, by fretting and discontent — we beg Your forgiveness. We have tried to speak kind words to those we have met — and we ask You to use these words to give cheer and courage.

Now at the ending of the day, as the darkness has come over us — we beg You to shelter us. You are our keeper. You neither slumber nor sleep. We shall be safe through the night — because You will be watching over us.

We would not forget our friends. Some of them are far from us — but all are near to You. Some of our friends may be in trouble. Some of them may be in great need. Some of them may be drawing near to death. You know all their dangers and needs; may You give to each of them the blessing that will do them the greatest good. Remember the homeless and the lonely tonight.

Receive us now into Your care, keep us through the darkness, and bring us again to the morning light, if it be Your will. If not, bring us to Heaven’s morning, which is far better. We ask in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

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TUESDAY MORNING

O God, our Father, bless us as we go out for the day. Without your blessing, life has nothing truly beautiful or good. As children wait for a father’s blessing — so we wait to get Your blessing. Grant to us Your peace. Give us health, and make us strong for duty. As we separate for our different duties, we commend ourselves to Your keeping. Help us to keep from sin, as we walk in the way of Your commandments. We have Your word — help us to walk in the light of it.

We desire to do our work well. We do not want to bring to the end of this day, only stained fragments of duty-doing. We would bring back a good report at the evening hour. Bless us, therefore, as we turn now to our tasks and duties. We desire to do Your will — not our own; to please You — and not ourselves. So fill us with Your grace and love — that we shall be gentle, humble, submissive, and in all things in accord with You. Strengthen us with all spiritual strength, and enrich us with all grace — so that we may not fail in our obedience.

We shall have duties to others, as we go through the day. Help us to do them well. Preserve us from any feelings that would mar the beauty of our disposition. Keep us from any hurtful influences on those with whom we shall mingle. Keep us from envy, jealousy, bad temper, and irritability. Keep us from behaving ourselves improperly, so as to dishonor You or injure Your cause. Help us to carry sunshine and good cheer wherever we go — so that all who see us shall get a little brightness from our faces and from our words. Help us to be blessings all this day, making our course like the path of the shining light. Bring us all home together at the close of the day in peace. We ask in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

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TUESDAY EVENING

O Son of God, to whom shall we go but to You? You have the words of eternal life! You have redeemed us by Your blood, and You will not cast us off when we come to You. Grant us now an evening blessing. We have not followed You fully, as in the morning we promised to do. We have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We would not go to our beds until we have Your forgiveness. Since You have died for us, we come boldly to Your throne of grace to ask for the remission of all our sins. O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

We thank You for Your care, which has been so constant and so faithful today.

We have moved amid unseen dangers, with no power to protect ourselves — and You have protected us.

We have walked in paths we did not know — and You have led us. We have carried burdens which were too heavy for us — and You have sustained us.

We have met problems we could not solve — and You have given us wisdom. For the blessings of Your providence, we thank You. For the things of Your love, and grace received from the Bible and through Your Spirit, we thank You.

We lay at Your feet, the work of Your day. What is stained with sin, may You graciously cleanse. Correct our mistakes and let them not mar our work nor hurt other lives. What You can use of the work of our hands — may You use for Your own glory.

Receive us now into Your own care for the night. Lay Your hand upon us in evening blessing, and keep us through the night. Refresh us with sleep, and fit us for a new day. We ask all in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ WEDNESDAY MORNING Our Father, we thank You for our home. Many people are homeless in this great world, and they are very lonesome. You have given us a home with many comforts. We are grateful for it, and pray that we may have Your blessing in our home life.

We thank You that You are willing, O Jesus, to be a guest in our home. We remember how You blessed and sweetened the Bethany home in the days of Your flesh. May You make our home Your abiding place, coming to us as You did to the home of Martha and Mary. May Your peace be upon our household. May we be able to make our family life sweet and beautiful enough to please You, and to be a comfort to You — when You come to tarry with us. Let us never grieve You by selfish behavior, by quarreling or strife.

Help us to give You true hospitality, not only within our doors — but also within our hearts. We would welcome You into every corner of our lives, shutting You out of no room — but having You dwell in us so fully, so completely, that all our life shall feel Your influence, and be blessed by Your spirit and love. We want to become like You — and we never can do this except as You live in our hearts, and pour Your grace through all our being. As we go out now, O Jesus, to meet the experiences of this new day, we put our hand in Yours, asking You to lead us and guide us. You have promised that as our days — so shall our strength be. You know what this day will be to us, what it will need of strength; may You give us what we shall need, as the need comes, hour by hour.

We ask these mercies and favors in Your own blessed name, our Savior and Redeemer. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ WEDNESDAY EVENING

We lift up our eyes to the hills, from whence comes our help. Our help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth. You will not allow our foot to be moved. You who keep us will neither slumber nor sleep. You, Lord, are our keeper. You are our shade upon our right hand. The sun shall not smite us by day, nor the moon by night. You, Lord, shall keep us from all evil; You shall keep our souls. You shall keep our going out and our coming in, from this time forth, and even for evermore!

It gives us blessed comfort, O God, to be able thus to hide away in You. We cannot keep ourselves. Our best human friends cannot hide us from danger. No earthly one can shelter us. No love of earth can defend us. But we are safe forever in You. Nothing in the universe can wrench us out of Your hand. Your love is eternal. So we come at the end of the day, and lie down in the shadow of Your wings.

We would not forget that there are other people in the world besides ourselves. Some of them need You very much. Some are sick, and some are sad, and some are sorrowing. There are those who are in great trouble — in need, or anxiety, or poverty. Have mercy upon all such. Send human friendship, where human friendship can give relief. Reveal Your own love and Your grace and mercy. Save the unsaved. Remember those who are on the sea, and those who are in danger anywhere.

Now we lay us down to sleep, asking You our souls to keep. If we should die before we wake, we ask You, then, our souls to take. This we ask for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THURSDAY MORNING

Lord, You have been our dwelling-place in all generations. Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. We desire to make You, our heart’s home. We are not at home in this poor world, for we are not secure here. All things pass away. The mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed. Our souls are immortal and can find no home on this earth — no place where they will be sure of undisturbed rest forever. You alone are enduring and eternal, and only in You, can our souls find a suitable home, a refuge of love which will be sure forever. Help us to make our home in You.

We thank You for this our earthly home. We thank You for the love that binds us together, for the refuge we find here from this world’s enmities. Here we can trust each other, and are sure of each other’s love. Deepen our home affections. Draw us closer together as a family. Make our home-life sweeter. Enable us to be more helpful to each other. Teach us patience in our family and in all our mingling together. Help us to find the best things in each other, and to give one to the other the best things of love we have in our hearts. May our home-life to day be tender and affectionate. Fill us with Your divine love, so that heart and lips shall overflow, and that in us may grow whatever things are lovely. You know our special needs — and we ask for personal blessings. Forgive us all our sins. Comfort us in our sorrows.

Give us now a blessing as we go out into the world. May we live so as to be ever receiving from Jesus — and then enable us to be ever giving out again the good things of divine love. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ THURSDAY EVENING

We would come now at the ending of the day, to hide ourselves away for the night, in the secret place of the Most High, and to abide through the darkness under the shadow of the Almighty. O God, You are our refuge and our fortress, our God, in whom we trust. You will deliver us from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. You will cover us with Your pinions — and under Your wings of love shall we take refuge. Your truth shall be our shield and buckler. We will not be afraid for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flies by day; nor the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. None of these dangers have any power to harm us. Though a thousand shall fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand — the peril shall not come near us.

You, Lord, are our refuge. Because we have made You, O Most High, our habitation, our home — there shall no evil befall us, neither shall any plague come near our dwelling. You will give Your angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways. They will bear us up in their hands, lest we dash our foot against a stone. We shall tread upon the lion and the adder without hurt; the young lion and the serpent we shall trample under feet.

Because we have set our love upon You, therefore will You deliver us from all danger. You will be with us in trouble; You will deliver us and honor us. With long life will You satisfy us and show us Your salvation.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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FRIDAY MORNING

O God, our Father, we Your children wait for Your blessing before we go forth to the work and the care of this new day. We thank You for the blessings You have given to us in our sleep. You have renewed in us our exhausted strength, and built up again that which yesterday’s toil had torn down. We are strong this morning, and ready for another day’s work — because of the blessings You have given to us in our sleep.

We consecrate now to You, our lives for this new day. Take us and use us as You will. We do not want to make our own plans, for we are too short-sighted; and would be sure to plan only for present comfort or for earthly prosperity. We would rather that You would reveal to us Your plan for our day. It may not be easy — but we know it is wiser and better than our way could be, for You see the end from the beginning, and You chose the best things for us. We lay our plans at Your feet, and ask You to use them, if they are the best; but if not, to set them aside, that Your plan for the day may work unhindered in us.

We pray for our neighbors. Some of them are sick. May You remember these, and grant them healing and restoration. Send them Your comfort in their pain, and grant that they may be richly profited by the experiences through which they are passing. Some of our neighbors have come through sorrows. Heal their wounded hearts, and give them comfort, which will make them stronger to endure their grief, and help them to find the blessing You have wrapped up for them in their sorrow.

Receive us now into Your care for this day; bless and keep us and use us as You will. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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FRIDAY EVENING In the quiet and hush of the eventide, we come to You, our Father. We went out this morning from Your presence, sent out by You. We tried to do Your will, although ofttimes we came short. We ask You at the close of the day, for forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.

You have kept us through the unseen dangers. Not a moment was Your eye withdrawn from us. You have carried us in Your heart in all our goings and comings. No mother’s watchfulness over her child, is so constant and so loving as is Your watchfulness over us. We thank You for Your safe keeping. We thank You, too, for all the blessings that came to us today. May we keep these divine gifts. Even when the things that came were but for the day, like the bread we ate and the water we drank — yet may Your blessing in them stay in our lives forever. May You gather up all our work for You today, and let none of it be lost. We ask that You will take what we have done, and make it part of Your abiding kingdom. May the words we have spoken, minister grace to those who heard them. Forgive our idle words, and bless every good thing that we said to anyone. May all the good influences and impressions of our lives, stay in the world; and whatever has not been healthful, pure, and inspiring — may You blot out.

We would remember tonight those for whom life is hard. The world is too much for their feeble strength. They are defeated in its battles, and ofttimes lie wounded in the dust. Lift them up again, Father, and let them not sink away in eternal death. Be the God of those who have failed — and help them to rise again. Keep us tonight, our Father, from all danger, and give us quiet rest. We ask it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ SATURDAY MORNING

O God, as Enoch walked with You, we desire to walk with You this day. The world is full of danger, and we cannot get on safely without Your protection. The paths are tangled — and we could never find the way alone. We need Your companionship, to make the day one of blessing. So we ask that we may be permitted to walk with You. We will try to be faithful, not running ahead of You, nor falling behind — but keeping with You all the day. May You walk with us — and may You help us to walk with You.

We thank You for the rest of the past night. You have kept us. We lay down and slept — and You sustained us. You are our safe keeper. All our mercies come from You. Give us grateful hearts as we begin this new day. We want to please You in all things, not wandering from Your commandments. Help us, for while the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak, and we cannot be faithful but as we get strength from You.

Bless all our household this morning, and give us each a personal blessing. We go out now to our different duties. It may be that we shall never all meet together again; may we therefore separate in love, so that if we never again all come together in this world, there may be in no heart any regrets because of unkindness at parting. Bless to us our morning meal, and give us wisdom for all the duties, tasks, responsibilities, and struggles of the day. May the influence of our lives be for the good, leaving on every one we touch a blessing. Make us strong for work. Deliver us from the arrow that flies by day, and the pestilence that walks in darkness. Keep us all day near Your own heart, and give us the grace, mercy, and peace we need. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ SATURDAY EVENING

We thank you, O our Father, for the wonders of the universe which night reveals. We could not see the stars while it was day. They were hidden in the splendors of the light. But when the sun went down — all these glories came out. These all are Your works, O God. It comforts us to remember that our Father made all these marvelous things. Surely You are able to take care of us, Your redeemed little children.

We thank You, also, for the world of blessing which other nights reveal. You have a thousand comforts of Your love which we do not see, while the sun of prosperity shines. It is only when we have some trouble, that we begin to learn the meaning of Your promises. It is only when we lose human friends — that we find You as the Friend of friends. It is only when we lose earth’s treasures — that we begin to know the value of the invisible treasures of Your grace. So we thank You for every loss of ours — which has revealed a gain and a blessing. We thank You for every bereavement — which has made You more to us. We thank You for the hard paths — which have made us trust more reposefully in You. We thank You for the hiding of day — which has brought out in our night the stars of hope. Help us always to believe that when You take away one blessing — that You give us another which is better.

We ask You now that You will make all this day’s experiences work for our good. Bless us as a family, and give each one of us a personal blessing. Fold us in the arms of Your love, while we sleep, and let no evil befall us. Shelter all our loved ones, and hear their prayers. Bring us all home at last, through Your love, to the sinless world, with Yourself, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

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