August 26

"Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge."—Isaiah 5:13.

So often lack of knowledge is the reason of sin. Lord, open the eyes of my mind and heart, that I may see.

Help me to understand the issues of evil—how the end is midnight, despair, the worm that dieth not and the fire that is not quenched. As far as I can comprehend such anguish, let me look on it. The terrors of the Lord may persuade me to have nothing to do with the wicked thing.

Help me to understand the shame of evil—how it degrades and abases me, robs me of my crown, sinks me lower than the brute. Show me the real character of what I am too ready to love, the rebellion of it, the anarchy it brings, the debt in which it plunges me, the prison to which it consigns my soul—that I may abhor it and repent in dust and ashes.

Help me to understand the cunning of evil—how subtle it is, like the serpent long ago; how specious and plausible its excuses; how seemly its dress. Give me the mystic angel-spear, that I may unmask Satan's wiles. Squat like a toad may I see the tempter who comes as a son of light, and surely I shall repel him then.

And oh, my Lord, help me to understand the Deliverer from evil—the gracious thoughts of the Father, the redeeming blood and interceding power of the Son, the strength and patience and purity of the Holy Spirit.

Satan conceals his dark purposes under fair pretences, as the Greek assassins sometimes hid their swords in the greenery of myrtle branches. I pray that I may not be ignorant of his devices. I pray that mine may be the knowledge that saves from sin and misery.