Faithful, consistent, unfailing—this,
O Lord, is what you are and what
I want to be—never amiss
In duty, doing what I ought,
Loving, kind, committed—waste
Not, want not, nothing in the wind,
Feet firmly planted, no foolish haste,
Nor laggard, but with a focused mind
I’d serve, with never a selfish thought,
I’d daily heft my cross—with gladness,
Redemptive pain, approval sought
From you and only you—I’ll banish
Desire for shallow human praise—
Your truth my company’s colors to raise.
Tomorrow a Mystery
O Lord, tomorrow is a mystery,
And even the next hour reveals no secrets,
So let us in this moment, in the present,
Serve our Lord and Master and fear your Name.
We trust in your control of our years and days,
Believe you guide the world to its proper end,
We know in Christ that all things come together,
In all man’s doings you will be glorified.
Our joy is this: our treasures await us in heaven,
The Lord is at the door and soon will come,
Your power is hope, your promise never fails,
And perfect love will hold us till the last.
Let passion die
The violence of sin, O Lord, grows and masks its evil. Satan’s servants appear as angels of light, hiding death in their robes, concealing the face of eternal suffering. Caricatures of life and pleasure, they steal the young and rob the old of joy.
Unmask them, Lord, for who they are! Rip away their disguises! Let sin be seen for what it is, raw rebellion against your good and perfect will, self-destruction that cannot be undone!
Let us recoil from the Adversary’s enticements. Give us eyes to see behind the temptation, beyond the moment of pleasure. Save us from the pain and heartache of transgression.
Let passion for this world die, and cause to live in us an eternal zeal for good.
Another Unsoiled Day
Why let me waken from my nightly sleep?
O Lord, why give me another unsoiled day,
Like bread fresh from the oven, ready for butter,
If not to serve and love and glorify your Name?
What we think is nothing
We think, O Lord, to find joy in small and simple things, only to discover afterwards that they were the great things. For simplicity is never small, clarity never minimal. Thank you for the great light which we have in Christ. He shows us the kind word, the moment of solidarity, the act of generosity, that offer a lifeline to the perishing. What we think is nothing might be to someone all there is. Make us aware, heavenly Father, of your power in us.
To You, Glory
To you, O Lord, belongs the glory,
Without our egos in the way;
What wonderful news is Jesus’ story,
How pure his light’s unconquerable ray!
To you, O God, belongs the power,
Who raised the Son from among the dead;
Salvation’s plan in that dark hour,
Upon the Cross when Jesus bled.
To you, O Father, we ascribe
All glory, honor, love and praise;
To you may every people and tribe
Their happy, grateful voices raise.
Words Fail
Heavenly Father, words fail to express
The deepest gratitude, the sharpest need,
But still we know how much you bless,
How deeply you love, how wisely you lead.
Prayer for those influenced by false teachings
Father, I pray for those who are being influenced by false teachings, that they may be snatched from the fire. Let them see the dead end they’re being led into. Let them discover that they are being fed false knowledge. Help them to see the bitterness and the rebelliousness that lurk behind the lies. Make them feel the sense of superiority and the arrogance of those who hold to deadly doctrines.
Put faithful brethren in their path to prevent them from going astray. Let them listen to those who speak truth in love. Help them to perceive the genuine concern of the true family of faith.
Father, give them humility to accept the truth. Show them good examples of those who worship and serve you in spirit and in truth. Let them know the joy and peace of certainty. Bring them to confess the Spirit of truth and the Lord who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Our God Is Worthy
Almighty Lord, the power is yours,
And glory, too, both honor and praise;
Both snow and cloud, lightning and wind,
Both young and old, hours and days,
And all the deepest ocean stores,
Let angels praise where none contend —
Our God is worthy, and none beside,
He’s Savior, Shield, Friend and Guide.
Time as Friend
Lord, let us see our time on earth as our friend,
With every thought and action geared to the end,
To learn, prepare, and grow in full desire,
For your most glorious presence in pure attire.
Lord, let us know that life is made of hours,
And moments, being present, with mental powers
In focus on our eternal purpose — earth
And heaven anew, with saints of spiritual birth.
Lord, let us find in Christ the only way
To you and all your hosts — for this we pray
And work and wait, as age and wisdom grow —
In hope, we think this passing time is slow.