August 19

Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as Head above all. 1 Chron. 29, 11.

All creatures must confess: "For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever."

"Thine is the kingdom." These words recognize God in His radiant majesty and absolute sovereignty over the whole world. We avow to our heavenly Father that He alone is the Lord and King, with whom we should seek help. We pray that He would hear our prayer and grant our petition because His is the kingdom, and His are its resources. We pray for things which pertain to His kingdom and therefore expect Him to hear us.

We further pray: "Thine is the power." God, the very Father in heaven, to whom we should pray and whom we should worship and serve, is the one great Being to whom every power on earth, in heaven, and in hell must submit and before whom even the greatest men must finally bow their knees in fear and dread. Now, if that is true, what an inducement to pray to Him! For He alone has the power to grant our petition. What an inducement to worship and serve Him! For if we walk beneath the shadow of His wings, there is no power on earth or in hell which may harm us, as He has assured us that against His will not one hair will fall from our heads. He has revealed His omnipotence by the work of creation, and He reveals it still in the preservation of the world. His power is infinitely great.

And so it is with God's glory. We pray: "Thine is the glory." Heaven and earth, by obeying God's laws, proclaim His divine glory. We say: "Now, unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever!" All our desires are bound up in God's glory. The Lord's Prayer ends with the words: "forever and ever. Amen." Blessed be the Lord God from everlasting to everlasting! Our prayers end in praise. Thus they link the days of asking to the days of everlasting thanksgiving throughout all eternity.

Prayer.

Glory be to Thee, O God most holy! Glory be to Thee, O God most high! Glory be to Thee, O King of heaven and earth, who pitiest us as a father pities his children. Fill us with joy and

gladness in the Holy Ghost, that, when Thou shalt render to every man according to his works, we may be found acceptable before Thee, through Him who has redeemed us from the shame and curse of sin, even Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might be unto Thee forever and ever! Thou art the Lord and King over all; Thy dominion endures through all generations. Amen.

Forevermore the praise, The kingdom, power, belong To Thee; throughout eternal days Creation's endless song.