Prayer CLIV
O Lord, our gracious Father, help us, we beseech Thee, that we, too, may belong to those who by faith ’ out of weakness are made strong,’ and who are able to look away from the things that are seen and temporal unto Jesus, the great Pattern and perfect Example of faith. We bless Thee that Thou hast appointed for each of us the race that is set before us, and that when Thou dost command us to run Thou dost put strength into the feeble knees, and make our sluggish feet as hind’s feet. Lead us in the paths of righteousness, and may we find them the paths of peace.
We pray Thee, O Lord, to help us, that day by day we may go in that blessed and peaceful trust, and clear and realising apprehension of Thyself revealed to us in Jesus Christ, whereby we shall be made more than conquerors, and ready for all tasks.
We thank Thee that Thou art, not shall be, called our God. And may we never be ashamed to be called Thy people, and may we live as pilgrims and sojourners, content to dwell in tabernacles, because we * look for a city which hath foundations.’ We thank Thee that we do not belong to this present fleeting order of things, for our hearts are set on Thee. And we pray that the passing away of all that can pass may never sadden us, may never darken our hearts or dim our eyes; but that we may always be able to realise our present possession of the unchanging good, and the eternal blessedness which we have in Thyself. May our faith work in us by love, and bring forth all great and precious fruits which Thou dost intend that it should produce in men’s hearts.
We thank Thee, O Lord, for the large mercies which we have received from Thy hand. Day by day Thou dost awake us to get fresh blessing from Thee, and dost repeat with patient love old mercies, so that we have with every new morning to cherish new hope, and with every new evening to return again unto our rest with thankfulness. We pray Thee that Thou wouldst strengthen us to pass on through life in cheerful godliness, in humble dependence upon Thyself, and seeking to exhibit in our characters and to incorporate into our very being the graces which Thou art so willing to bestow, and which Christ has made sure to us. We thank Thee for the opportunity to turn away for a time from the daily cares, and even from the daily duties, and to draw near to Thee. And we beseech Thee that our gatherings together thus may always have the seal of Thine approval on them, and in our own hearts the manifest sign that it is no vain thing to wait upon the Lord.
We bless Thee for past mercies received from Thee in such circumstances, and in this place, and we pray that Thou wouldst still be with us, and be with us now. And grant that our meeting together this evening may tend to the deepening in all our hearts and minds of the determination to know * nothing save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified,’ and to live ‘according to the pattern which has been shewed to us on the mount.’
O Lord! remember all whom we love, and all who may be in any of our hearts now; especially any that may be in trouble or sorrow, or may be mourning for separations by the great Separator, and who may be looking into empty places that can never be filled. Be very near to all such, and do Thou Thyself fill the places which Thou hast emptied.
We pray Thee to guide each of us in all the variety of our perplexity, circumstances and difficulties; when we find it hard to decide the path of duty, and, perhaps, harder still to walk in it. Be near us in such, and in all circumstances, guiding us by Thy counsel, sustaining us by Thy strong hand, impelling us by the impulse which Thou dost breathe into waiting hearts, and making us strong to carry out our convictions in all regions and in every way. And now we commit ourselves to Thy gracious care, with thankfulness for Thy many mercies to us; and beseeching Thee that Thou wouldst still help and bless us, as Thou hast helped and blessed us in the past; through Him Who is the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever, even Christ our living Lord.