seek, day 2

Come to Stillness: Take a few minutes to allow your mind and heart to be still before God.

Opening Prayer:

Father, You alone know what lies before me this day. Grant that in every hour of it I may stay close to you. Let me today embark on no undertaking that is not in line with your will for my life, nor shrink from any sacrifice which your will may demand. For my Lord Christ’s Sake. Amen, (A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie)

Psalm for the Week: Psalm 24

Scripture for the Day: Matthew 7:7-12

Reading for Reflection:

Let us not amuse ourselves to seek or to love God for the sensible favors (how elevated soever) which He has or may do us.  Such favors, though never so great, cannot bring us so near to God as faith does in one simple act.  Let us seek Him often by faith; He is within us; seek Him not elsewhere.  Are not we rude and deserve blame, if we leave Him alone, or busy ourselves about trifles which do not please Him and perhaps offend Him?  It is to be feared these trifles will one day cost us dear. (The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence)
 

Reflection and Listening: silent and written

Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself

Song for the Week: Abide with Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide:
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Thou on my head, in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious, and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close Lord, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.


Closing Prayer
Lord, I am yours; I do yield myself up entirely to you, and I believe that you do take me. I leave myself with you. Work in me all the good pleasure of your will, and I will only lie still in your hands and trust you. Amen. (The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith)