Prayer CXXXI
O Lord our Father, we draw near through that great High Priest Who is passed into the Heavens, in Whom we ‘have boldness, and access with confidence’ by faith of Him. And we beseech Thee that the promise of the Father may indeed clothe us with power, so that by our lives, as well as by our words, we may be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
We thank Thee for the great gift promised to our weakness; may we all more and more believe in the Holy Ghost, and may we all more and more find a mighty power working within our weakness, and fitting us for all our work, and for all Thy grace. May we have the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba! Father! May we have the Spirit of power and of love, and of a sound mind. May we have the Spirit of supplication, and the Spirit of holiness. And may we so live as neither to grieve nor quench that Divine Spirit, but by the power that works in us may we be made free from the law of sin and death.
We thank Thee for any illumination as to Thy word, for any quickening in the Divine life, for any stimulus to service, for any strengthening of feeble faith and kindling of dying love which any of us have ever experienced in our worship here. Thou hast been gracious in many days that are past. Be with us still, O Lord! and give us some message from Thyself which shall bear its own credentials, and be winged with its own Divine power, and so find its way to minds and hearts and wills, and issue out in noble service in our daily lives. Succour and comfort any weary and sad souls among us, and be near those who walk in darkness. Surely the darkness is blessed and soothing when Thy presence is felt in it, and thou dost make the darkness light above us. Both are alike to Thee; they cannot be alike to us, but they may each have their own messages and their own blessings. May we learn to make the highest use of joy and of sorrow, night and morning, winter and sunshine.
Be near any who may have special tasks and heavy burdens that seem to pass their strength to carry. Thou dost never bid us do anything which Thou dost not fit us to be. Give the fitness, and then shew the duty. ‘Give what Thou commandest, and command what Thou wilt.’
Forgive our many evils; grant us Thy help and presence in this hour of worship. Hear us; in the Name of Christ our Lord we ask it.