Prayer CLI

O Lord our Father, we thank Thee that because every good gift comes from Thee, and because Thou hast no variableness nor shadow of turning, nothing can come from Thee but what is good. We beseech Thee to help us ever to keep ourselves on guard against our own lusts lest being enticed by them we should turn Thy gifts into temptations, and make poison of our necessary food. As we wait before Thee now give us, Lord, some blessing from Thyself which shall abides hallowing and elevating, calming and cleansing, quickening us for many days.

We thank Thee that Thou dost permit us to gather together thus, to reinforce our several weaknesses by conjoined strength; and we pray Thee that Thou wouldst be with us in our worship, and wouldst guide us in our thoughts and words, as well as in our hearing and our thoughts. And upon us all, according to our divers necessities, may there descend the gifts that we need. Thou art the God that givest liberally and dost upbraid not. We have to confess our past misuse of many of Thy gifts. But we pray Thee that Thou wouldst come near to us now, and bestow upon us, as we may severally require, patience and fortitude, strength to endure and strength to do, that in all the variety of our conditions, whether these be bright or dark, solitary or companioned, we may have the assurance that Thou art with us, and that all things are working together for good.

Draw near to each, bless all whom we love, and all whom we should remember at Thy throne; granting to each the gifts that they specially require, and helping all Thy servants throughout the world to live as witnesses of God. Take us into Thy care now; hear us, be with us, and bless us, for our Lord Christ’s sake.