Prayer - Our Heavenly Father, as the Light of This New Day

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.

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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.