God's Minute

January 22

"Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.--2 Cor. 6:17,18

OUR Father, help us to be true today; help us to be faithful; help us to be kind. May Thy presence go with us and watch over us so that no evil may surprise us. Keep us from falling, keep us from stumbling. If temptation assails us, may we be given strength to resist it; if trouble awaits us, may we go forth courageously to meet it and may Thy grace be sufficient for us in the hour of our need.

Especially we pray Thee that sin may have no dominion over us; save us from becoming hardened by its deceitfulness, or softened by its false soothing flattery.

Make us generous in our judgments, tender-hearted in our feelings, sweet spirited and loving in all our dealings. Preserve us from being impatient and irritable.

Implant within our hearts a genuine hatred for every form of defilement, and a sincere love for what is pure and Christ-like. Whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, may we think on these things today. For Christ's sake.

Amen.

Malcom James MacLeod, D.D.,
New York City, New York