Morning Prayer
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Inspiration
Hope is often used in modern English to mean a possible but uncertain desire, as in the phrase "I hope so. " But in the Bible, it is used very differently. It is used in KJV, at least, in the older English meaning of a "an eager expectation of some longed for future event. " Our Christian experience strengthens our hope, for God's love is still in us working powerfully through all that we go through as Christians.
Prayer
O Giver of true hope and Comforter of our souls, we have a sure and blessed future that awaits us. We know that your promises will not and cannot fail because He who promised is faithful. Your love is shed abroad in our hearts, and we love you because you first loved us. Let the hope you have given us encourage us, we pray, in the midst of even the most difficult circumstances. Amen.
Night Prayer
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Inspiration
We despise the thought of a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. The outside is easy to clean; it's the caked-up residue on the inside that's so difficult to remove. Jesus compares the scribes and Pharisees with dishes that have been wiped clean on the outside while dirty inside. The Pharisees took exceptional care of their outward appearance and neglected their inward spirits. We are guilty of allowing our hearts to be left filthy as well. We look and act as we should while our souls are full of darkness. We must continue to converse with the Holy Spirit daily and trust His guidance to cleanse our sinful nature.
Prayer
Dear God, Please forgive our sinful nature. We yearn for cleansing from within, so we are genuine witnesses to Your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
