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)Opening Prayer:
Psalm for the Week: Psalm 24
Scripture for the Day: 1 Chronicles 28:8-10
Reading for Reflection:
There
are no two ways about it. You’ve got
your eyes open or you don’t. You’re
watching at midnight or you’re not. You better
be ready when it comes flying at you, skimming swiftly over the surface of
time.
The cares
of this world are no excuse. Not father,
mother, wife, nor children. No burials
or births or weddings. Not fixing
formula, scrubbing toilets, peddling pills or prose. Whatever the great human enterprise currently
in hand, the point is to watch. All the
rest is addenda. Seeking the kingdom is
the essential integer. (And the Trees Clap Their Hands by
Virginia Stem Owens)
Reflection and
Listening: silent and written
Prayer: for the church, for others, for myself
Song for the Week: Abide with Me
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)
No comments:
Post a Comment