Prayer CXLIII
Truly, O Lord, we know not what we should pray for, nor do we know how to pray as we ought. But give Thou the Spirit by which we pray, and incline our hearts’ desires to the best things. And help us, when we come to Thee with our petitions, to have one petition underlying them all — Thy will be done. Give us that entire submission, acquiescence in Thy providence, obedience to Thy commandments, subordination of ourselves to Thee, and then Thou wilt give us the desires of our hearts when our heart’s desire is to have more of God.
Help us to make our wills Thine, that Thou mayest make Thy will ours. And lead us thus, O Lord, in paths of peace and righteousness. May we walk in the light, as Thou art in the light, and experience, and show how blessed and how noble a thing earthly life may be when it is full of Thyself. Help us that all things may work together for our good. Help us so to love Thee that in all things we may be working for good. And we pray Thee that Thou wouldst, more and more, draw us into the circle of continual communion with Thyself, which shall make us more diligent in business, more fervent in spirit, and in all things servants of God.
Be near us all, O Lord, according to our different requirements. Thou knowest the homes from which we have come. Some of them may be darkened and solitary; some just as they have been for many days past; some bright with new joys and hopes. We thank Thee for all this diversity of experience, and we bless Thee for the land of promise and of possession which Thou givest to them that put their trust in Thee.
Grant, we pray Thee, that each of us, whatever may be the complication of the present moment, may have a firm hold of Thyself, and so be strong to do, if that be our task; to endure, if that be our appointment; and to rejoice, if that be Thy gracious gift. Help us in all things to understand the meaning of the passing providences, and out of them to bring a more assured possession of the one eternal and real good. Teach us how to draw near to Thy Spirit, to handle Thy holy Word; how to hear, how to speak, and may we all be better for our gathering together this morning.
We commend ourselves, and all whom we love, our country, its rulers, and all its interests, the peoples of the earth, the dark hands that stay paralysed in the shadow of death, to Thy gracious care. We beseech
Thee that Thou wouldst send into all the darkness the great light, into all the confusions and commotions the great peace, into all the sin the great Healer; and make the world know its Saviour and its King.
Hear us, we beseech Thee, in these our prayers; and in Thy mercy forgive and accept us, for our Lord Christ’s sake.