Mar.26.01: Light For The Day -  "The True Grace Of Christian Character" -- Romans 5:4 (RSV) "And endurance produces character,  and character produces hope." ------------------------ O LORD in You boundless being are laid up all treasures  of wisdom and truth, and holiness, grant that through  constant fellowship with You the true grace of  Christian character may more and more take shape  within my soul: The grace of a thankful and uncomplain heart The grace of to await Your leisure patiently and to answer Your call promptly The grace of courage, wether in suffering or in danger The grace to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ The grace of boldness in standing for what is right The grace of preparedness, for fear that I enter into temptation The grace of bodily discipline The grace of strict truthfulness The grace of treat others as I would have others treat me The grace of charity, that I may refrain from hasty judgement The grace of silence, that I may refrain from hasty speech The grace of forgiveness towards all who have wronged me The grace of tenderness towards all who are weaker than myself The grace of steadfastness in continuing to desire that You will do as now I pray -- John Baillie ---------------------- -- Romans 5:1-5 (RSV) "Therefore, since we are justified by faith,  we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have obtained access to this grace  in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing  the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings,  knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character  produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us,  because God’s love has been poured into our hearts  through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."