Prayer XLV
O Lord, most merciful and near, we would come to carve and take away our portion in Thy mercy, and to feel in our hearts that we are indeed near to Thee. Blessed be Thy name for all Thy loving-kindness and tender care. We thank Thee that Thou hast brought us together again to worship Thee; and beseech Thee that now, and in such time to come as may yet remain for us in this fellowship of praise, we may have Thy presence with us whensoever we gather together, and that Thou wouldst pour out of Thy Spirit upon the congregations gathering here from time to time. And help us who have to approach Thy word that with faithfulness and simplicity, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we may ever stand up before this people.
O Lord, some of us can look back upon many years of mercy and blessing vouchsafed to us in our gatherings here. We remember those that have joined in prayer with us, and have passed hence to the worship of the heavens. We remember the days and the years that are gone. And we beseech Thee to be with us still; and, if it please Thee, yet more specially and abundantly than Thou hast been in the past. And help us all to love as becometh the gospel, adorning the teaching of Christ the Master in all things. May the word of the Lord sound out as with a trumpet-note from us and our lives. And may Thy blessing be granted to us in all our happy fellowship. We draw near to Thee to pray that Thou wouldst strengthen and quicken us for all Thy service, that Thou wouldst manifest Thyself to us more graciously and abundantly in our hearts and thoughts, that Thou wouldst deliver us from our own weaknesses, and arm us against the temptations of our characters, circumstances, and callings.
We beseech Thee that Thou wouldst be with each of us in the walks of daily life, and wouldst lead us there in paths of righteousness and peace. We adore Thee for all Thy great mercies revealed to us, and gathered for the race of men in the one Lord Jesus Christ. And we beseech Thee that that Name which is above every name may ever sound as music in our ears and hearts, and that we may live in the closest communion with Him, and in daily imitation of His example, and faith in His sacrifice.
O Lord, give us Thy blessing in our worship; teach each of our hearts; help us, whatever be our condition and present necessities, to have recourse to the one all-sufficient fountain of all supply; and from Thee, in the fullness of Thy love and spirit bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ, may we draw grace for grace, and that yet more abundantly day by day.
We commend ourselves to Thy gracious care; we beseech Thee to accept our thankfulness. We pray Thee to look upon our weakness, to pardon our sins, to teach us our faults, to deliver us from the dominion of evil, and to bring us more and more into the possession of Thy kingdom, which is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Hear us, for Jesus Christ our Saviour’s sake.