Prayer CXXV

O Lord our God, we thank Thee that Thou hast given unto us all things that pertain unto salvation and godliness, which is the best life. We beseech Thee that we may not receive the gift of God in vain, but giving all diligence may add to our faith whatsoever excellent things are within the compass of humanity, and so be made fit to have an abundant entrance ministered unto us into Thy everlasting kingdom and glory.

Help us, O Lord, day by day to labour ‘that, whether present or absent, we may be well pleasing ’ to Thee, and to Thy Son, our Lord. Teach us all the things in which we may yet be deficient, and shew us where we go astray from Thy commandments, or misunderstand Thy will, either in matters of opinion or of action. Help us to seek, day by day, honestly and earnestly, to bring into our daily lives all which we know of Thy holy will, and to make all that we believe the guides of all that we do. May there be no faith in us which does not work. May there be no works in us which are not of faith. May we press nearer to Jesus Christ, and in the depths of our spirits come into closer union with Him, so that we may more lovingly divine His will, and more swiftly apprehend all that is pleasing in His sight. And do Thou strengthen our weak hands to bring into practice all which Thy grace teaches us of Thy will, Thy nature, and our duty.

Help us in our worship now; guide us when we speak some poor words in Thy name. May they have the power of God in them, whatever else they may lack; and do Thou grant that in hearing we may listen as those who hear God speak, and may have grace given us to discern between the imperfections of the human vehicle and the perfectness of the Word that it brings.

And help each of us, when we go hence, to carry with us in our hearts, and to bring to bear in our lives, to-morrow and thereafter, the lessons of Thy word; and to carry out the resolutions of the moment, and true to the impressions that may be made upon us. And do Thou help each of us, in all the variety of our present condition. Some of us in Thy sight are sad and weary, lonely and perplexed, suffering in the manifold ways in which Thy wisdom makes men feel pain and weariness and loss. We would bless Thee for the discipline, and beseech Thee that we may neither faint when we are rebuked of Thee nor despise Thy chastisements. Give us grace to profit by all that befalls us, and a happy issue out of all our troubles; the one happy issue being that they waft us nearer to Thyself.

Bless all Christian people this day, O Lord, who are gathered as we are now in every land, in every name, in every church. Wherever there are hearts that feel after Thee and love Thee, though they be separated from all the communions of Thy people, and though they may be encompassed with many errors and darkness, we beseech Thee to be near such; and guide all seeking souls to the Light, and help them to rejoice in Thyself.

We pray that Thou wouldst stretch out Thy mighty arm, and subdue the tumults of the nations. Break the axe of the oppressor, and deliver Thy servants in distant lands who may be in peril of their lives for the Master’s sake. Whatever disasters and changes sweep over this troubled world may they be as the winter storms that proclaim the coming of the spring, and will end in the abundant harvest.

We beseech Thee to take our thoughts and words into Thy special care now. Keep us from marring the glory and sublimity of Thy great word by our inadequate handling of it. Draw near us, bless, and f orgi ve for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake.