Sunday, Week 5

I love the LORD, for He has heard my voice—my appeal for mercy. Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.
— Psalm 116:1-2 (BSB)

Prayer is a trade to be learned. We must be apprentices and serve our time at it.
— E.M. Bounds

O God, we thank You for this holy Sunday. It is Your own day. It was honored and hallowed by You at the beginning. It was made doubly sacred by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It is full, too, of holy hopes, as it typifies to us the eternal Heavenly rest. We thank You for all that the day means to us in our personal lives, and for the blessings it has brought to our home. We thank You for its quiet rest, that we can cease from our week-day toil, and spend the day with You.

May You make this a day of real blessing to us. May Heaven's windows be opened, and may holy blessings be sent down upon us. Bless our home life today. May we get closer together as a family. May our affection be sweetened. Fill our hearts with Your own love — and then we shall love each other as we ought. Bless our home conversation. May it be profitable to us, ministering grace to our hearts. May it be worthy of the day. Help us to shut out of our lives whatever is worldly or unworthy of You. May Your Spirit brood over our home, filling it with gentle, enriching influences.

Bless our worship in Your house. Go with us and help us in the public services to honor You. Open our eyes, that we may see wonderful things in Your word. Sanctify to us the worship and the instruction of the sanctuary. May we be so blessed in our hearts by waiting upon You that we shall be ready for good service all the week.

Help us also to be blessings to others today. Fill us so with Your Spirit, that every life which touches ours may receive blessing and good from us.

We ask all these Sunday blessings at Your hand, humbly, believingly, and joyously, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.