jOome X/ittle firayers LUCY RIDER MEYER r.lass"R V 2. G> Book__J^4£ GopyiigME COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT: Some Little Prayers jOome X/ittle prayers By Lucy Rider Meyer * CINCINNATI: JENNINGS AND GRAHAM NEW YORK: EATON AND MAINS M9 01 JUBRARYofCQ ! wo Copies Kec FEB 17 !y08 ' OOPV a Copyright 1907 By Jennings C&, Graham Foreword ^JVERY large life is devout. Care- Vj[ lessness of God is a sign of a small soul. Devoutness means prayer. We turn our faces toward God, find way to our knees, make our prayer. Prayer is man and woman at their best. We are never so sublime as when we make our prayer. We have in that one act shown that we are not children of the ground, but children of the sky. Prayers which have been of- fered by devout souls are the ruts worn in the road that leads to God. They are always the soul's highest form of utterance. % W "%ORD, help me to pray. Make me B J faithful in the stated times of prayer ; but oh, more than that, so breathe upon my heart a love and longing for Thee, so make me to feel my constant need of Thee, so burden me with the needs of this lost world, that I shall pray without ceasing ; that the blessed background of all my think- ing, the state to which my soul returns at every moment of leisure, shall be Thee. Thee, O God, my good Father; Jesus my Saviour and the Lover of my soul; the Holy Spirit the blessed Com- forter. Help me in my praying not only to talk to Thee, but to expect Thee to talk to me. Help me to listen. Grant even on earth, Lord, the heaven of constant communion with Thee. 1 Thess. 5:17. Jno. 14:16. Some Little prayers Some ^r*VORD, when I look at the beauty Little J A an( i majesty of Thy world, at ^ the starry heavens or the sailing Ic/rayers c i 0U( j Sj at t h e greenness of Thy grass or the whiteness of Thy snow, I adore Thee ! When I remember the exquisite beauty of every little tree leaf and the infinite painstaking of its creation, the marvelous delicacy of every tiny snow crystal, I feel that I am looking upon the embroidered robes in which Thou art half revealing, half concealing Thine own infinite loveliness. My soul is filled with wonder and worship. If earth is so wonderful, what must heaven be! If Thy mere trailing gar- ments are so fair, what must be the full revelation of Thy loveliness! *B^ELP me to understand, Lord 1 1 Jesus, that Thou art working out a plan in the routine of my daily life, that there is a discipline that even Omnipotence can not give without the help of the common round. I weary at the treadmill, and cry out against being thus bound to the sordid and the com- monplace. But Thou wast a carpenter! For many weary years, blessed Master, Thou didst go to Thy daily task of un- remitting toil. Thy dear hands were hardened and Thy shoulders bent with the work of a laborer. So help me in all my work, to recognize the will cf Thyself, the Master and Planner of my life, and to do all humbly and faith- fully and well. Some Little prayers Some Little prayers n ORD, I pray Thee for the great city, that hot-bed of social sin and political vice, that center wherein is massed so much misery. From out of the populous city men groan and the soul of the wounded crieth out ! Yet it is from the city that spring our mighty mission movements and our great organized efforts for the uplifting of society. O God, bless the city, with its enormous possibilities, its wealth of young life and strong life, its wealth of gold! Further every earnest effort that is being made to re- deem the city ! Bless its settlements and hospitals and all its Houses of Mercy, its reform clubs and missions, its Churches and its deaconess work. Raise up an ever-increasing army of heroic souls to labor for the city's good; and hasten the time when our earthly cities shall become copies of the beauti- ful pattern, the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. Job 24:12. Rev. 21:2. 10 I WORSHIP Thee, sweet Will of gome God ' Little And all Thy ways adore, j-. And every day I live, I seem IcJrayers To love Thee more and more. I love to kiss each print where Thou Hast set Thine unseen feet ; I can not fear Thee, blessed Will, Thine empire is so sweet. When obstacles and trials seem A prison wall to be, I do the little I can do, And leave the rest with Thee. I know not what it is to doubt, My heart is ever gay ; I run no risk, for come what will, Thou always hast Thy way. I have no cares, O blessed Will, For all my cares are Thine ; I live in triumph, Lord, for Thou Hast made Thy triumphs mine, 111 that Thou blessest is most good, And unblessed good is ill, And all is right that seems most wrong, If it be Thy dear will. Frederick William Faber. 11 Some Little I THANK Thee, O God, that Thou art a great God, unsearchable in wisdom, infinite in resources ! Out YJr&yCYS oi Thine abundance all Thy creatures are fed. Thou providest not only physi- cal food out of Thy myriad storehouses of prairie and plain, and water out of Thy flowing rivers, but Thou givest food for the spirit of man — unbounded room in Thy great universe for the play of his intellect in invention and discovery, wealth of love in Christ Jesus for his soul, and life everlasting and abundant for his thirsting, seeking heart. Round our incompleteness flows Thy great- ness ; round our restlessness, Thy rest. Thou sufficest, O God! Thou who art enough for heaven art surely enough for earth. All my need Thou wilt sup- ply according to Thy riches in glory, by Christ Jesus. Rom. 11:33. Psa. 104:24. Psa. 86:10. Psa. 145:16. Eliza- beth Barrett Browning. Phil. 4:19. 12 ^W—^-ORD, help me to feel Thy pres- JP J ence as real every moment. I will not ask Thee to be with me, for Thou art always with me; but manifest Thyself to me as Thou dost not unto the world. Open the eyes of my spirit, make me pure in heart that I may see God. Help me to keep the sweet thought of Thee deliberately, carefully, ever before me. Let my mind, my thoughts, be stayed on Thee. Speak to me, Lord, for Thou hearest, and Spirit with spirit can meet. Closer art Thou than breathing, nearer than hands and feet ! Matt. 5:8. Isa. 26:3. Tennyson. Some Little prayers 13 Some % W m ~f ORT>, bless my body. Thou, Lord Little ^1 -J Jesus, who was once enshrined I- in flesh like mine, make me to Icirayers un derstand the sacredness of my body. Make me to realize its value, for only as I keep it strong and well can I do good work for Thee. Help me to keep it pure, Lord, for it is a temple of the Holy Ghost. Keep me from injuring myself by carelessness or overwork. Keep me, if it be Thy will, from illness, from the pestilence that walketh in darkness — and from accident, the de- struction that wasteth at noonday. And whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do, may it be all for Thy glory. 1 Cor. 6:19. Psa. 91:6. 1 Cor. 10:31. 14 <^f HE deadly monotony of life, Lord, \^9 how hard sometimes it is to bear ! Help me to bear it. Even if a day should come when all the joy of living should seem gone, and the green earth be turned to ashes beneath my feet, help me to look up to the Heaven that is always blue and so to go on ! I will lift up mine eyes to the hills — yea, above the hills — from whence cometh my help. Though my feet tread the dusty way, may my head be among the stars. Ps. 121:1. Matt. 25:21. Rom. 8:21. Some Little prayere 15 Some Little prayers n ELP me to understand, Lord, that this earth is only the place where Thou art sending me to school. By and by the graduating time will come and I shall hear Thee say, "Well done." I shall know that the work was not very well done. Only a heart of infin- ite love could call it that — as a mother might say tender words over a child's imperfect attempts. But Thou wilt say it, even to me. So, help me to be faithful and diligent and patient, till that day when the creature also shall be delivered into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Psa. 121:1. Matt. 25:21. Rom. 8:21. %6 Y~/-ORD JESUS, bless, I pray Thee, Some J J the great congregation of Thy L{ff( e disciples on earth, the Church ^ Thou hast founded with Thy precious V™?*** blood. When we think of its marvel- ous history, its glorious walls laid in the blood of prophets and apostles and martyred saints, our souls swell with joy and thankfulness that we, even we, may have our little niche in this City of God. O Lord, purify Thy Church! Save it from formality and narrowness and worldly ambition. Kindle anew its fires of self-sacrifice and loyalty, and in the power of Thy Holy Spirit may it go • on with ever-increasing strength in its great mission of conquering the world. And may I — only one among the mil- lions, but still one — be a faithful and worthy member of Thy blessed Church. (2) 17 Some Little prayers i WANT to put my life again into Thy hands, dear Lord, that which is past as well as that which is to come. The past I leave in Thy keep- ing for forgiveness and blessing, the future I trust with Thee. Order Thou my life, O Lord! Thou knowest the possibilities in me. I pray not so much for a happy life as for one which shall count in bringing in the Kingdom. Overrule my life for this glorious object, Lord Jesus. Above all my choices for myself do Thou choose for me; and may no hesitation or reluctance of mine prevent Thy doing with me, and by me, and through me, all that Omnipotence can do to lessen the pain of the world and to lift it a little more into the light. 18 ^2fTILL, still with Thee, when pur- Some k^y pie morning breaketh, Little When the bird waketh, and the -^ shadows flee ; Prayers Fairer than morning, lovelier than day- light, Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee. Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows, The solemn hush of nature newly born; Alone with Thee in breathless adora- tion, In the calm dew and freshness of the morn. So shall it be at last, in that bright morning, When the soul waketh, and life's shadows flee ; O in that hour, fairer than daylight dawning, Shall rise the glorious thought — I am with Thee! Harriet Beecher Stowe. 19 Some TT* THANK Thee, O God, for the rev- Little jL* e ^ at ^ on °f Thy Son in the blessed ^ Word! How dark the world yrayer9 would be but for the shining in it of the face of Jesus Christ! How dim would be our best knowledge, how mazy our path through life, how hopeless the grave ! Lord, may we prize more highly our one Book about heaven, the only Book that tells us about Jesus, the Gos- pel that brings life and immortality to light. May we study it more faithfully, and pattern our lives more closely after its holy precepts. 2 Tim. 1:10. 20 *w-"%ORD JESUS, Thou who wast Some M J once held in a blessed mother's r {t+i e arms, help and bless the mothers -~ of our land, and of all lands — those who K' 1 **?* 1 * 9 have that greatest and most precious responsibility on earth, the teaching of the first lessons of love to little hearts — those who are turning little feet into ways in which they will walk forever. Help mothers to realize their great re- sponsibility, their holy task. May they be wise and patient and strong in caring for these little ones who are so soon to rule the world, hearing always Thy voice saying, "Take this child and nurse it for Me, and I will give thee thy wages." Ex. 2-9. 21 Some Little I THANK Thee, Lord, for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the blessed Paraclete. Be Thou indeed my Jclrayers p arac i e te.* I am ignorant and foolish ; I call Thee to my side to be my wis- dom. I am sad, be Thou my comfort ; weak, be Thou my strength. Most of all, blessed Spirit, I need to know Jesus in what He waits to do for me ; oh, take of the things of Christ and show them unto me! Help my infirmities. Teach me how to pray. And may I have always in my heart the wonderful witness that I am indeed a child of God. Jno. 16:14. Rom. 8:26. 1 Jno. 5:10. * Paraclete, see John 15:26. The word is Greek, the identical one Jesus used. It is broader in meaning than "Comforter." It means literally, "one called to the side of," to give help in any need. 22 % W "%ORD, keep me from growing nar- B A row with the years so full of ab- sorbing interests. May my sym- pathy for every thing that is good be ever more ready to flow. Open my heart ever wider to the bitter cries of the suffering world. Deepen my com- passions. Help me, Lord, not only to feel more, but to do more. Or in days when I can not do more, help me to pray more. Broaden and deepen my love, Lord, and so make my heart more like Thine. Some Little prayers 23 gome ^2f E T a watcll > O Lord, before my Little jC5 mouth; keep the door of my lips! .pv By my words I shall be justified fcjraycvs or condemned, for as the heart thinketh so the mouth speaketh. Keep my heart right, Lord, then my words will be right. Keep me from the careless or irritated word, from the hasty word. Keep me from hurting people by my words. Keep me from frightening them. I fear that sometimes, even as I try to call after Thy poor wandering sheep astray in the wilderness, I may frighten them still further away from Thee. How gracious were the words of Thy mouth, Lord Jesus! Make my words gracious, and thus may the peo- ple take knowledge of me that I have been with Thee. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer ! Psa. 141:3. Matt. 12:37. Luke 4:22. Acts 4:13. Psa. 19:14. 24 *lf ^-ORD, bless and help the sons Some Jf A and daughters of pain. Do Thou j {ttlc meet them in their extremity ^^ and help them to think of Thee. Some Payers are sick with quick disease, some from exhausting weakness. Some have been brought down by accident, some are in terrible pain, some are lying in a long, long languor, some are in hospitals. Some are away from home and friends, some without comforts, in poverty and need. They all need Thee, dear Lord. Thy Word says "Thou wilt make all his bed in sickness. ,, Lord Jesus, make the beds of all sick people to-day ! Give to them endurance and patience. Give ease and returning health, if it may be, but most of all give Thyself! O Thou who didst Thyself suffer, gently lift the sufferer's mind to Thy blessed self, and bring to all thoughts of the land where sorrow and sighing shall flee away, and where none shall say, "I am sick/' Psa. 41:3. Isa. 35:10. 25 Some Little prayers I THANK Thee, O God, that I am made in Thine image! I thank Thee for mental life, for the joys of knowing and the joys of growing. I thank Thee for the endlessly recurring desires in me. I thank Thee for my keen delight in Thy wonderful world, for the enjoyment I have in the ever new experiences of my daily journey. Thou givest me all things richly to en- joy. Thou makest me to drink of the river of Thy pleasures. I thank Thee that I shall go on knowing and growing forever. My soul expands in the thought of an eternity with Thee as Teacher, Thou ever impelling, yet ever satisfying One ! O, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! His judgments are unsearchable, and His ways past finding out ! Gen. 1:26. 11:33. 1 Tim. 6:17. Psa. 36:8. Pres. King. Rom. 26 I THANK Thee, O God, that it is not by sending, but by calling that Thou dost direct Thy children! That Thou sayest to us as to Thy ser- vant of old, "Certainly I will be with thee." Dost Thou command us to take up our cross? We see Jesus just ahead bending beneath the weight of His. It is not hard to follow a path marked by His blessed feet. Must we give and love? Thy great heart is ever pouring itself out in infinite giving and loving. Dost Thou command us to serve? Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, and the mighty God stoops to feed one little black raven ! Dost Thou ask of us self-renunciation? Oh, may we see that this is indeed the highest privilege, that it leads up into the very life of our God who was slain for us from the foundation of the world, and who still is pierced to the heart by the misunderstanding and ingratitude of the humanity for which He went to the cross ! Thou didst lay down Thy life for us, help us to lay down our lives at Thy dear feet, to be taken up and blessed and used by Thee. Jno. 13:5. Luke 12:24. Rev. 13:8. 1 John 3:16. 27 Some Little prayers Some Little prayers xx •ORD, may I not be surprised or dismayed if I sometimes walk in heaviness for a little, through manifold temptations. It might not be well for me to walk always in the un- veiled brightness of Thy face — my faith might not grow, my endurance might not be strengthened. When I walk in darkness and have no light, help me to trust in the name of the Lord, and stay myself upon my God. When Thou didst lead forth Thy people of old it was sometimes by a pillar of fire, but sometimes it was by a pillar of cloud. Clouds and darkness are round about Thee at times. But help me to follow fully, fire or cloud, only so I know that Thou art in the guiding Pillar! 1 Pet. 1:6. Isa. 50:10. Psa. 78:14. Num. 14:24. 28 ^W—^ORD, bless the deaconess in her Some M J labor of love. Thou whose pa- r i++\ t tient feet grew weary on Gali- ^ lee's highways, bless her as she goes on k^yere Thine errands still, and whatever her work may be — ministering to the poor, caring for the sick, comforting the sor- rowing, seeking the wandering, saving sinners — do Thou work through her. May she never for a moment forget that the work is Thine, not her own; and may she rejoice to manifest a little of Thy will and Thy love to the world which sees Thee only as Thou art made real in the form of Thy servants. And, O Lord, go with her. In her weariness may she find Thee her rest, in her ig- norance may she find Thee her wisdom, in danger be Thou her shield. In her sorrow over the suffering and sin she can not wholly stay, may she remem- ber that Thou, too, didst weep. And do Thou ever pour into her heart the largess of heaven's gold of peace and joy. 2 Cor. 4:5. 29 Some % |^TEART of Jesus, rent in twain, Little J \ ^ y ^y dying passion's pain, -rv I to Thee for refuge run, IcJrayers Lifeless, loveless and undone ; From myself, and from my sin, Heart of Jesus, take me in ! Arms of Jesus, crucified, To the ages opened wide; To Thy fold I fainting flee, From the foes that compass me; From myself, and from my sin, Arms of Jesus, take me in! Love of Jesus, wider far Than the widest heavens are; Deeper than my sin can be, Who can separate from Thee? Safe from self, and safe from sin, Love of Jesus, shut me in! Mary A. Lathbury. 30 *W-"%ORD, help me, not only by what gome P J I do and say, but even by what Little I am, to win others to Thee. --. May Thy transforming love so shine fc^™ 1 * 9 forth in me that it shall attract those who know me, to my Saviour. May my life be a constant witness to the loveliness of my Master. May the beauty of Thy holiness be seen in me. Psa. 96:9. 31 Some Little prayers being work; being •ORD, bless those women that la- bor in the gospel. We thank Thee that women's hands are consecrated to Thy special that their gentle ministries are felt in so many homes of the needy and by so many beds of the sick. Lord, bless the deaconess and the home missionary and the foreign mis- sionary, and greatly multiply their number. So many of Thy hand- maidens are providentially free from the dear duties of the sweet domestic family — oh, may the thoughts of such turn naturally to the great world fam- ily pitifully calling for help, to the friendless and the orphan and the aged, to the sick and desolate and lonely. And so may woman's special work be greatly blessed of Thee, and become a still mightier agency in lift- ing the sad world nearer the throne. Phil. 4:3. 32 % g r *^.ORD, I want the heavenly illumi- Some M J nation, the light that never was r i++t c on sea or land. My eyes are p. dimmed, my spirit heavy. Sometimes, t^y* 1 * 9 indeed, Thou givest me rare moments of knowing Thy will and feeling Thy love. Sometimes I see Thy heavenly beauty and charm, and my heart runs forth to meet Thee in joyous comrade- ship. Sometimes I cry, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee!" Oh, let these moments be multiplied in my life! Let me walk always serene and steady in the light that shines in the face of Jesus Christ ! Alfred Tennyson. Psa. 73:25. (3) 33 Some Little prayers "T3 HAT they all may be one!" It was Thy prayer, dear Lord, and I pray it too. Sometimes I have seen a wonderful unity in a little family, brothers and sisters and father and mother holding sweet converse in tenderest love and sympathy. Oh that Thy people were thus one ! Oh for a love that prevents the misunderstand- ing and stops the criticism! A little waye of it comes to us, Lord, when a glowing revival is upon us, or when some great sorrow touches Thy Church; but oh for the constant atmosphere of the unity of love ! "That they all may be one," even as Thou and the Father are one. So shall the world know that Jesus, and the Spirit of Jesus, have really been sent into the world. Jno. 17:11. 34 X^tVEN so come, Lord Jesus ! Some ^M Little Even so come, to the absent 'and dear, i^ ra y cr8 Watch between all who are parted ; Speak the word only, and joy and good cheer Soon shall lift up the sad-hearted. Even so come, the same Jesus of old, Known through our life's broken story; Come, when the hastening years are all told, Let us behold Thee in glory. Rev. 22:20. Julia H. Johnston. 35 Some Y^ORD, bless those to whom Thou Little J -A* k ast 2* ven wonderful power to 13 get gold, those to whom Thou K* ™ cr9 hast entrusted great riches. Oh, may they never forget that riches and honor come of Thee — that they are Thine; the gold and the silver and the cattle upon a thousand hills — and Thou hast never yet given a quitclaim deed for a square foot of Thy land. How engrossing must be the lives of the very rich! How easy it must be for them to drift out of sympathy with the world, how difficult to be still gentle and humble and good, how hard to enter the king- dom of Heaven ! Lord, bless them for their own souls' sake — for the time is coming when the rich and the poor must stand alike before Thee. And for the sake of the Church and the world which they may so help, bless them, O Lord! Enlarge their thoughts. Help them to give, and as they "offer wil- lingly" to rejoice greatly, as did Thy servant of old. And increase the num- ber of the rich who count themselves as only Thy stewards and their wealth as a sacred trust fund from Thee. Hag. 2:8. Psa. 50:10. 1 Chron. 29:9. 36 *W -^.ORD Jesus, I am very tired. No- M J body in all the world knows all the aching — the heaviness. "Nobody knows but Jesus." O blessed Saviour, how glad I am that Thou knowest ! Thou whisperest to me : "Well I know thy sorrows, O my serv- ant true : Thou art very weary — I was weary too!" And the deep comfort of. Thy sym- pathy sinks into my soul. And now, dear Lord, help me to drop all for awhile and rest — on Thy breast. Old Song. Andrew, of Crete. Some Little prayers 37 Some Little B ATHER, we thank Thee for the light that shines beyond the grave. We thank Thee for Thy Icwayers hidden teaching in the opening chrysalis and the bursting seed and the marvelous re-birth of the green world from winter's death. But our dull eyes might have missed those teachings, and so Thou gavest us Jesus who died and rose again. We thank Thee that He not only went down into the grave, but that He came up out of the grave. We thank Thee that, Jesus being thus the first-fruits of them that are asleep, we know that we shall be the after-fruits. death, where is thy sting ! O grave, where is thy victory ! 1 Cor. 15:3,4. 1 Cor. 15:20. 1 Cor. 15:55. 38 BLESS us, O God, not according to our askings, but according to our needs! Let our deepest suppli- cations come from the necessities of our lives. Give us more faith, give us more goodness, give us more love, give us more charitableness, give us more eagerness to be good, give us greater desire to understand our neighbors and our friends. Give us more heart search- ing, give us more heart hunger, give us, we pray Thee, a longing desire to be fruitful in the Kingdom of God. We ask in Christ. Amen. — wiiiiam a. Quayie. Some Little prayers 39 Some TT* ASK Thee for a thoughtful love, Little JL> Through constant watching wise, ^v ~* To meet the glad with joyful smiles, prayers ^ n( j w j pe t h e we eping eyes ; A heart at leisure from itself, To soothe and sympathize. I ask Thee for the daily strength, To none that ask denied, A mind to blend with outward life While keeping at Thy side; Content to fill a little space, If Thou be glorified. Anna L. Waring. 40 *W "%ORD, let me not be astonished or Some B J quite overwhelmed if bitter af- j- {ff\ c fliction should come. Jesus ty^ivcn went into the Garden of Gethsemane ™ and to the cross of Calvary, and the disciple is not above his Master. Let me not think it strange, but rejoice rather, that I am a partaker of Christ's sufferings. May my moan of pain be never so loud as to drown the whisper of Thy blessed voice in my heart, "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned. ,, Lord, may the trial of my faith, more precious than gold, be found unto praise and glory and honor when Christ shall be re- vealed in me; and though I see Him not now, yet even in the pain may I trust and rejoice. Matt. 10:24. 1 Pet. 4:13. Isa. 43:2. 1 Pet. 1:7,8. 41 Some f\ Ltttlc v-r prayers LORD, take care of the uncon- scious influence that, whether I will it or not, I am always exert- ing. When I think that some stray word of mine or even some lack of a word that I might have spoken, some smile or lack of a smile, may have lifted some soul a little nearer Thee or driven some soul a little farther from Thee, my heart fails within me. The re- sponsibility of living — only Thou, Lord, art sufficient for it ! Only Thou canst bring into captivity every thought, canst keep the perpetual watch, canst form the underlying character that shines out in the unconscious influence. My sufficiency must be of God. 2 Cor. 10:5. 2 Cor. 3:5. 42 *W "^ORD, may we ask Thee to bless Some P A all who have gone astray? Is \i+x\t there not compassion in Thy ^. heart for all? While we were yet sin- fc**^ 1 * 9 ners Christ died for us. Our hearts, even our hearts of flesh, go out in a great pity toward our lost sisters in their wretchedness and sin, and surely Thy compassions are greater than ours. Almost all of these poor girls are young — they knew not at all the value of the pearl of purity they were losing. Many were forced over the awful .brink by the bay of the gray wolf of starvation. Lord, pity them and save them. And many have gone over for lack of one little touch of friendliness or counsel, and we sometimes fear that we have not stretched out the hand to help as we might have done. Lord, forgive us! Forgive Thy Church! Open our eyes to see as never before; open our hearts to love and our hands to help. Rom. 5:8. Lam. 3:22. 43 Some Little prayers n ORD GOD, my Father, I thank Thee for the revelation of Thy- self as "Father/' Foreshadowed even in the olden times, Jesus made it clear when He came and taught us to call Thee "Our Father." I thank Thee that even when one knows no longer an earthly father's love, one is not left comfortless. No child of Thine can ever be an orphan. Oh, may 1 walk ever with Thee as a little trusting child, clinging to Thy hand, implicitly follow- ing Thy guidance, till Thou "bring me to Thy many mansions, there to be forever at home with Thee ! Matt. 6:9. Jno. 14:18. 44 *W-"%ORD GOD, show me Thy glory! B J My brain is dazed by the tinsel glare of the world and I can scarcely lift my tired eyes to Thee. Hide me in Thy wilderness, in some cleft of the rock, and make all Thy good- ness pass before me, and proclaim the name of the Lord again in my ears, "The Lord, the Lord, a God full of com- passion and plenteous in mercy ! " Thou hast said, "i know thee by name," but, O Lord, I want to know Thee! Show me Thy glory! If Thy presence go not with me, carry me not up hence. But even as I pray, I am hearing Thy whisper in my heart, "My presence SHALL go with Thee and I will give thee rest." Ex. 33:22. Ex 34:6. Ex. 33:14. Some Little prayers 45 Some Little prayers xx •ORD, bless all that are in author- ity over us, especially our Presi- dent. How vast is his responsi- bility! — shall not his people pray for him? In his official capacity, nations wait for his word; and in his personal life millions imitate his most trivial act. May he realize the awfulness of his high position and do justly and love mercy and walk humbly with his God. Lead him in Thy truth, Thou God of nations. Give him light for every shadowed place and skill for every diffi- cult task. May he listen for Thy voice above all earthly voices, and may he guide the people in righteousness. 1 Tim. 2:2. Micah. 6:8. Psa. 25:5. 46 Y=CEAVENLY Father, Thou didst so 1 P love the world that Thou gavest us Thy Son. Our souls adore Thee for the marvelous gift. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We thank Thee, Father, that the coming of Jesus means not only salva- tion, but light; that Jesus is our "Word" from Thee. It is by our words that we convey our thoughts to each other, and so by this blessed Word from Thyself, the Son of God dwelling in our flesh, Thou makest us to understand Thy thoughts of love toward us. And hav- ing spared not Thy Son, wilt Thou not freely give us all things ? Sonic Little prayers Jno. 3:16. 8:32. Rom. 5:8. Charles Wesley. Jno. 1:1. Rom. 47 Some LittU zc ORD JESUS, my Master, work in me such deep conviction of Thy trustworthiness that I shall |cirayer9 nQt ^ e af^d to surrender myself abso- lutely to Thee — to fall on the seeming void, knowing I shall find the everlast- ing arms beneath. May the spirit of complete, joyous trust dominate my life this moment and every moment. As to any duty, help me to say, "Easy or hard, I will do it for Thee." As to any path, help me to say, "Rough or smooth, clouded or clear, Only Thou my leader be, And I still will follow Thee." Jo G. Whittier. John Cennick. 48 % W ^ORD, prepare me for any emer- Some J A gency that may happen in my life T{ttle — for accident or sudden illness ^v or disturbing news. I may be shaken, fc^y^ 1 * 9 Lord, but let my heart be so fixed on Thee that none of these things shall really move me. So fill my heart with Thine eternal love that the things of earth shall not seem large to me. Hold Thou me when the mighty billows smite, and keep me steady in the face of the lesser trials that are sure to come. May the peace of God flow like a great, calm river in my soul. Psa. 57:7. Isa. 48:18. (4) 49 Some Little prayers 8 'TRONG Son of God, immortal Love, Whom we, that have not seen Thy face, By faith, and faith alone, embrace, Believing where we can not prove ; Thou wilt not leave us in the dust ; Thou madest man, he knows not why, He thinks he was not made to die ; And Thou hast made him ; Thou art just. Thou seemest human and divine, The highest, holiest manhood, Thou ; Our wills are ours, we know not how; Our wills are ours — to make them Thine. Our little systems have their day; They have their day and cease to be : They are but broken lights of Thee, And Thou, O Lord, art more than they. Alfred Tennyson. 50 prayere *W "^.ORD, remember those who walk gome M J in paths of temptation — and my Lft+i e own self, too. We know a little about temptation, and because we know, because we have been tempted, our hearts go out in sympathy and love for the tempted and in pity for those who have failed. But Thou, Lord Jesus, Thou knowest "What strong temptations mean, For Thou hast felt the same." Thou wast tempted in all points like as we are. Thou knowest the power of the great wind that would sweep us out of the path, the long, long strain that would wear out at last the ut- most resistance. Oh, help us! We are not always strong to resist — we have been weakened by yielding — nor always wise to recognize the subtle foe. Make us alert to see the danger and strengthen us to meet it. Lead us not into temptation. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin ! Isaac Watts. Heb. 4:15. Prayer Book. 51 Some Little prayers u ORD, turn my defeats into vic- tories. I do not see at all how Thou canst do this, but is any- thing too hard for Thee? Thou canst make the very darkness light, and the crooked places straight. Thou canst so overrule my mistakes and even my faults that all will work for good. So I bring Thee my defeats — my pain and mortification. I am so glad there is an omnipotent hand to cover and cor- rect my failures. Jesus conquered when he fell. Oh, help me not to let these things sadden my life ! May I be strengthened and calmed by remember- ing how trivial they will seem as I look back upon them from the other life a thousand years from now. Help me to learn from them the lesson Thou wouldst have me learn, and then to for- get them and press forward. Isa. 42:16. T. B. Waterbury. Phil. 3:14. 52 *■ -%ORD, strengthen my faith. Help Some J J me to grow strong in the very Little exercise of faith as Thy servant —. Abraham waxed strong, actually strong K* 1 **)^ 1 * 9 in body, through faith. Help me to be- lieve — to be fully assured, as he was, that what Thou hast promised, Thou art able to perform. How such a faith as this would simplify my problems and strengthen my life! Lord, I be- lieve. I want to believe — I WILL to believe ! Help Thou mine unbelief ! Rom. 4:20, 21. Mark 9:24. 53 Some Little H OW difficult it is to be true, Lord, to be utterly sincere and genuine in all things! How the conven- Icirayers tionalities of society and the annoying emergencies of daily life would conspire to lower my standard of perfect sincer- ity ! A great temptation I could with- stand more easily than this multitude of little enticements. Oh, keep my con- science tender, Lord, and may the thought of what Jesus would do steady my will and clear my vision. Thou blessed One, who art the Way and the Truth and the Life, help me to be true. Jno. 14:6. 54 *W"""0.ORD, look Thou upon the dark Some J J places of the earth that are full L{ftlc of violence, the places where |~. strong manhood is brought down to ****/**$ bestiality by the intoxicating cup, where unsuspecting maidenhood is bought and sold to shame — the dread- ful places where crimes are conceived and evil deeds planned. O Lord, how long! Make bare the arm of Thine in- dignation. Come with Thy terrible swift sword of judgment. Why must evil triumph and the weak and ignorant be a prey? But, O Lord, even as I pray Thy sword smites me. My own heart is laid bare. I have not always done all I could to remedy these evils. I have been apathetic, careless, unmoved. Forgive me, Lord ; and from henceforth quicken my eyes to see, and my arm to strike with whatever of strength it may have against these terrible wrongs. Isa. 52:10. 55 Some lT~rORr> J ESUS > * thank Thee for Little J A m y friends. Thou who didst l^v pillow on Thy breast the head W*ytV9 Qi Thy friend) Thou knowest how our human hearts need friendship. How much I owe my friends of loving con- sideration, of encouragement and in- struction! How often Thou Thyself hast spoken to me through them ! Lord, bless and reward these friends of mine. Help me in turn to be a true and faith- ful friend; and may these precious hu- man friendships serve to make more real to me the relations I may have to Thee, Thou Friend above all others ! Jno. 13:23. 56 *W"""^ORD, make me very gentle. Keep Some J J me from harshness of thought or r/ tt i word or deed. May my judg- ments be made with a real desire to t^ 1 ^)^* 9 find something good in every man. May my words be full of the love that suffereth long and is kind. Sanctify, O Lord, even my manner and the tones of my voice, lest I heedlessly cause some heart to ache. There is so much of pain in the world at best — God forbid that I should add an iota to the fearful sum. I may never be great in my own power or wisdom, but oh, may I be great in love. May I be made great in thy gentleness. Psa. 18:35. 57 Some % W "7-ORD, bless Thy servants who Little Jr^L P reac ^ Thy word and shepherd -~ the flock of God on earth. How fc/raye 9 enormous their influence, how great their responsibility! Lord, help them to walk carefully before Thee. Guard them against the dangers of their ex- alted position. Keep them from pride and from narrowness, and keep them from all unsanctified ambitions. May they pattern after the simplicity of Christ. Help them to preach Jesus and Him crucified, to truly feed the flock which Thou hast purchased with Thine own blood. May there ring ever louder and louder in their ears the cry of the desolate and struggling world, and may they have grace so to tell the story of Jesus and His love that the cry shall be stilled in the Good Shepherd's arms. 1 Cor. 2:2. Acts 20:28. Jno. 10:11. 58 I WORSHIP Thee, O Holy Ghost, Some I love to worship Thee; Little My risen Lord for aye were lost ^v But for Thy company. prayers I worship Thee, O Holy Ghost, I love to worship Thee; Thy patient love, at what a cost At last it conquered me ! I worship Thee, O Holy Ghost, I love to worship Thee ; With Thee each day is Pentecost, Each night Nativity. William F. Warren. 59 Some Little prayers xx •ORD, bless the multiplying hos- pitals of the world. We thank Thee for these expressions of man's growing humanity to man. We thank Thee for the wonderful thought of disinterested care of the poor and sick that Jesus Christ first brought to earth. We thank Thee for the marvel- ous advances of medical science, for the skilled physician with his laboratories and microscopes, and for the trained nurse with her gentle ministries. These are all, though often they know it not, patterning after Thee, Thou great Healer; they are carrying on the work Thou didst begin on earth. Oh, bless them, Lord, in their ministry, and may they do it more and more as unto Thee. Luke 10:29-37. 60 I THANK Thee, Lord, for eternal Some life. I thank Thee that I may not T {^tlc only look forward to it in heaven, ^ but that I have it now— the heavenly *>V*ytYQ vitality, the divine principle. He that hath the Son hath the Life. To know Thee, Lord Jesus, this is Life Eternal —I thank Thee that I know Thee. Help me, Lord, to open my heart ever wider and wider to the divine influence. May I turn to Thee always with trust and love, as the flower lifts its face to the morning sun. May I grow and develop in Thy light. May the Life Eternal in me be more and more abundant till it blossoms forth at last, in the full fru- ition of Thy blessed presence. ljno. 5:11. Jno. 17:3. 61 Sortie Little prayers I THANK Thee, dear Father, that I live in this time of the world's history, in these busy, momentous days. I thank Thee that above all the triumphs of art and the discoveries of science, we are coming to the discov- ery of who is our neighbor — to recog- nize that all the children of earth, near and distant, good and bad, are bound together in a common tie, and that not the weakest, smallest one can suffer but that we all suffer with him. I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou givest us all a little part in helping on the great world movement toward better things — these mighty throes by which the regenera- tion of the nations is coming on. Lord, help us to help — to talk, to believe, to give, to do, to go if we can, and above all and with all, to pray. Help us to believe, no matter how dark the night, that because God 's in His heaven all *s right with the world. Robert Browning. 62 V^ORD, let Thy sweet light shine Some Jf ^/ into the deepest places of my Lfttle heart. There are abysses there ^v that I myself have never fully fathomed, ****$*** outlying lands with strange winds of conflicting motives and emotions and desires that I myself have never ex- plored, but out of these depths will I cry unto Thee. O Lord, let them all be purified and sweetened and set in order by Thy hand. Thou understand- est me altogether! The darkness hideth not from Thee. How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me ! Search me, O God, and try me, and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psa. 130:1. Psa. 139:12. Psa. 139:23, 24. 63 Some Little prayers n ORD, bless the toilers of the world, the strong patient hands that throw the shuttles of the world's industries, the hands that work always in obscurity and often in pain. Lord, let Thy blessing be upon those that shovel the coal and weave the cloth and till the earth that we may be warmed and clothed and fed; and lighten and glorify the humblest and heaviest task by showing the toiler that whatever he does of honest work is en- riching the world and ennobling char- acter and glorifying Thee ! 64 *r~fORD, grant me self control! Some P A Thou sayest to me, as to Thy kittle servant of old, "Walk before me ^ and be thou perfect." But how can I V™?*** thus walk before Thee, Thou heart- searching God, how avoid the hasty word, the irritated spirit, unless Thou help me every moment ? I want steadi- ness and quietness of heart, no matter how sudden the surprise or how great the strain. Oh, make good to me Thy promise that Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee. Nothing can take Thee by sur- prise, nothing out-weaVy Thee. So help me this moment, and always, to put the reins of my life over into Thy hands. Let it be no longer I, but Christ that liveth in me. Gen. 17:1. Isa. 26:3. Gal. 2:20. « 65 Some ^ESUS, my all in all Thou art; Little 3 ^ y rest * n to **' my ease * n pa * n ' l^v The medicine of my broken heart ; *** ' In war my peace; in loss my gain; My smile beneath the tyrant's frown; In shame my glory and my crown ; In want my plentiful supply ; In weakness my almighty power; In bonds my perfect liberty ; My light in Satan's darkest hour; In grief my joy unspeakable; My life in death, — my All in All. Charles Wesley. 66 *W "^-ORD, have mercy on the people Some P J of want and degradation, hidden L{^^j e away in the hovels and tene- ^ ments of our great cities. God help the l^ ra y cr9 women — the wives and mothers, whose hard life is making them unlovely and unwomanly; and God help the little children who, through no fault of their own, are doomed to live in surround- ings so impure that it is a marvel that any escape fatal contamination. Heav- enly Father, are these not all Thy child- ren, too? Help them by the direct in- fluences of Thy pitying Spirit, and help them by arousing Thy Church to pity and befriend them. And oh, hasten the time when evil and sin shall be done away forever, and nothing shall hurt or destroy, in all Thy holy mountain ! Isa. 11:9. 67 Some ^^ELIVER me from fear, I pray Little J*J Thee, Lord. The Lord is my ^v^ light and my salvation, whom * Jrayer8 shall I fear? Show me that Thy blessed protecting will is all about me, O God, insphering me with safety, and that the trials and sufferings which Thou dost permit to reach me, touched by the divine alchemy of that will, will be transmuted into blessings. Evil tidings? They can not be evil to the beloved of the Lord that dwells in safety by Him. Pain? Affliction? Death itself? All things shall work to- gether for my good. So what time I am afraid I will trust in Thee and my fear will vanish. I will trust and not be afraid. Psa. 27:1. Rom. 8:28. Psa. 56:3. Isa. 12:2. 68 *JT~fORD, give me a heart of pure, Some P A quick love. I desire to love r {++i c everybody in the whole world. ^ I want to love those that are unlovely, *> v *y* rQ those that do not love me. I will to love them, but oh, my heart is so slow to move out in spontaneous desires of good toward them! My soul is so dead, so dry and unfeeling ! Lord, shed abroad Thy love in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Let it come down like the gentle rains of heaven, refreshing, soft- ening, bringing new life. Thou lovest, Lord. Thou hast loved even me. And shall I not love others? I will, dear Lord, as Thou shalt help me. Take away out of my heart not only all hatred but all indifference, and may my life pour itself out through all my days in earnest, helpful, unceasing love to every creature. Rom. 5:5. Psa. 72:6. 69 Some Little prayers i THANK Thee, Lord, that the mercy seat is always open to me — that it is no longer by formal cer- emony and costly sacrifice that a soul draws near to Thee, but that the up- ward glancing of a thought brings us into Thy blessed presence. When I am happy I can run to Thee as a happy bride delights to pour her joy into her husband's ears. And when I am sad and perplexed I can still fly to Thee and sob out my woes on Thy loving bosom. I thank Thee that Thou art never too busy or too weary to hear me — that the arms of love are always out- stretched to welcome me. I thank Thee, Lord, that I can always pray. Heb. 9:11. 12. 70 prayers % J ^ORD, make me grateful for the Some J J things in my life that please me L^^( c not — the hard things, the crosses and disappointments and afflictions. Thou, Lord God, art round about Thy people. The closest "surrounding," after all, is Thyself. Nothing can ap- proach me save through Thee. Thou hast sent everything. No, not every- thing; Thou hast never sent the sin, sometimes my own and sometimes that of others, by which I have suffered. But even this Thou wilt overrule, for all things shall work together for my good. So for all Thou hast sent or per- mitted to come, I will praise Thee. And for all that Thou wilt permit to come I will praise Thee. My times are in Thy hand. Psa. 125:2. Rom. 8:28. Psa. 31:15. 71 Some Little K ORD, bless the Sunday-schools of our land and of all lands. We thank Thee for the millions ■^ ™ gathered together every Sunday to study the Word of God. We thank Thee for the great volume of volunteer work done by Sunday-school teachers and officers. Our hearts swell with amazement and grateful emotion as we think of the enormous influence for good of this training on the minds of the young. Surely Thou didst visit Thy people when the Sunday-school impulse came to the Church. We pray, Lord, for a continued blessing to rest on this agency — for earnest, faithful teachers and for a still greater ingathering of pupils. Above all, we pray that the Lord Jesus Himself may be so set forth in the teaching that the hearts of the young shall be won for Thee. 72 *■— "^ORD, help me to bear not only M J patiently but cheerfully, the in- terruptions that come to me. If my work presses, if my time seems precious, help me to remember that my time belongs not to myself, but to Thee. Nothing can come to me, Lord, but by Thy permission. Help me lest in my haste I miss some sweet lesson of Thine, or fail to see in the interrup- tion some bit of work that Thou wouldst have me do. And, however great the annoyance, keep the frown from my face, dear Lord, and the irrita- tion from my heart. May my cheerful patience in all my experiences, little as well as great, honor Thy name. Some Little prayers 73 Some f\ BLESSED work for Jesus ! Little ^^ O rest at Jesus' feet! -n. There toil seems pleasure, iJrayera ^ y wants are treasure, And pain for Him is sweet. Lord, if I may, 1 11 serve another day ! Anna B. Warner. 74 *W ^-ORD, I want to be truly unselfish. Some J A Help me, I pray Thee. Keep n^tlc me from choosing my own ^. pleasure while others suffer disadvan- W^?®?* tage. And more, Lord, keep me from the selfishness of thoughtlessness — from the countless little things that show me to be not like Thy blessed self. I think I fail sometimes for lack of light; shine Thou, I pray Thee, on even the smallest things of my life — on not only my motives but my life-long habits. Shine the purity of Thy light into them, and shine the warmth of Thy love over them, and make me, more and more every day, like the blessed One who pleased not Himself. Rom. 15:3. 75 Some Little prayers xc ORD, bless the missionaries in far-away lands, as they labor for Thee, Are they staggering un- der heavy burdens? Lord, be Thou their burden bearer. Teach them the wonderful secret of such supreme trust in Thee, such a recognition of the Father's love and care, as shall lift all burdens and relieve from all anxiety. Are they lonely and isolated? Give them a vivid sense of Thy presence. If any are sick or in danger, be Thou to them a strong tower of refuge and de- fense. Grant them the desire of their hearts in bringing many souls to the blessed light. And, O Lord of the har- vest, multiply their numbers. Send forth more laborers into Thy harvest. Psa.61:3. Matt. 9:38. 76 % «^ELP me, O Lord, not to strive Some 1 P unduly to know; not to fret that r {++\ c some things are still shadowed. ^ Thou art standing in the shadows, «^ ra y er9 keeping watch, and if I can not under- stand I can still trust. It is better not to know sometimes. It keeps me quiet in the arms that will not let me go. Keep me from worrying, Lord, as if Thou couldst not take care of me. Help me to be not anxious. James Russell Lowell. Matt. 6:34, Revised Version. 77 Some Little prayers D EAR Lord, keep me from getting discouraged to-day. Was it not written of Thee, "He shall not fail nor be discouraged ?•" May I be strong in Thy strength. May I rejoice in the certainty of coming victory. Perhaps it will be that even as I shout before my Jericho, the walls will fall — that even as, like the old king, I go sing- ing to the conflict my enemy will flee away. Help me to sing ! Isa. 42:4. Josh. 6:20. 2 Chron. 20:22. 78 % J %ORD, bless the neglected and suf- \*A fering children to-day, in city slum or country desolation. Be Thou the Great Physician to the little sick children, the Gentle Shepherd of the neglected children. Be Thou light to the love that otherwise might in igno- rance darken a little one's life. Be Thou the avenger of the organized greed that fattens on the blood of innocents. And help me to-day if there be opportunity, to lift some hand of comfort or help for those whom Jesus took in His arms and blessed. Mark 10:16. Some Little prayers 79 Some Little prayers rx ORD, help me to take my work or my study or my play as from Thy hand ; and to do it directly, intentionally, consciously, for Thee. Show me that even he "Who sweeps a floor as for Thy cause, Makes that and the action fine." May the blessed motive of doing it for Thee dignify and glorify every service — nothing thus done can be menial or trivial. And may I do my work well, Lord, with nothing about it of half- heartedness. With good will may I do my service as unto the Lord and not unto men. George Herbert. Eph. 6:7. 80 *W-~%ORD JESUS, keep me from pride. Some J J Help me not to think more T{++[ c highly of myself than I ought. -~ Why should I be lifted up— I, a tiny Way** mote visible only in the sunlight of Thy marvelous love? I, whose whole earthly existence is but for a moment? I, whose everything good both of char- acter and possession is the gift of another, even of Thyself, O Lord? Bring these things to my mind when this temptation besets me; and give me, O Thou blessed One who didst take upon Thyself the form of a servant, Thou whose glory it was not to be min- istered unto but to minister, give me more of Thy spirit of wonderful and lovely humility. Rom. 12:3. Phil. 2:7. Matt. 20:28. (6) 81 Some ^T^fORD, we pray for a blessing upon Little Jp A the a 2 e d — so many of the pleas- <, ures of life are not for them any ■^ ' more! But if their path is an ever nar- rowing one, joy after joy going out of it, oh, show them that it may be an ever ascending one, into purer air and broader vision. Keep them from fret- fulness and narrowness and sadness. May their sympathies grow ever broader and their love ever deeper; may their whole life become ever more full and rich. And as their pathway thus shines brighter and brighter, may they not be afraid or reluctant to go trust- fully on, holding Thy hand, unto the perfect day. Prov. 4:18. 82 SW\ Y Jesus, as Thou wilt ; Some 111 O may Thy will be mine! Little Into Thy hand of love t? ^ I would my all resign. payers Through sorrow or through joy, Conduct me as Thine own, And help me still to say, "My Lord, Thy will be done." My Jesus, as Thou wilt: All shall be well for me; Each changing future scene I gladly trust with Thee. Straight to my home above I travel calmly on, And sing in life or death, "My Lord, Thy will be done." Benjamin Schmolke. 83 Some *■ "^ORD, give me a thankful heart. Little J" A I am thankful for Thyself, for Dravers Thy great gifts to my spirit ' but *^ 7 help me to appreciate the thousand earthly things that make life good and sweet. I thank Thee for such health as I have, for eyes and ears and straight limbs, for sunshine in summer and shelter in winter. But, oh, I thank Thee most of all for Thyself, Lord Jesus, Thou Lover of my soul. And I thank Thee that Thou givest me the unspeakable honor of being in the humblest way a co-worker with Thee on earth. I thank Thee for the trials Thou hast sent me, the sorrows Thou hast permitted to come upon me. I can see already, as to some of these dark and dreadful things, that they have been necessary and useful to me, for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? And as to the other things, darker and bitterer, the things I can not understand, I leave them with Thee. " My Father's hand will never cause His child a needless tear." So I thank Thee, Lord, for all. Heb. 12:7. W. F. Lloyd. 84 *W "%ORD, I pray often for those I love M J best, but I pray now for those I love least. Bless those people with whom I differ, and help me to re- member that the right is rarely ever all on one side. Keep me from the arro- gance of believing that no judgment is sincere but my own. Help me to have confidence in and love for all Thy children, even when I can not think as they do. If there is any one who has done me wrong, Lord, help me to pray earnestly for that one, for it was while Job prayed for his friends that the Lord turned his captivity. May differ- ences be healed, may true love flow as we pray for each other, and even in our poor human hearts may Thy prayer be answered that we all may be one. Job 42:10. Jno. 17:21. Some Little Prayers 85 Some Little prayers o LORD of Light, shine into the dark places of the world. Ban- ish our night. Thou not only givest light, but Thou art Light. As light discloses and cleanses and vital- izes and makes to grow, so do Thou, God, make the truth plain and vital to Thy people. Purify our hearts and help us to live and grow in Thee. And, Lord, as the light shines everywhere, on the good and on the bad, so shine Thou everywhere all over the earth — it is Thy earth — till the everlasting morning shall come and there shall be no more night. 1 Jno. 1:5. Rev. 21:25. 86 B REATHE on me, Breath of God, Some Fill me with life anew, Little That I may love what Thou r^. dost love, P ra * ro And do what Thou wouldst do. Breathe on me, Breath of God, Until my heart is pure, Until with Thee I will one will, To do or to endure. Breathe on me, Breath of God, Till I am wholly Thine, Till all this earthly part of me Glows with Thy fire divine. Breathe on me, Breath of God, So shall I never die, But live with Thee the perfect life Of Thine eternity. Edwin Hatch. 87 Some Little & HALL I ask Thee for a joyous and happy life, dear Lord? But sorrow may be better. Thou ■^ ' knowest best, so my shallow thought is checked and I leave the choice to Thee. Choose Thou for me whether or not I have joy in my life — in my friends or my surroundings. Yes, even whether I shall have joy and seeming success in my work for Thee. But I may ask Thee, Lord, for joy in Thyself — that joy in the Lord which is my strength. I glory in the sure knowl- edge that I may have Thee. I may not feel Thy presence, but Thou art with me always, even unto thfe end of the world. Thou art the Fountain of all true joy. My soul shall be satisfied . . . my mouth shall praise Thee with joy- ful lips, when I remember Thee . . . and meditate on Thee. Neh. 8:10. Matt. 28:20. Psa. 63:5, 6. 88 OLORD, Thy kingdom come ! We catch bright glimpses, at times, of what Thy Kingdom in the earth will mean — the Kingdom of the unselfish, of the meek and lowly. Will the time ever really come when these shall inherit the earth ? O Lord, hasten its coming! We are so tired of the kingdoms that the world strives for — the rule of wealth and honor and power, the kingdoms of petty thoughts and selfish aims and passing interests. The fashion of this world passeth away. We long for the enduring, the eternal — for Thy beautiful, eternal Kingdom of Love. Lord, hasten the coming of the Kingdom ! Matt. 6:10. Matt. 5:5. 1 Cor. 7:31. Some Little prayers 89 Some *■ "^ORD God, give me present, con- Little \ \* scious victory over every sin. I~ Make me more than conqueror WayeVQ through Him t hat love d us# This was the very object of Thy coming to earth, Lord Jesus — Thou wast manifested to take away our sins. As I died unto sin when I came unto Thee at the first, accepting Thine atoning death for my transgressions, so may I daily live unto righteousness. May the power and outworking of Thy resurrection life in my soul be the most real and vivid ex- perience of my life. I can not stand alone a moment. As the babe falls helpless when the sustaining hand is withdrawn, so I fall without Thee. But, Lord, Thine hand fails never. It is not shortened that it can not save, nor weakened that it can not keep. So hold me, Thou mighty Conqueror. May I live before Thee with "no condemnation." Rom. 8:37. 1 Jno. 3:5, 8. Rom. 6:6-14. Isa. 59:1. Rom. 8:1. 90 *y-"^.ORD, bless the physicians and Some 1 J scientists and philosophers, the HftU patient seekers after truth in the q .^ laboratory and study. Bless those who ^ ' do not yet see Thee in Thy world. We thank Thee for these painstaking investigators to whom civilization owes so much of its helpful progress. We thank Thee for their spirit of true self- sacrifice ; surely they are Thy servants, moved by something of Thy spirit, do- ing Thy work though they may know it not. And Lord, as they so earnestly strive to find the truth in Thy world, oh that they might lift up their eyes to see Thee, the Truth in Thy Word ! Show them the sweet reasonableness of Thy revelation of Thyself in Thy Beloved Son ; and may they be brought to Thy feet in reverent adoration. 91 Sortie *■ "^ORD, give me the grateful spirit, Little J A t ^ ie Q u i c k, responsive heart that ^ forgets not all Thy benefits. prayers For Thy greater gi f ts j am g rate ful, but help me to recognize Thee in the every- day things that make life so pleasant — for the common food and clothes into whose preparation have gone the hid- den labor of such a multitude of humble, distant hands; for books to read, and for all the conveniences of civilization. I have these things because Thou hast opened Thine hand, filling Thine earth with unimagined wonders and possibil- ities, and filling the mind of man with splendid powers of invention and dis- covery. They are all gifts from Thee. May I take these good things from Thy hand and thank Thee. Psa. 103:2. 92 % W "%ORD, bless all the parts of our Some 1 J round world to which the gospel r {++\ c story has never yet been carried ; ^. India and China, with their myriads of k^y* 1 * 9 souls, their oppressed women, their hopeless widows, their opium evils — but with their vast possibilities of good. How fast they are coming into the great arena of the active nations! Bless their rulers. Bless their ignorant men, their suffering women, their pa- thetic little children. And Lord, bless Ethiopia, still stretching out her hands to Thee; and all the lands that know Thee not. Bless every effort to carry the banner of the cross to the ends of the world. Let Thy Spirit more and more arouse Thy Church to obey the great command to go into all the world, and may the time be hastened when the gospel shall be preached to every crea- ture and the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. Psa. 68:31. Mark 16:15. Rev. 11:15. 93 Some Little prayers xx ►ORD, bless me in my joy. All these sweet earthly things are gifts from Thee. They are little rills from the river of Thy pleasure, of which Thou makest me to drink. I am so glad, Lord Jesus, that Thou didst not only weep at the grave of Lazarus, but that Thou didst rejoice with Thy friends at the marriage feast of Cana! I am so glad that we are commanded to rejoice ! But, Lord, let not my earthly joys, no matter how pure and holy, make me for one moment to forget Thee. In the midst of the sweet secret thoughts of my human joys may my meditations of Thee be sweeter. Be Thou, Lord, my chiefest delight, my underlying joy, my everlasting treasure. Psa. 36:8. Phil. 4:4. 94 KOLY GHOST, with light divine, Some Shine upon this heart of mine; Little Chase the shades of night away, rw*wiH* Turn my darkness into day. |cn*ayers Holy Ghost, with power divine, Cleanse this guilty heart of mine; Long hath sin, without control, Held dominion o'er my soul. Holy Ghost, with joy divine, Cheer this saddened heart of mine! Bid my many woes depart, Heal my wounded, bleeding heart. • Holy Spirit, all divine, Dwell within this heart of mine; Cast down every idol-throne, Reign supreme, and reign alone. Arthur Reed. 95 Some ^^\^KE me very patient, Lord, — Little S I 9 P at i ent with myself and patient Q with other people. Thou wast ■^ ^ patient, even when Thou hadst not a pillow for Thy dear head. Thou didst endure the contradiction of sinners. What a world of patience Thou didst show toward Thy disciples in their ig- norance and misunderstanding of Thee! And what a world of patience Thou art showing toward me! And with Thy example before me shall not I be # patient? Help me never to forget that Thou art being judged — honored or dishonored — by the lives of Thy disci- ples. Oh, may Thy power keep me, Thy strong hand guard me from stum- bling. Suffer me not to be tempted above that I am able to bear. Matt. 8: 20. Jude 24, (R. V.) 1 Cor. 10:13. 96 K ORD, keep me from being afraid Some of Thee and Thy leading. Help Little me to believe with a sincerity r^^ rill fill mxr Wtt* xxrifVi rnncfanf WZyWQ that will fill my life with constant joy, that Thou art all wisdom and all love, and that Thou art infinitely more concerned that my life shall be happy and successful than I can be myself. A loving Father, even an earthly father, would never lead his child into a real darkness, and can I not trust Thee, no matter how strange may seem Thy v/ay for me ? So help me to surrender myself absolutely into Thy safe and loving hands ; and help me to keep al- ways the solemn promise I now make again, that by Thy grace I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest. Matt. 8:19. (7) 97 Some Little prayers it •ORD, help me to be helpful! Bless me and make me a bless- ing. I may not be able to do any great thing, dear Master, but help me to do the many little things. Help me to smile in rainy weather, to speak kindly, to answer gently even the harsh and unreasonable word, to lift the little burdens, to make some child happier. Oh, may I see, dear Lord, that such things as these may be done for Thee, that they are the cups of cold water; and that I may lift my eyes to Thee after even the tiniest kindness is of- fered, and read my reward in Thy smiling face. Gen. 12:2» Matt. 10:42. 98 XX ORD, bless the great army of Some women whom stern necessity H^tte has thrust out from the protect- r^^^ of home to fight for bread ^ ra >' cr9 ing shelter of home to fight in the pitiless, crowded marts of the world. Look on the toilers in factories and shops, and on the multitudes of homeless girls among them. They are so unused to the ways of the world, so open to danger by their very trustful- ness and innocence! Lord, be Thou Their shield. Quicken in them the in- stinct of purity. Raise up friends for their protection. Bless the Young Women's Christian Association and the Home Clubs and all other efforts for their good. And if ever word or deed of mine would help, may I be quick to seize the opportunity and wise to assist. LOFt 99 Some Little prayers D OW, Lord, I lay in Thy loved hand This thing I can not understand. I will not look, I will not long, I almost fear I have been wrong. I'll go and work the harder, Lord, And wait till at Thine own sweet word, Thou callest me to Thy loved feet To take this thing, so dear, so sweet. Anonymous. 100 I PRAY Thee, Lord, for the poor of the earth. I pray for those who wander homeless, a curse to them- selves and a menace to society. Lord, may the shame and sorrow of pauper- ism and beggary be brought soon to an end — surely enough food grows out of Thy earth for all. And, Lord, bless the millions of workers that toil in daily terror lest the toil cease, for those who are facing for their dear ones, day by day, the danger of actual starvation. I pray for the mothers who watch their little ones slowly dying for lack of the comforts of life. And for the mothers who even this day are giving up, to be buried by unfeeling hands in paupers' graves, the precious bodies of their dead. And I pray for the other mothers whose hearts are bearing the worse pain of seeing their children neglected on the streets and going down to moral death! God pity the sorrows of the poor, and while they toil for bread, quicken the hearts of Thy children to compassion and helpfulness. Psa. 145:16. Some Little prayers 101 Some Little prayers tx ■ORD, save me from a spirit of un- kind and unnecessary criticism. Let me never forget that all un- necessary criticism can but be unkind. Set a guard on my lips. Give me such a spirit of genuine, fervent love for everybody that I shall be pained if I must express an ill judgment, no mat- ter how well founded in truth. Take away from me the specious excuse that because a thing is true I may exploit it. Give me the love that conceals its loved one's faults as long as possible, that suffers long and is kind, that be- lieves all things good of one's neighbor, and when it can no longer believe, hopeth all things — that there must be some palliating circumstance, some misunderstanding — and when it can no longer even hope, that still "endures" all things in loving silence rather than speak one needless word to a neighbor's discredit. So shall I be growing con- stantly more like Thee, Thou living and gentle Jesus. 1 Cor. 13:4-7. 102 HND wilt Thou Sometime say to Some me, Lord Jesus: "Well done, L^tlc good and faithful servant ?" Shall ^v I, even I, hear those words? At the ***J«W very thought of it, my heart breaks with the sense of its own unworthiness. There have been so many times when I have not been good ; and when I have, it has been Thou, "working in me, both to will and to do." And so many times when I have not been faithful! How canst Thou ever say "Well done" to me, my Master? It will be because — my heart has guessed the secret — because Thou lov- est me! Thou lookest upon my little attempts, the little flickerings of my heart toward Thee and they are trans- figured in Thine eyes. And shall I not, as Thou shalt help me, do a little better from this time on? Shall I not be a little more nearly wor- thy of Thy wonderful words of love? Matt. 25:21. Phil. 2:13. 103 Some Little prayers xx ORD, bless the people that to-day will die, some by swift accident and some by long illness. Help them, O Lord, to trust and not be afraid. Sometimes in our childhood we used to see in the dark, on our homeward way, wild beasts and dread- ful creatures in the path, but as we drew nearer we found them mere noth- ings — a blackened stump — a garment waving in the wind. So may the ter- rors of death vanish before Thy chil- dren as they come closer. May they see that the change is only a moving time, an entering into the larger, truer, freer life of God. And those who are not Thy children, who have not accepted Thee as their Father — some of them, too, will die to- day. O Lord, may there not be one more striving of Thy Spirit with them before they go ? Isa. 12:2. 104 *W "%ORD, bless the young people of gome J A the land to-day. They are so £,{ttl c happy and strong in the school ^v and in the home, but upon them in a •^ ra y er8 little time is to come all the stress and weariness and work and pain of the world! Prepare them for it, Lord; the young women who are to toil in a thou- sand ways, to lay woman's hand of in- fluence on the world, to guide the feet of childhood; the young men that are to be the toilers, to dare and lose and gain and suffer. Help them all. With their other learning may they learn strength and patience and faith in Thee. And may the world that they make for others be better than the world that we have made for them. 105 Some f\ MASTER, let me walk with Thee Little \lJ * n ^ ow ^y paths of service free; |rv Tell me Thy secret ; help me bear Icjrayers The strain of toilj the fret of care# Help me the slow of heart to move By some clear winning word of love ; Teach me the wayward feet to stay, And guide them in the homeward way. Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee In closer, dearer company, In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, In trust that triumphs over wrong, In hope that sends a shining ray Far down the future's broadening way, In peace* that only Thou canst give — With Thee, O Master, let me live. Washington Gladden. 106 m 17 1908 Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: August 2005 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATIO 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724) 779-21 1 1 t V LIBRARY OF CONGRESS