Prayer IV

O Lord, Who dwellest in the light, and hast immortal life, we, out of the darkness and ringed about with death, do lift up our hearts to Thee, and beseech Thee that some beams of the light, and some touches of the life, may be ours. May they grow in us, may we see light more clearly in Thy light day by day, and drink ever deeper draughts from the fountain of life, and the river of Thy pleasures.

We draw near to Thee now, compassed about with many infirmities, and some of us carrying in our hearts some sorrows, and all of us conscious of much weakness which often foils our efforts; and we beseech Thee that Thou wouldst help us not only to trust in the living God, Who giveth us all things richly to enjoy, but to flee all the things that are contrary to His will, and earnestly to pursue after till we possess, godliness, faith, love, righteousness, and all manifold beauties and blessings with which Thou canst and dost desire to clothe our spirits.

Look upon us in this our assembly. Be very near each of us according to our different necessities. Thou knowest these better than any others can know them, better than we ourselves know them. Thou dost interpret the cries of our spirits which we often misunderstand, and thou knowest how to still the hunger of our souls which we often try to satisfy with things not much better than the husks that the swine did eat. We pray Thee that Thou wouldst come to us, and help us, giving to us the things that we most need, whether they are the things that we wish most or not. Do Thou discipline and train us, instruct and educate us. Bring us near to Thyself, and fashion us more after the likeness of Thy Son. May we, too, be transfigured, that our faces may shine as the light, and by the renewing of our minds may we altogether be transformed from conformity to this world. Guide us day by day by Thy wise counsels; may they never be neglected by us. Mould us by Thy shaping hands; may we be as the clay in the hands of the potter. Preserve us from struggling against Thy gifts, from leaving them untaken. Preserve us from misusing any of them for lower purposes than those for which they are sent; and help us that in all our doings, setting the Lord before us, we may be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

We would commend each other to Thee, in all the variety of our condition. Especially we pray that Thou wouldst be near any who may have a hard fight in the world, who may have burdens to carry that they do not expect ever to lose, or ever to be fit to carry in their own strength. Comfort all sad hearts, enlighten all that may need guidance and light. Be near us in all the variety of our circumstances, and mould Thy gifts according to our characters and dispositions. And we pray that by whatever variety of method Thy providence may be working with any of us, may we be able to recognise the unity of purpose in all the various ways which Thou dost take, and may work together with God to make all things contribute to the highest end, even our perfecting.

We beseech Thee to bless us in our worship of this morning, and with like blessings draw near to all our brethren of every communion and tongue who on this day may be bowing their hearts before Thee. We beseech Thee that large blessings may come down upon praying souls. We beseech Thee that they may treasure the blessings which Thou dost bestow, and since Heaven’s gates are open may our gates not be shut.

Now, Lord, we beseech Thee to hear us, to take us into Thy holy care and keeping, to forgive all our many sins; and grant us now Thy help, according to our need, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.