Reading: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”—Hebrews 11:13

Lord, increase my faith—let it rise above all difficulties and all trials. Let these drive me closer to Him who has promised to make me “more than conqueror.” Let them quicken my longings for the true home of my soul above. May it be my grand ambition here to be a “pilgrim” in everything, to be pitching my tent day by day nearer heaven, imbibing every day more of the pilgrim character, and longing more for the pilgrim’s rest. May I be enabled to say, with an increasingly chastened spirit, of a passing world, “Here I have no continuing city.” May this assurance dry all tears, and reconcile to all sorrows—“I am journeying to the place of which the Lord has said, I will give it you.”

Blessed Jesus, hasten Your coming and Your kingdom. Scatter the darkness which is now covering heathen nations. Stand by Your missionary servants. May they exercise a simple faith on Your own sure word of promise. “Strong in the Lord and in the power of His might,” may every mountain of difficulty be made a plain, and “the glory of the Lord be revealed.”

God of Bethel, I commend to You all my beloved friends. Shield them by Your protecting providence. Give them every needed blessing in the present life, and in the world to come life everlasting. And all I ask is for Jesus’ sake. Amen.