Prayer XLVI

O Lord, our God, how many are our needs, how great are Thy treasures, how little of these we take, how’ poorly we use what we do possess. But we come to Thee, for it is Thou that must give the desire after Thee, and it is Thou that art the giving God Who upbraidest not. And from Thy fullness do we all receive, according to our hunger and our sense of need. O grant, we beseech Thee, that we may covet most earnestly the best gifts, and may not waste our energies, nor fix, as we have done, our desires on fleeting and uncertain riches and gifts, but on the living God, Who giveth all things to enjoy.

Guide our thoughts in this hour of worship, help us to fix them on Thyself, and on the things that belong to our. peace. Teach us, O Lord, we pray, wise and true words to speak, words that are strong with Thy strength, and filled with the power of Thy gospel. Keep us from pouring the water of our own thoughts into the wine of the Kingdom, and help us that the lips that speak may be touched with the live coal from the altar of sacrifice. And, O Lord, open all hearts and minds, and grant that our service this morning may be of use to us all, and redound to the glory of Thy great name.

We beseech Thee to bless each of us according to our several necessities. Thou knowest those amongst us who may have come into Thy house burdened. We pray that Thou wouldst bear their burdens with Them, and Thyself fulfil the law which Thou hast given to us. And help us all in our time of need, to lay a firm hold of faith upon Thyself, and whatever may be our wants, may we draw from Thee a sufficiency for them. Strengthen us where we are weak, what is low do Thou raise and support, illumine what is dark, and guide us all more and more in the way of peace.

We beseech Thee to bless us gathered in Thy presence, to accept our thanks for all Thy great mercy, and now to manifest Thyself to us, through Jesus Christ our Saviour-Lord.