Prayer XXVIII
O Lord, our gracious Father, let that ’ rushing mighty wind ’ bring life to us too, we beseech Thee, and make the tongues of fire be ours; and that gracious gift, of which these are but the emblems, to be realised in all its greatness, by Thy professing servants. Thou hast taught us that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of His. Give us more fully to possess, more earnestly to desire, more faithfully to use, that divine gift. And may the life, and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, make us free from the law of sin and death. We beseech Thee to regard each of us here in Thy presence this morning; and to grant to us, according to all the variety of our characters and conditions, the gifts that Thou seest we most need, not so much for happiness as for godlikeness and holiness.
O Lord! strengthen us day by day to take up the burden of the day, and to receive the gifts which Thou dost mean for the day. We thank Thee that Thou dost draw near to us all, and art waiting to bless and be gracious. And we beseech Thee that we may not shut our hearts against Thy greatest mercies, but may ever bring Thee near to ourselves by fervour of desire and by faithfulness of service. We thank Thee for all Thy blessings to us in the days that are gone by. We beseech Thee that Thou Who hast been our help wouldst still be with us and strengthen us, and wouldst fulfil Thine own promises that Thou wilt not leave the souls that put their trust in Thee until Thou hast done unto them that Thou hast spoken to them of. We bless Thee that we have the assurance that we need never be left alone. Help us to set the Lord always at our right hands, and then do Thou keep us amidst the slippery paths of life, and at the last set us at Thy right hand, where there is fulness of joy and pleasures for evermore.
We beseech Thee for Thy blessing on our service of this morning. We would cast ourselves on Thy gracious promises, encouraged by the remembrance of many past times when Thou hast blessed the provisions of Thy house, and satisfied us with the goodness of Thy holy place. We thank Thee for days gone by in which Thou hast drawn near to us as we have gathered together. We pray that Thou wouldst be with us once more, and still wouldst help us, and pour out of Thy blessing upon hearers and upon speaker. And grant that whatever else this service may accomplish, or may fail in achieving, it may be successful in bringing us into closer fellowship with Thyself, and make more assured and deep and constant our possession of Thy holiest gifts.
Bless us in our daily lives, go with us in our conflicts and struggles and toils, and in all our enjoyments and pleasures and gladnesses, and in all our rest. And grant, we beseech Thee, that through all the variety of our earthly conditions we may be brought to a firmer, a more assured possession of Thyself, and may be changed into Thy likeness from glory to glory.
O Lord, we pray for all Christian communities, for all Thy servants in the world, for all who are seeking to bless their fellows, for all honest earnest workers for God and man; and pray that motives may be purified and elevated, and methods may be wise and suitable, and that Thy blessing may come down upon all the work of Thy people in every form.
We beseech Thee to abide with us in what remains of this service, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Saviour.