Prayer CXVI
O Lord! truly Thou art our Light and our Salvation. Help us, we beseech Thee, to walk in the light, and to hold fast by the salvation, that nothing may alarm and nothing may hurt. We thank Thee for all the good cheer and strengthening of heart which Thou art ever giving to them that wait on Thee. And we beseech Thee that Thou wouldst so move upon and influence our too often wayward and wandering hearts that with still confidence we may wait upon Thee, and with patient hope may expect Thee in the darkness, and with happy love may find Thee as evermore our Light.
Draw near to us, O Lord! we beseech Thee, and pour out the spirit of grace and of supplication upon all of us gathered before Thee. From many diverse homes and circumstances we have come. Thy wise providence appoints to us different and often contrasted paths; but whether Thou hast been making us to feel the joy or the insufficiency of earthly good; whether our recent road has led through the valley of the shadow of death, or green pastures, or by still waters; whether we bring to Thee songs or sobs, we beseech Thee that we may be able to sing ’ of mercy and of judgment,’ and to bless the Lord our God for all the way by which He has led us.
Teach us to understand the loving-kindness of the Lord by patient and believing observance of the Lord’sways; and may we never be brought to a stand, or perplexity, or robbed of our faith by any incidence of sorrow upon our lives. May we never be drawn away from Thee by the brightness of Thy gifts. Be Thou with us in the darkness, the Pillar of Fire; in the sunshine of worldly prosperity and happiness the Pillar of Cloud to temper the deceitful ray. And help us out of both to bring the treasure which Thou dost lay up for Thy children in both, even that we may become partakers of Thy holiness, and have our characters and our spirits moulded more and more into the noble likeness of Thy dear Son.
Grant, O Lord, that we may be workers with Thee in that great work, pursued by all Thy providence. And since Thou hast ’ wrought us for the self-same thing,’ may we not resist Thy working nor murmur at any of its accompaniments; but always feel that the pleasure of the Lord is being wrought out in our characters, and that we are lovingly, gratefully, submissively, yielding ourselves to the Master’s hand.
O Lord! lift away from every heart here every oppression, and every hindrance. And help us all to enter into the whole blessedness, and power, and sweetness of this service. Thou hast put the treasure in earthen vessels. May our weakness not hinder its working. We pray that passing beyond all external and human agencies, we may each of us be brought into fellowship and touch with Thyself; and hear the deep Voice that speaks to us through all events, and more clearly through such ordinances as these, and bids us to come up nearer to Thyself.
O Lord! help us to-day in our worship. Thou knowest our inadequacy for such service; Thou knowest how unfit we are to gather up into one utterance the desires and the needs of Thy people, and how unfit to handle the sacred Word of Grod. But we pray that all imperfection, all unworthiness of motive, and double aim may be taken away from them that speak in Thy Name this day; and that upon many congregations of waiting men there may descend the fulness of Thy Divine Spirit, and influences may begin which shall persist through many days, and blend with others in our souls to make us liker Thee.
Hear us, we beseech Thee, in these petitions; grant us Thy gracious presence, and accept and forgive now, through Jesus Christ our Lord.