Thoughtfortheday

With hope that this page will bring glory to God and attention to His Word, you are invited to check here most every day for a piece of scripture, thoughts on the verse(s) and a prayer. May the ideas presented here bring you edification and fulfillment as you continue your journey with Christ.

Wednesday November 20, 2024

Today's Scripture:

Burn New Bern - SCRIPTURE

Thoughts on Today's Verse(s):

I'm a morning kind of person. I do my best work in the am, my best thinking and I believe I even offer my best prayers in the early hours of my day. I acknowledge that not everyone is like that nor should they be. God made us all different and diverse; it's a part of His creative & innovative ways to form us with a variety of characteristics and attributes. But, I actually find that because I do my best in the morning, I can find my last moments before hitting the pillow to be a bit lacking in the spiritual category. Sometimes I'm so tired - after having already fallen asleep in the lazy-boy - that I climb into bed without offering a final good prayer to The Lord like so many others do. I admire those who close their day with a solid few moments with Jesus. I'm working on a new habit to combat this poor tendency of mine.

The psalmist of today's verses obviously got it. He committed to not even entering his house at the end of a long work day without pausing to give thanks & glory to The Lord. Even after that, he pledged to always spend time with God in prayer before closing his eyes. He made sure to keep a place for God in his heart when he turned in. Shouldn't we all do that?

The Book of Common Prayer contains a wonderful late evening service called compline. It's short yet powerful and edifying. And even though I rarely take the time to go through the entire compline liturgy, unless I’m worshiping in corporation with others, I now endeavor to sing my favorite part of the whole thing: Before the Ending of the Day. It's beautiful and for me, a fitting end to another glorious day in God's creation. I invite you to sing it with me now, and tonight. (I've adjusted the lyrics to first person for my/our use).

Here's a lovely You Tube version to guide you with the tune: Before The Ending of the Day

Prayer:

Before the ending of the day, Creator of the world, I pray,
That with Thy wonted favor Thou, Wouldst be my guard and keeper now.
From all ill dreams defend my eyes, From nightly fears and fantasies;
Tread under foot my ghostly foe, That no pollution I may know.
O Father, that I ask be done, Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son;
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee, Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.