Morning Work and Faithful Service

ALMIGHTY GOD, we bless and praise Thee that we have wakened to the light of another earthly day; and now we would think of what a day should be. Our days are Thine, let them be spent for Thee. Our days are few, let them be spent with care. There are dark days behind us, forgive their sinfulness; there may be dark days before us, strengthen us for their trials. We pray Thee to shine on this day—the day which we may call our own. Lord, we go to our daily work; help us to take pleasure therein. Show us clearly what our duty is: help us to be faithful in doing it. Let all we do be well done fit for Thine eye to see. Give us strength to do, patience to bear: let our courage never fail. Help us most when faintness comes: hold us up when weariness begins. When we cannot love our work, let us think of it as Thy task; and by our true love to Thee, make unlovely things shine in the light of Thy great love. The little things of those we love are precious in our eyes: sweet is service when the Master is beloved. The costly ointment grew to greater worth spent on the feet of the Lord.

When men or things are contrary, and our spirits are vexed and our hearts fall faint, let us think of Him who endured contradiction of sinners against Himself. When our work seems mean, our calling but obscure; when pride asks some greater thing to do; when we chafe against service and rebel against rule, may saving thoughts come quickly to our help—thoughts of Him who made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant. When the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak, Good Lord, help us! When the fear of danger, or the shrinking from pain would hinder us, Good Lord, help us! When interest beguiles or indolence besets us, Good Lord, help us! When pleasure smiles and bids us come, when duty cries and bids us stay, Good Lord, help us! Help our weak wills to choose the right: keep us to our toil till the evening; then bless us in our pastime, and lead us to our rest. Help each to do his own work; to learn his own task; to bear his own burden. May the ruler rule in righteousness; may the servant obey with faithfulness. Be with the child at school; help Martha in her serving; and bring us all, like Mary, to sit at the Holy feet, and choose the better part that cannot be taken from us.

Bless us in the hours of rest; make pure and sweet the pleasure that comes after pain. Bless our bread; bless our cup; bless our bed; and may this day, its sins all pardoned by Thy forgiving love, carry for us some treasure to the land where moth and rust do not corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.—AMEN.