"Prayer"

That sun that has shone unremittingly from the day is a stupendous exertion of God’s power, an astonishing exhibition of omnipotence.

In adoring the providence of God, we are apt to be struck with what is new and out of the usual course, while we too much overlook long, habitual, and uninterrupted mercies.

But common mercies, if less striking, are more valuable, because we have them always.

The ordinary blessings of life are overlooked for the very reason for which they ought to be most prized; because they are most uniformly bestowed.

They are most essential to our being; and when once they are withdrawn, we begin to find that they are also most essential to our comfort.

Nothing raises the price of a blessing like its removal, whereas it was its continuance which should have taught us its value.

We prefer novelties to awaken our gratitude, not considering that it is the duration of the common mercies which enhances their value.

We desire fresh excitements.

We consider mercies long enjoyed as things to be taken for granted, as things to which we have a sort of presumptive claim; as if God had no right to withdraw what he has once bestowed, as if he were obliged to continue what he has once been pleased to confer.

Photo by Yousef Espanioly on Unsplash