If, in addition to my Bible, I could keep only one of my devotional books, I think A Diary of Private Prayer (John Baillie) would likely be the one I would keep. Through the years, this little volume has blessed me immensely, encouraged me tremendously, and has carried my thoughts to the Lord continually as each of the thirty-one morning and evening readings have seemed to me to be inspired each time by the Lord and has been used of Him to remind me of commitments dear to me. As life seems to move more swiftly than ever before and as changes in my family and in my own personal life seem to be increasing exponentially, I find that this little timeless book becomes more of a treasure as the years go by. I have an original old printed copy, but reprints are available at Amazon and elsewhere.
Here’s an example for you… may you be blessed.
| First Day Morning | |
| Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of Thee, | |
| let my first impulse be to worship Thee, let my first speech be Thy name, let my first action be to kneel before Thee in prayer. |
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For Thy perfect wisdom and perfect goodness: For the love wherewith Thou lovest mankind: For the love wherewith Thou lovest me: For the great and mysterious opportunity of my life: For the indwelling of Thy Spirit in my heart: For the sevenfold gifts of Thy Spirit: |
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| I praise and worshipThee, O Lord | |
| Yet let me not, when this morning prayer is said, think my worship ended and spend the day in forgetfulness of Thee. 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; | |
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Keeping me chaste in thought: Keeping me temperate and truthful in speech: Keeping me faithful and diligent in my work: Keeping me honourable and generous in my dealings with others: Keeping me loyal to every hallowed memory of the past: Keeping me mindful of my eternal destiny as a child of Thine. |
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| O God, who has been the Refuge of my fathers through many generations, be my Refuge today in every time and circumstance of need. Be my guide though all that is dark and doubtful. Be my guard against all that threatens my spirit’s welfare. Be my strength in time of testing. Gladden my heart with Thy peace; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen. |
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A Diary of Private Prayer
John Baillie 1949
