"O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto You."
"This one thing I do."—Phil. 3:13
My Father in heaven, teach me, in childlike faith and
confidence, to draw near this morning to Your throne of grace. Give me the
blessed influences of Your Holy Spirit, that I may wait on You undisturbed by
worldly distractions, and enter on the duties of another day with my mind
"stayed on God."
Blessed Jesus!—You who so freely gave Yourself a ransom for
many—save me, else I perish! I have no peace but in Your pardoning,
reconciling love. May Your blood and righteousness be to me "a glorious
dress," arrayed in which I may now and forever stand fearless and undismayed.
I bless You, O God, if I have in any degree felt the preciousness of the
Savior and His adaptation to all the needs and weaknesses of my sinful, and
sorrowful, and tempted nature. I thank You if You have already hidden me in
the clefts of the smitten Rock. My prayer is, that You may keep me there—that
I may lean upon Jesus more than ever, and seek my happiness more exclusively
in His service. May I every morning be drawn more closely by the cords of His
love, and be led to fight more faithfully under His banner.
Oh for greater singleness of aim!—more self-emptying and
self-abasing—that He may be all in all! Lord, I am conscious often of mingled
motives, that would not stand the test of Your pure eye and Your holy Word!
How often do I forfeit the joys of assurance by admitting rival claimants to
the throne of my affections! How often are the surpassing interests and
glories of eternity dimmed and obscured by the engrossing things of time and
of sense! How mixed with imperfection and earthliness and self-seeking are my
best attempts to serve You! If weighed in the balance, how would my holiest
services be found lacking!
Give me more of this unity and simplicity of purpose. Give
me to make salvation more the one thing needful. Let all other love be
subordinated to Yours. Be my "chief joy." May Your service be my delight. May
my heart become a little sanctuary, where the incense of praise and love and
thanksgiving is ascending continually. May it glow with holy zeal to promote
Your cause, and testify of Your grace. Remembering all that You have done for
me, may I be animated to make a more entire consecration and surrender of all
I am and have to Your glory.
Let me feel that whatever my rank or station or
circumstances are, I have some mission to perform for You. How often do You
choose "the foolish things of the world to confound the things that are
mighty!" Let me not think my talent too trifling to trade upon. May I "occupy
it until my Lord comes." Let me not squander fleeting moments, or forego
fleeting opportunities. "The night is coming, when none of us can work."
Enable me now, bowing at Your mercy-seat, to replenish anew my empty vessel
with the oil of Your grace, that the lamp of faith may be kept burning
brightly all the day. All that I ask is for Jesus' sake. Amen.
"Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for
in You do I trust."