INSPIRASUNS

A few weeks ago, my husband gave me a gift—an early birthday gift, I think. He gave me two books. One was a copy of our 1928 prayer book, and the other was a little red book. It’s called The Practice of Religion, and this particular edition was printed in 1950. His mother had a copy of this very book; it was printed in 1935.

This little red book is wonderful to read. Its inside cover says, “A Short Manual of Instructions and Devotions.” Over the past weeks, I’ve settled into reading Evening Prayer. It’s been a nice ending to my evening chat with Father.

This morning I picked up the little red book and flipped to the pages for Morning Prayer. I recited the simple service and then read the short hymn that followed. It is a beautiful hymn and I thought I would share it here this morning. It speaks to the dawn of a new day, and our relationship with our Lord.

New every morning is the love
Our waking and uprising prove;
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life and power and thought.

New mercies each returning day
Hover around us while we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiven,
New thoughts of God, new hope of Heaven.

If, on our daily course, our mind
Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still of countless price
God will provide for sacrifice.

Old friends, old scenes will lovelier be
as more of heaven in each we see;
some softening gleam of love and prayer
shall dawn on every cross and care.

The trivial round, the common task
will furnish all we need to ask;
Room to deny ourselves, a road
to bring us daily nearer God.

Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love,
fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us this and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.

Sometimes the simplest of prayers and hymns are the most meaningful. Friends may your day be filled with opportunities to see God at work. He is there, open your eyes and your heart to see and feel His presence. Have a good day friends 🙂 .

Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.