January 5, Morning

He led them forth by the right way.He [Jacob] found in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him. Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. For this GOD is our GOD for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Who teacheth like him?Ps. 107:7. Deut. 32:10-12. Isa. 46:4. Ps. 23:3,4. Isa. 58:11. Ps. 48:14. Job 36:22.

Think on These Things

"Let the people renew their strength." --Isaiah 41:1
All things on earth need to be renewed. No created thing continueth by itself. "Thou renewest the face of the year," was the Psalmist's utterance. Even the trees, which wear not themselves with care, nor shorten their lives with labour, must drink of the rain of heaven and suck from the hidden treasures of the soil. The cedars of Lebanon, which God has planted, only live because day by day they are full of sap fresh drawn from the earth.Neither can man's life be sustained without renewal from God. As it is necessary to repair the waste of the body by the frequent meal, so we must repair the waste of the soul by feeding upon the Book of God, or by listening to the preached Word, or by the soul-fattening table of the ordinances.How depressed are our graces when means are neglected! What poor starvelings some saints are who live without the diligent use of the Word of God and secret prayer! If our piety can live without God it is not of divine creating; it is but a dream; for if God had begotten it, it would wait upon Him as the flowers wait upon the dew. Without constant restoration we are not ready for the perpetual assaults of hell, or the stern afflictions of heaven, or even for the strifes within. When the whirlwind shall be loosed, woe to the tree that hath not sucked up fresh sap, and grasped the rock with many intertwisted roots.When tempests arise, woe to the mariners that have not strengthened their mast, nor cast their anchor, nor sought the haven. If we suffer the good to grow weaker, the evil will surely gather strength and struggle desperately for the mastery over us; and so, mayhap, a painful desolation, and a lamentable disgrace may follow. Let us draw near to the footstool of divine mercy in humble entreaty, and we shall realize the fulfillment of the promise, "They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength."

C. H. Spurgeon

January 5, Evening

What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee ... Lord, that I may receive my sight.Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, ... shall teach you all things. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, ... give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.
Luke 18:41. Ps. 119:18. Luke 24:45. John 14:26. John 1:17. Eph. 1:17-19.

Hymn
“Lord, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thine honor dwelleth.” Psalm 26:8

We love the place, O God,Wherein Thine honor dwells;The joy of Thine abodeAll earthly joy excels.

It is the house of prayerWherein Thy servants meet;And Thou, O Lord, art thereThy chosen flock to greet.

We love the sacred font;For there the holy DoveTo pour is ever wontHis blessings from above.

We love Thine altar, Lord;Oh, what on earth so dear?For there, in faith adoredWe find Thy presence near.

We love the Word of life,The Word that tells of peace,Of comfort in the strife,And joys that never cease.

We love to sing belowFor mercies freely giv’n;But, oh, we long to knowThe triumph song of Heav’n.

Lord Jesus, give us graceOn earth to love Thee more,In Heav’n to see Thy face,And with Thy saints adore.

Consolation

Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. De 8:17, 18

Exhortation

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. Jud 5:3

O Lord, help us this day to worship thee as we ought.
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