James Martineau (1805-1900)

Eternal God,
Who committest to us the swift and solemn trust of life;
since we know not what a day may bring forth,
but only that the hour for serving Thee is always present,
may we wake to the instant claims of Thy holy will;
not waiting for tomorrow,
but yielding today.
Lay to rest,
by the persuasion of Thy Spirit,
the resistance of our passion, indolence or fear.
Consecrate with Thy presence the way our feet may go;
and the humblest work will shine,
and the roughest places be made plain.
Lift us above unrighteous anger and mistrust
into faith and hope and charity by a simple and steadfast
reliance on Thy sure will.
In all things draw us to the mind of Christ,
that Thy lost image may be traced again,
and Thou mayest own us as at one with Him and Thee.
Amen