Sunday, Week 1

Seek out the LORD and His strength; seek His face always.
— 1 Chronicles 16:11 (BSB)

Prevailing prayer is the most divine ministry you will ever have.
— Wesley L. Duewel

We begin this Sunday with You, our Father. It is Your day. You claim it for Yourself, and we desire to make it Yours indeed. You have given it to us, not as a hardship, a burdensome observance — but a day of blessing. We need its rest that we may keep well and strong; we need its spiritual privileges that our hearts may be kept warm and loving. If we had no Sunday, we would soon let You slip out of our thoughts, out of our life. So we thank You for the day which You have ordained in love for us.

May this Sunday be full of blessing for us. We would leave the world outside. Help us to keep the day so as to please You and receive good for ourselves. In the quiet around us may we hear Your voice of gentle stillness speaking to us words of love.

May our home life be made sweet by Your presence with us. Our minds have been ruffled and distracted by the cares of the week. Give us Your peace this morning. May all fret and anxiety be taken out of our hearts. If the world has gotten too strong a hold on us in the six days past, may Your grace now so possess us that You shall rule again supreme in our lives. May our love for You be strengthened, so as to expel the love of the world.

Sanctify to us, all of this day's privileges. As we read Your word, may its lessons be made plain to us. Help us to receive its instruction into our hearts, so that our lives shall be controlled by it. As we pray, may Heaven's blessings be given to us:
comfort for our sorrow,
strength for our weakness,
guidance for our feet, and
wisdom for our ignorance.

As we seek to be a blessing to others — may we receive the mind that was in Christ Jesus. We ask all in Jesus' precious name. Amen.