Prayer X
O Lord our Father, Who hast stored for us in Jesus Christ all treasures of wisdom and knowledge and righteousness and power, we bless Thee that the Storehouse is open, that the box has been broken, and the ointment poured forth. We thank Thee for our access to the wealth of God in Christ our Saviour, and we beseech Thee that each of us may fill up our emptiness, and enrich our poverty, and strengthen our weakness by laying hold of, and drawing into the very substance of our lives, the riches of God in Him. We pray for grace that we may be more completely and gladly and constantly receiving of ‘His fulness, grace for grace,’ and that all in us which is low and weak and dark may be lifted, confirmed and enlightened by the inflow into our poor lives of the triumphant risen life of our Saviour. Help us day by day to find that He is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and full redemption. And in all our daily conflicts may we have the presence of our Captain, and in all our daily journeyings may we have the guidance of our Leader.
We bless Thee that Thou knowest our hearts, our circumstances, and our needs, as well as our desires, for our desires are often false and our needs are always real. We pray that Thou wouldst regard them rather than our wishes, and that Thou wouldst minister to us as Thou surely wilt, if we will only let Thee, of the things that are requisite and necessary both for body and for soul. We cast ourselves upon Thee. If any of us are weighed down by any sorrow, or are feeling the desolations that sometimes come into every life, or have been called upon to part from the desire of our eyes, and have aching and empty hearts, we pray that Thou wouldst draw near to such, and comfort and help them to take the comfort that God gives. We bless Thee that we do not need to doubt Thy loving care of us and our dear ones, and we pray that we may stand firm in that confidence, not only when the sun is in the sky, and all the winds are still, but when clouds darken the heavens, and tempests desolate the earth.
We beseech Thee that Thou wouldst regard us in our various duties and occupations, and keep us from the snares of our callings, and the defects of our qualities, and the weaknesses of our characters; and that Thou wouldst help us day by day to set before ourselves more constantly the great Pattern after which we have to walk, and the great Reward that is at the end of the journey. May we live by Christ. May we live for eternity. Watch over each of us. May we make all things here helps to the truer possession of the unfailing treasures. In the days to come, be they few or many, bless us with more of the life of God in our hearts. Speak Thy gracious word to us as we worship here in Thy presence. May the treasure be marred by the earthen vessel as little as possible, and grant that we may not darken counsel nor weaken Thine entreating by any poor words of ours.
O Lord, we would commit ourselves to Thy gracious care. Be near us now to bless us; be with us in this act of worship, and answer our petitions, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.