Matthew 6:6

 ⁶ But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

John Baillie (1886-1960) was born in Scotland. He was a theologian, teacher, author, and served as the Moderator of the Church of Scotland in 1943. His devotional life was the center of his personal and professional endeavors.

One of his most famous works is A Diary of Private Prayer. Our prayer for today is one of Baillie’s prayers from this marvelous resource:

Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of You, let my first impulse be to worship You, let my first speech be Your name, let my first action be to kneel before you in prayer.

“For Your perfect wisdom and perfect goodness: For the love with which You love mankind: For the love with which you love me: For the great and mysterious opportunity of my life: For the indwelling of Your Spirit within my heart: For the sevenfold gifts of Your Spirit: I praise and worship You, O Lord.

Yet let me not, when this morning prayer is said, think my worship ended and spend the day in forgetfulness of You. Rather from these moments of quietness let light go forth, and joy, and power, that will remain with me through all the hours of the day.

Keeping me chaste in my thought: Keeping me temperate and truthful in my speech: Keeping me faithful and diligent in my work: Keeping me humble in my estimation of myself: Keeping me honorable and generous in my dealings with others: Keeping me loyal to every hallowed memory of the past: Keeping me mindful of my eternal destination as a child of Yours. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen”