Thoughts

for the

Quiet Hour

Edited by

D. L. Moody

Updated by

Samuel G. Hardman

Today’s Reading

FOREWORD

One of the brightest signs of the times is that many Christians in our young people’s societies and churches are observing a quiet hour daily. In this age of rush and activity we need some special call to go apart and be alone with God for a part of each day. Any man or woman who does this faithfully and earnestly cannot be more than twenty-four hours away from God.

The selections given in this volume were first published in the monthly issues of the Record of Christian Work, Northfield, Mass., and were found very helpful for devotional purposes. They are also a mine of thoughts, to light up the verses quoted. Being of permanent value, it has been thought desirable to transfer them from the pages of the magazine to this permanent volume.

May they have a helpful ministry, leading many into closer communion with God.

D. L. Moody

PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION

It is interesting to note that Moody refers to the latter days of the nineteenth century as “an age of rush and activity” when people needed “some special call to go apart and be alone with God for a part of each day.” Though a century has elapsed since he wrote those words, things apparently have not changed very much, at least in this particular. How many of us find that our time alone with God is getting crowded out by the activities of daily life? Being so busy is indeed being too busy!

These devotional thoughts have been used by thousands upon thousands of people over a period of many decades in their times alone with God, and they are reprinted here as an aid to those of us who need some encouragement to be faithful in our own “quiet hour.” Changes to the original in this edition are minor, and mainly involve updating phraseology and punctuation.

Some of the meditations are admittedly very short. The reader should not be put off by this. Instead, the shorter meditations should be taken as an opportunity to truly meditate on the nugget of truth that is being brought out. Allow the verse or verses of Scripture to roll around in your mind, then think of several ways in which the application is or should be true in your own life. Effort of this sort will be well-rewarded. I am confident that a year spent meditating on the truths presented in this small volume will help to produce Christians who are better prepared to meet their Master.

Samuel G. Hardman

July, 1997

January 1

Come up in the morning … and present thyself … to me in the top of the mount

Exod. 34:2

My Father, I am coming. Nothing on the mean plain shall keep me away from the holy heights. Help me to climb fast, and keep Thou my foot, lest it fall upon the hard rock! At Thy bidding I come, so Thou wilt not mock my heart. Bring with Thee honey from Heaven, yea, milk and wine, and oil for my soul’s good, and stay the sun in his course, or the time will be too short in which to look upon Thy face, and to hear Thy gentle voice.

Morning ...