Word of Encouragement (06/13/2022)

A morning prayer of Baillie’s to begin a new week:

“ALMIGHTY God, you are always present in the world around me, in my spirit within me, and in the unseen world beyond me; let me carry with me through this day’s life a most real sense of your power and glory.

“O God around me, forbid that I should look at the work of your hands today and give no thought to you, the Maker. Let the heavens declare your glory to me and the hill speak of your majesty. Let every fleeting loveliness I see speak to me of a loveliness that does not fade. Let the beauty of the earth be to me a sacrament which makes real the beauty of holiness revealed in Jesus Christ my Lord.

“O God within me, give me grace today to recognize the stirrings of your Spirit within my soul and to listen most attentively to all that you have to say to me. Do not let the noises of this world so confuse me that I cannot hear you speak. Help me never to deceive myself about the meaning of your commands; and so help me in all things to obey your will, through the grace of Jesus Christ my Lord.

“O God beyond me, you dwell in unapproachable light. Teach me that even my highest thoughts of you are but a dim and distant shadow of your transcendent glory. Teach me that if you are in nature, you are still greater than nature. Teach me that if you are in my heart, you are still greater than my heart. Let my soul rejoice in your mysterious greatness. Let me take refuge in the thought that you are utterly beyond me, beyond the sweep of my imagination, beyond the comprehension of my mind. Your judgments are unsearchable and your ways past finding out.

“O Lord, hallowed be your name. Amen.”

‍