Wednesday, Week 1

You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
— Job 22:27 (BSB)

Prayer is more than a wish turned heavenward ... It is the voice of faith directed Godward.
— Billy Graham

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.