Take all the tangled threads!

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(J.R. Miller, "Family Prayers")

Heavenly Father, we would be strong for this new day, and we wait upon You to renew our strength. We need spiritual strength for the day that is before us. We shall have . . .
   burdens to carry,
   and battles to fight,
   and trials to endure,
   and duties to perform,
   and temptations to conquer,
   and conflicts with the evil world.
We need strength for all these experiences. You alone can give us what we need. You are our refuge and our strength--a very present help in times of trouble. You have promised to be with us, and to strengthen us. You have said that as our days are--so shall our strength be; and that Your grace is sufficient for us. We accept these assurances, believing that we shall obtain help from You for every duty and every struggle this day.

We would lean . . .
   our weakness--on Your strength,
   our ignorance--on Your wisdom,
   our trembling insecurity--on Your unchangeableness.

Restrain us . . .
   from all excess, of whatever kind,
   from all extravagance of speech,
   from all foolish vanity,
   from inordinate affection and emotion.
Make us thoughtful, serious, solemn, watchful, and prayerful.

May we be . . .
   stronger in faith,
   more earnest in purpose,
   more holy in thought and feeling--
because of our communion with You this day.

We ask You for grace . . .
   to perform our allotted tasks with diligence;
   to guide our affairs with discretion;
   to do all things, whatever we do, in the name of the Lord Jesus;
   and in all our ways to acknowledge You.
Order our steps in Your word--and let not any iniquity have dominion over us.

Take all the tangled threads of our lives into Your own hand, and unravel them, weaving them into a web of beauty.

"Those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength! They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint!" Isaiah 40:31
 

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