Word of Encouragement (10/18/2021)

Another morning prayer from John Baillie to begin this week:

“O GOD, you have proved your love for all people by sending us Jesus Christ our Lord, and you have illuminated our human life with the radiance of his presence. Thank you for this, your greatest gift.

Thank you, God—

For every day my Lord spent on this earth;

For the record of his deeds of love;

For the words he spoke for my guidance and help;

For his obedience, even to death;

For his triumph over death;

For the presence of his Spirit with me now.

“Help me, Lord, to remember the blessed life that was once lived out on this common earth, under these ordinary skies. May I take this memory into each task and duty of today.

“Help me to remember—

His eagerness to help others, rather than be helped;

His sympathy with suffering of every kind;

His bravery in the face of his own suffering;

His gentleness toward others, so that when he was abused he did not retaliate;

His steadiness of purpose in keeping to his appointed task;

His simplicity;

His self-discipline;

His serenity of spirit;

His complete reliance upon you, his Father in heaven.

“In each of these ways give me grace to follow in his footsteps.

“Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I commit all my ways to you. I entrust my soul into your hands. I pledge my life to your service. May this day be for me a day of obedience and love, a day of happiness and peace. May all I do and say be worthy of Christ and his gospel. Amen.”

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