Prayer XXXVIII

Draw near to us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, in Thy great mercy, and help us to draw near with full filial faith to Thy Fatherly heart. We bring to Thee many burdens which Thou only canst help us to bear, for to all of us love is a struggle, and we have daily to fight and endure, and to put forth effort. And we turn to Thee, and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst draw near to each of us, in all the various duties and conflicts, difficulties and trials, tasks and circumstances, which Thy providence appoints for us. Help us, we beseech Thee, to recognise Thy presence in all things, and to feel that the smallest of our duties is enjoined us by Thee; and that he who is faithful in that which is least, and he only, will be faithful in that which is much.

We thank Thee, O Lord, that when we know our weakness most we may be the nearest to Thy divine strength; and we pray that Thy power may be made perfect in our weakness; and that whatsoever Thy providence appoints or Thy will enjoins, we may, by Thy help, be able to accept and to do. Go with us, we beseech Thee, into all our daily duties; may we carry the light of Thy countenance into them all. May we do everything as realising that we are in Thy presence Whose will is that we should be perfect. We thank

Thee that Thou dost not send us a warfare at our own charges. Come to us with Thy power, and then we shall be more than conquerors through Him that loveth us. Regard each of us here before Thee; Thou knowest our deepest needs, whether we know them or not. We bless Thee that however various may be our characters and wants there is all-sufficiency for all of us, and more than enough for a universe, in Thyself. If any of us have any special need of Thy help, either to comfort, or to sustain, or to direct, draw near to such, we pray Thee, with Thy consolations, which are neither few nor small. Thy hand is tender, and never wounds when it tries to bind up, as ours are so often apt to do.

We beseech Thee that the great consolations which come to those who submit and accept Thy will may belong to all of us, who may have any special burdens of sorrow, of perplexity, or of duty, to carry. And we beseech Thee that if any of us have to face great temptations. Thou wouldst be near such; and if our temptations are the continually recurring clouds of small ones, be with us then.

O Lord, look upon all the young persons in this congregation, the young men who may be here in this city alone, and in slippery places. May they feel that Thou art with them, not only to know what they do, but to help them to do what Thou dost desire. And if any of them have fallen into evil, we beseech Thee that Thy grace may be realised by such, and may deliver them from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence.

We pray for Thy blessing to rest upon us as we try to meditate together upon Thy word and will, and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst help us, giving us a portion for all this congregation. And do Thou help us to speak Thy word as it ought to be spoken, with earnestness, and full faith with simplicity. And may the power of God flow through our poor words, and the manifestation of Thy Spirit be granted to our worship this evening.

O Lord, draw many hearts to Thyself, we pray Thee; and shine into many spirits with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We pray Thee to bless all good people, all Christian souls who may be seeking to do Thy will, all the communities and churches of such. And grant that all Thy servants may have a larger measure of Thy divine Spirit, and may be walking more closely in the footsteps of the great Shepherd of all the flock. We pray Thee to hear the prayers which have gone up in many tongues and lands this day, and in answer to pour out upon Thy waiting people the graces that they need for the work of the world, for life and for death. Hear us, O Lord; mercifully accept us; forgive all our sins, and grant us the consciousness of Thy presence, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.