Prayer CIV

Help us, O Lord, to call upon our souls and all that is within us to bless Thy holy Name. For surely Thy Name is a strong tower into which running we can be safe. We thank Thee for all the glories that comipose it, for all the revelation of Thyself in all the works of Thy hands, in all the dealings of Thy providence, in the depths of our own hearts, in the good thoughts which Thou dost breathe into men’s minds, in all the truth and goodness and beauty which fill the world, and speak to us. We thank Thee that Thou hast gathered all these utterances at sundry times and in divers manners into the one great Revelation of Thyself through Thy Son, in Whom is Thy Name. May we learn it all, may we love it all, may we obey all the commandments, and realise all the blessings that are stored up in the Name which is above every name. In that Name we draw near to Thee now, building all our confidence, not on what we are, but on what Thou art, and thanking Thee that though clouds and darkness are round about Thy throne, righteousness and judgment are its pillars, and Love is enthroned there.

We beseech Thee, then, to help us that we may draw near to Thee now, with the peaceful confidence, with the calm certitude, with the joyful hope which become us. May we not receive the light and love the darkness, may we not repel the light by our love of the darkness. May we walk in the light as Thou art the Light, and in it. We pray for Thy cleansing grace, for Thine uplifting power, for Thy comforting, strengthening spirit; and we ask Thee that our inward being, conformed to Thy will, may ever issue in thoughts and words and acts which shall witness for Thee.

We pray for Thy pardoning mercy, and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst help us to look upon our own faultful selves in some measure as Thou dost look upon us. May we be delivered from all the deceitfulness of evil, and made wise to see the things that are contrary to Thy holy will. May we have no tolerance for our own faults, and no intolerance for those of others. May we walk before Thee in the paths of righteousness which Thou hast appointed, and then we shall find them to be paths of peace.

Bless us in all our ways; guide us by Thy counsel; make us wise to know Thy will, swift to apprehend the commandments which we love, and glad to do the good which Thou dost appoint for us. In all our ways help us to keep Thee before us. May we live, not as in the great Taskmaster’s eye, but happy in the thought as a child for its father, that Thou God seest us; and may that keep us from being guilty of much transgression, and quick and eager for all good. Hear us, and be near us as we worship before Thee; accept and answer us, for our Lord Christ’s sake.