Prayer - O God, Our Father, Bless Us as We Go Out for the Day.
God's blessing is essential for a beautiful and good life, and we can ask for it by praying and seeking to do His will.
J.R. Miller emphasizes the necessity of seeking God's blessing as we embark on our daily tasks, recognizing that without His grace, our efforts lack true beauty and goodness. He encourages believers to approach God as children do their father, asking for peace, strength, and guidance to fulfill their duties while avoiding sin. Miller prays for the ability to carry positivity and light into the lives of others, ensuring that their actions reflect God's love and grace. In the evening, he acknowledges the need for forgiveness and gratitude for God's protection throughout the day, seeking cleansing and guidance for the future. Ultimately, the sermon is a heartfelt plea for divine assistance in both daily responsibilities and spiritual growth.
Text
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.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of God's Blessing
- Asking for God's Blessing
- Doing God's Will
- Interacting with Others
- Closing the Day
- Bring us all home together at the close of the day in peace
- Grant us an evening blessing and forgive us for our sins
Key Quotes
“Without your blessing, life has nothing truly beautiful or good.” — J.R. Miller
“We desire to do Your will -- not our own; to please You -- and not ourselves.” — J.R. Miller
“Bring us all home together at the close of the day in peace.” — J.R. Miller
Application Points
- We should pray for God's blessing every day to bring peace, health, and strength into our lives.
- We should seek to do God's will by filling ourselves with His grace and love, that we may be gentle, humble, and submissive.
- We should interact with others in a positive way by doing our duties well and preserving ourselves from hurtful influences.