O Lord, We commune with thee every day, but week days are worldly days, and secular concerns reduce heavenly impressions. We bless thee therefore for the day sacred to our souls when we can wait upon thee and be refreshed; We thank thee for the institutions of religion by use of which we draw near to thee and thou to us; We rejoice in another Lord’s Day when we call off our minds from the cares of the world and attend upon thee without distraction; Let our retirement be devout, our conversation edifying, our reading pious, our hearing profitable, that...

Happy New Year! Here is an God-focused prayer for the new year. O LORD, length of days does not profit me except the days are passed in thy presence, in thy service, to thy glory. Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour, that I may not be one moment apart from thee, but may rely on thy Spirit to supply every thought, speak in every word, direct every step, prosper every work, build up every mote of faith, and give me a desire to show forth thy praise; testify thy love, advance thy kingdom....

O my God, Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects, My heart admires, adores, loves thee, For my little vessel is as full as it can be, And I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.   When I think upon and converse with thee Ten thousands delightful thoughts spring up, Ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, Ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, Crowding into every moment of happiness.   I bless thee for the soul thou hast created, For adorning it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil; For the...

God of all good, I bless thee for the means of grace; teach me to see in them thy loving purposes and the joy and strength of my soul. Thou hast prepared for me a feast; and though I am unworthy to sit down as guest, I wholly rest on the merits of Jesus, and hide myself beneath his righteousness; when I hear his tender invitation and see his wondrous grace, I cannot hesitate, but must come to thee in love. By the Spirit enliven my faith rightly to discern and spiritually to apprehend the Savior. While I gaze upon...

Almighty God, the help and defense of all them that fear thee, grant that we may securely live under the safeguard and protection of they well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Grant also that his kingdom, by thy great power, may prosper and be advanced daily more and more; and that we, being settled upon thy promises, may render unto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving both now and forevermore. Amen. - Prayers on the Psalms (From the Scottish Psalter of 1595), pp. 82-82

Another week has gone and I have been preserved in my going out and my coming in. Thine has been the vigilance that has turned threatened evils aside; Thine the supplies that have nourished me; Thine the comforts that have indulged me; Thine the relations and friends that have delighted me; Thine the means of grace which have edified me; Thine the book, which, amidst all my enjoyments, has told me that is is not my rest,     that in all successes one thing alone is needful, to love my Savior. Nothing can equal the number of thy mercies but...

O Lord, Length of days does not profit me    except the days are passed in thy presence,     in thy service, to thy glory. Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,       sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,     that I may not be one moment apart from thee,     but may rely on thy Spirit        to supply ever thought,        speak in every word,        direct every step        prosper every work,        build up every mote of faith,        and give me a desire           to show forth...

My Master God, I am desired to preach today,     but go weak and needy to my task; Yet I long that people might be edified with divine truth,     that an honest testimony might be born for thee; Give me assistance in preaching and prayer,     with heart uplifted for grace and unction. Present to my view things pertinent to my subject,     with fullness of matter and clarity of thought,     proper expressions, fluency, fervency,     a feeling sense of the things I preach,     and grace to apply them to men's consciences. Keep me conscious all the...

Besides my Bible and my journal, there is one book that I keep in my bag all the time. It's a book of Puritan prayers and devotions entitled, The Valley of Vision. In fact, it is my custom to read from it daily - at least one or two prayers. Reading from this devotional reminds me of the greatness of God. It also reminds me of how much I need to grow and beckons me to draw closer to the Lord. I recommend that you pick up a copy of Valley. You can find it through The Banner of Truth...