THE FAMILY ALTAR
August 9.
"Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in
Thee do I trust; cause me to know the way wherein I should
walk ; for I lift up my soul unto Thee." Ps. 143:8.
"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to
sing praises nnto Thy name, 0 Most High; to show forth Thy
loving-kindness in the morning and Thy faithfulness at night."
Let us greet each new-born day with glad strains of thanksgiving
to our ever kind and merciful God. Under the shadow of His
guarding wing have we slept securely during the night. His
loving-kindness protected us from all betiding harm and danger.
In the light of His loving-kindness would we begin and end
this day. His loving-kindness and tender mercy has made us
His own in Christ Jesus, our blessed Savior. Trusting in His
faithful kindness and mercy, we can every morning joyously go
forth to our accustomed tasks, knowing that He is with us to
guard and direct our way that no evil befall us. 0 blessed,
0 perfect day we spend thus in the communion of our kind and
loving God ! What greater joy could we wish for than to know
that He is with us; that we have found forgiveness for all our
sins with Him; that all the rich bounties of His grace are opened
to us and we shall not want for any good thing? In His precious
Word He causes us to know this His great loving-kindness, assuring
us of His unfailing grace and mercy. In His Word He makes
known unto us the ways in which we should walk before Him.
Or how? Should we willingly trespass His holy Law because we
know what a kind and loving Father He is to us? "Shall we
continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!" (Eom.
6, 1.) A Christian heart that has tasted God's loving-kindness
longs for nothing more fervently than to walk in God's holy ways
and to praise Him in body and soul who has taken such marvelous
saving compassion on him, the dying sinner, and blesses and pro-
tects him so mercifully every day.
Lord of my life! O may Thy praise
Employ my noblest powers,
Whose goodness lengthens out my days,
And fills the circling hours.
Smile on my minutes as they roll,
And guide my future days;
And let Thy goodness fill my soul
With gratitude and praise.
