Ryle: to be prayerless

Saturday, July 11, 2009
    Feast of Benedict of Nursia, Father of Western Monasticism, c.550

Meditation:
    The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.
    —Jeremiah 10:21 (NIV)

Quotation:
    To be prayerless is to be without God, without Christ, without grace, without hope, and without heaven.
    ... J. C. Ryle (1816-1900), A Call to Prayer, published in the 1850's as a pamphlet, p. 1 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, teach us to pray in accordance with Your will.

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Calvin: taking care of His own

Friday, July 10, 2009
    Quincentenary of John Calvin, 1509

Meditation:
    By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
    their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
    —Psalm 33:6 (NIV)

Quotation:
    Nobody seriously believes the universe was made by God without being persuaded that He takes care of His works.
    ... John Calvin (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion [1559], tr. John Allen, Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath-School Work, 1921, I.xvi.1, p. 183 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You take care of those I love, Your creatures.

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Studd: the arms for doing battle

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Meditation:
    [Peter:] You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
    —Acts 10:37,38 (NIV)

Quotation:
    When in hand-to-hand conflict with the world and the devil, neat little Biblical confectionery is like shooting lions with a pea-shooter; one needs a man who will let go and deliver blows right and left as hard as he can hit, in the power of the Holy Ghost... Nothing but forked-lightning Christians will count.
    ... C. T. Studd (1860-1931), quoted in C. T. Studd—Cricketer and Pioneer [1933], Norman P. Grubb, Read Books, 2008, p. 163 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, energize Your people to carry out Your will.

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Martin: Gospel and action

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Meditation:
    Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
    —Romans 16:25-27 (NIV)

Quotation:
    Happily for us, the fundamental Christian message concerns not what we ought to do, but what God has done and what God is willing to do. In fellowship with Him and with others who are likewise trying to be like Him, we can be lifted up above our native possibilities.
    ... Hugh Martin (1890-1964)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, all grace originates with You.

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Book of Common Prayer: nothing good without Thee

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Meditation:
    Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
    The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.
    —Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)

Quotation:
    O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in thee; mercifully accept our prayers; and because, through the weakness of our mortal nature, we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
    ... Collect for the first Sunday after Trinity, in The Book of Common Prayer [1790, U.S.], New York: Protestant Episcopal Press, 1835, p. 100-101 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, Your grace has conquered my stubborn heart.

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More: for his enemies

Monday, July 6, 2009
    Feast of Thomas More, Scholar & Martyr, &
    John Fisher, Bishop & Martyr, 1535

Meditation:
    [Jesus:] ... But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...
    —Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

Quotation:
    Almighty and most gracious God, have mercy on N and N, and on all that bear evil to me, and wish me harm; and by every such easy, tender, and merciful means as Thine infinite goodness best can devise, vouchsafe to amend and redress them: and make us saved souls together in heaven, where we may ever live and love together with Thee and Thy blessed saints, This grant, O sacred and glorious Trinity, for the bitter passion of our sweet Lord and Saviour Christ. Amen.
    ... Sir Thomas More (1478-1535), Sir Thomas More: a selection from his works, ed. William Joseph Walter, Baltimore: F. Lucas, 1841, p. 305 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, teach us to follow Your example towards those who are spiteful to us.

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Owen: fighting the enemy

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Meditation:
    For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
    —Romans 6:6,7 (NIV)

Quotation:
    Let no man think to kill sin with few, easy, or gentle strokes. He who hath once smitten a serpent, if he follow not on his blow until he be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel. And so will he who undertakes to deal with sin, and pursues it not constantly to the death.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683), A Discourse Concerning Holy Spirit, bk. I-V [1674], in Works of John Owen, v. III, London: Johnson & Hunter, 1852, p. 546-547 (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, by Your grace, do not let sin conquer me.

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