p. 30 | The Morning Watch Calendar by M. E. K.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 12, 1907

The Morning Watch Calendar

By M. E. K.

It is a most hopeful sign of a revival of spiritual life among our young people that so many are interested in systematic Bible study and prayer. Last year there were calls for more than two thousand copies of the Morning Watch Calendar published by the Central Union Conference. A calendar for the year 1908 is being published by the General Conference Missionary Volunteer Department, and will soon be ready for distribution.

The essentials of Christian growth are three: “Search the Scriptures”—FOOD; “Pray without ceasing”—BREATH; “Go work to-day in my vineyard”—EXERCISE.

To assist individuals in the formation of the habit of daily Bible study and prayer, this Morning Watch Calendar is prepared. Aside from giving a text of Scripture for every day in the year, suggestions are made of subjects for special prayer, and references are given for supplementary reading in the spirit of prophecy, for those who can do it.

What is the Morning Watch? It is commonly understood to mean the spending of at least the first half-hour of each day in personal, devotional Bible study and prayer. The value of such a habit, and the great blessings of spiritual uplift and power coming to the soul as a result of it, can hardly be overestimated. Can you visit with God for thirty minutes every day? Can you afford not to? Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” And secret prayer, we know, is the life of the soul.

If we succeed in our Christian life, we must plan for it, and “take time to be holy.” As some one has said, “Without doubt our failure to prevail with man and against evil in the world during the day is too often due to our more fundamental failure to prevail with God at the beginning of the day.” We are living in a time above all times when we must have a direct connection with Heaven. We must make strenuous efforts to form fixed habits of Bible study and prayer. What better can we do than to covenant with God to devote to him the best hour of all the day, an hour when the soul is in its most receptive mood, and before we go forth to the day’s work, with its conflicts and temptations? Then we can say with Isaiah, “He wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned” (Isa. 50:4), and with David, “In the morning will I order my prayer unto thee, and will keep watch.” Ps. 5:3, R. V.

Let every one who desires to take up this plan send to his conference secretary of the young people’s work for this beautiful and useful calendar. The price is six cents. Stamps will be received. Order at once, that you may begin on the first day of the new year. M. E. K.