Prayer

Fathers and mothers, each morning and evening gather your children around you,
and in humble supplication lift the heart to God for help. Your dear ones are exposed
to temptation. Daily annoyances beset the path of young and old. Those who would
live patient, loving, cheerful lives must pray. Only by receiving constant help from
God can we gain the victory over self.
Each morning consecrate yourselves and your children to God for that day. Make
no calculation for months or years; these are not yours. One brief day is given you.
As if it were your last on earth, work during its hours for the Master. Lay all your
plans before God, to be carried out or given up, as His providence shall indicate.
Accept His plans instead of your own, even though their acceptance requires the
abandonment of cherished projects. Thus the life will be molded more and more after
the divine example; “and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.—(Testimonies for
the Church 7:44.)
What to pray for daily.—We are to look upon every duty, however humble, as
sacred because it is a part of God’s service. Our daily prayer should be, “Lord, help
me to do my best. Teach me how to do better work. Give me energy and cheerfulness.
Help me to bring into my service the loving ministry of the Saviour.”(The Ministry of
Healing, 474.)
Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let
your prayer be, “Take me, O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet.
Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in
Thee.” This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day.
Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His providence shall
indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus
your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.—(Steps to Christ, 70.)
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