Monday, Week 7

The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.
— Psalm 145:18 (BSB)

Prayer is not a convenient device for imposing our will upon God, or bending his will to ours, but the prescribed way of subordinating our will to his.
— John Stott

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. May Your kingdom come. May Your will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. May Your kingdom come indeed in our hearts, in our home. May we learn to do Your will as it is done by the holy ones who are above Your throne. Too often we want our own way and are not content to take Your way. Give us of Your grace, so that whatever it is that You would have us to do or to suffer — we may cheerfully accept it.

We made promises yesterday, when we were worshiping You, that we would live faithfully, that we would walk in the way of Your commandments. Help us to keep our vows today when we go back into the world. Let not sin have dominion over us. Let us not fall under the power of temptation. Let us not be influenced by evil companions, or by the spirit of the world. May we be kept under the sway of Your Spirit.

We ask You to give us more grace. We desire abundant spiritual life, that we may bring forth abundant fruit. May we be branches in the vine which will honor You. May the fruits of the Spirit abound in us — love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control. May others who turn to us for sympathy, comfort, friendship, strength, or help — find in us that which will feed their soul-hunger.

We ask now for personal blessings on all the members of our family. Sweeten our home life. Bind us together in tender love. May we be helpers of each other's life in all ways. May we be enabled to strengthen each other in all ways. Be the helper of each of us, and may we in turn help many others. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.