Keep Me From Evil

December 11.

Oh, that Thou wouldest bless me indeed,
and that Thine hand might be with me, and
that Thou wouldest keep me from evil,
that it may not grieve me!

1 CHRONICLES 4, verse 10.


Ye shall serve the Lord your God,
and He shall bless thy bread and thy water.

EXODUS 23, verse 25.


What I possess, or what I crave,
Brings no content, great God, to me,
If what I would, or what I have,
Be not possest, and blest, in Thee;
What I enjoy,
O make it mine,
In making me that have it, Thine.

J. QUARLES.


Offer up to God all pure affections, desires,
regrets, and all the bonds which link us to
home, kindred, and friends, together with all
our works, purposes, and labors. These things,
which are not only lawful, but sacred, become
then the matter of thanksgiving and oblation.
Memories, plans for the future, wishes,
intentions; works just begun, half done,
all but completed; emotions, sympathies, affections,
--all these things throng tumultuously and
dangerously in the heart and will. The only way
to master them is to offer them up to Him, as
once ours, under Him, always His by right.

H. E. MANNING.