forecasts for the day

I'm not the only person who thinks the letters of John Newton are extremely helpful. The other day I was dipping into my copy again (the short version, I haven't actually read any of the longer ones) and had a look at the letter titled "How to keep close to the Lord," which as he says is both "our bounden duty and the highest privilege we can propose to ourselves." He ends by mentioning three means which we should use in order to have this privilege, one being prayer, another being attention to scripture, and the third, consideration or recollection.

By the third, he means that we should carefully observe the things that happen to us, and the particular temptations that individual people are vulnerable to. He also gives a down to earth piece of advice: "it may be well, in the morning, ere we leave our chambers, to forecast as far as we are able, the probable circumstances of the day before us." This would be with a view to not just preparing yourself mentally for them, but asking for help to deal with whatever comes your way. Confronting potential worries before they happen and facing them down is one thing, but ideally it would be a case of praying, knowing that we are not only subject to be tempted, and forward to expose ourselves unto temptations, but also unable and unwilling to recover ourselves out of them - Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Anyway, the reason I noticed that comment in Newton was because Philip Doddridge says the same thing in the Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, and under the same general heading - Chapter XIX, Some more particular directions for maintaining continual communion with God, or being in his fear all the day long. He says:

"It may be proper after this [ie your personal devotions first thing in the morning] to take a prospect of the day before us, so far as we can probably foresee, in the general, where and how it may be spent: and seriously to reflect, 'How shall I employ myself for God this day? What business is to be done, and in what order? What opportunities may I expect, either of doing or of receiving good? What temptations am I likely to be assaulted with, in any place, company, or circumstance, which may probably occur? In what instances have I lately failed? and how shall I be safest now?'

"After this review, it would be proper to offer up a short prayer, begging that God would quicken us to each of these foreseen duties, that he would fortify us against each of these apprehended dangers, that he would grant us success in such or such a business undertaken for his glory; and also, that he would help us to discover and improve unforeseen opportunities, to resist unexpected temptations, and to bear patiently and religiously any afflictions which may surprise us in the day on which we are entering."

Probably different people would find that kind of advice helpful in different degrees ... as Newton adds as soon as he says it, "the observance of this, as well as of every rule that can be offered, may dwindle into a mere form." However, he says to his correspondent, "I trust that the Lord, who has given you a desire to live for him, will be your guard and teacher." ... Lord, teach thou us / Our end in mind to bear, / And so to count our days, that we / Our hearts may still apply / To learn thy wisdom and thy truth, / That we may live thereby.