Prayer XVI
O Lord our God, we thank Thee that Thou hast given to us Thyself as our Pattern, even whilst we shrink from the duties thereby laid upon us. But we believe that Thou dost give what Thou commandest unto them that desire, for dear love’s sake, to do Thy will; and we would take these great words which still linger in our ears, and dwell in our hearts, as Thy promises, even more than as Thy commandments; and believe that Thou dost intend that we all should be partakers of Thy holiness. O Lord, the darker our thoughts of our present selves the more may we cleave to the transcendent hopes of what we may become which Thou dost allow us without presumption to cherish; the more may We seek to live under the daily sweet pressure of that great commandment that we are to be ’ imitators of God, as beloved children.’ Help us that we may so live, forgive us that we have not so lived. Reveal to us more and more of the grace and help which Thou art ready to give us all, in order that we may be holy as Thou art holy. And strengthen us in every detail of daily life, and in all the work of suppression and of stimulus which we have to apply to the good and the evil of it. Help us when we try to meditate upon Thy truth this morning in our worship, and when we try to speak a word in Thy Name. May it truly be in Thy Name. May it be felt to be so by us, and may the power of the Lord be present in our midst, made perfect in man’s weakness.
O Lord! we would commend one another to Thy loving care and keeping, and beseech Thee that whatever may be the diversified needs of us Thy servants, the one great gift, which can take so many shapes, may be granted to us, and may be felt by each of us to be the very thing that we require. May we be more aware than we often are of a Divine Helper by our side. May we feel the touch of Thy hand with us. May we ever yield to that touch. Guide us in all our ways, comfort any sad hearts that are here, speak peace to any troubled minds or hearts. According to our characters or circumstances be near us all. Give us all the grace to live as those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
We commend to Thee all whom we love, all whom we should remember, the whole of Thy servants throughout the world, in all lands and communities, in all forms of faith, and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst bless them and help them to be true to their convictions and to their Lord, and guide them all, and us with them into fuller light. And help us that we may possess the blessing of those who do the things that they know. We commit ourselves to Thy care, we beseech Thee to accept and to bless us, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.