Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today

Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin.

Let me use disappointments as material for patience:
Let me use success as material for thankfulness:
Let me use suspense as material for perseverance:
Let me use danger as material for courage:
Let me use reproach as material for longsuffering:
Let me use praise as material for humility:
Let me use pleasure as material for temperance:
Let me use pains as material for endurance.

John Bailie, 1886-1960

Bestow on me, O Lord, a genial spirit and unwearied forbearance

Bestow on me, O Lord, a genial spirit and unwearied forbearance; a mild, loving, patient heart; kindly looks, pleasant, cordial speech and manners in the exchanges of daily life; that I may give offence to none, but insofar as I can, may live in charity with everyone.

Johann Arndt (1555-1621)

We beseech thee, O Lord our God

We beseech thee, O Lord our God, to set the peace of heaven within the hearts of men, that it may bind the nations also in a covenant which cannot be broken; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eric Milner-White (1884-1964)

Dear God, thank you for all that is good

Dear God, thank you for all that is good, for our creation and our humanity, for the stewardship you have given us of this planet earth, for the gifts of life and of one another, for your Love which is unbounded and eternal. Amen.

Jim Cotter (1942 - )

O Parent of Parents, and Friend of all Friends

O Parent of parents, and Friend of all friends, thou tookest me into thy care, and by degrees led me from all else that at length I might see and settle my love in thee. What had I ever done to please thee? Or what was there in me wherewith to serve thee? . . . O happy begun freedom, the beginning of all my good, and more worth to me at that time than the whole world besides. Had I never since hindered thy will and working in me, what degrees of grace should I now have had . . . My Jesus, forgive me, remember what thou has done for me . . . and for this excess of goodness and love let me no more hinder thy will in me.

Mary Ward (1585-1645)

My God, Father and Savior

My God, Father and Savior, since you have commanded us to work in order to meet our needs, sanctify our labor that it may bring nourishment to our souls as well as to our bodies. Make us constantly aware that our efforts are worthless unless guided by your light and strengthened by your hand. Make us faithful to the particular tasks for which you have bestowed upon us the necessary gifts, taking from us any envy or jealousy at the vocations of others . . . May every temporal grace be matched by spiritual grace that in both body and soul we may live to your glory.

Jean Calvin (1509-64)

Let our chief goal, O God, be your glory

Let our chief goal, O God, be your glory, and to enjoy you forever . . . John Calvin

Lord, let your glory be my goal, your word my rule, and then you will be done . . . King Charles I

Immortal, invisible, God only wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.

Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light;
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render: O help us to see
'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee.

Walter Chalmers Smith, 1867 (I Timothy 1:17)