Prayer LXIII
O Lord our God, we thank Thee for that assurance that Thou art the Father of lights with Whom is no variableness, and that all gifts which come from that Fountain of light are like itself — perfect. So with thankful acceptance of all which Thou dost appoint, and desiring to be fellowworkers with Thee, in so far as that we shall try to sympathise with Thy meaning, and to follow out Thy purpose in all the changes of our condition and lot, we would bow before Thee now. Of Thy great love give us some message which may be from Thyself, and we pray that Thou wouldst help us all to hear as well as to speak the word of the living God ’ which abideth forever.’
Grant to us, as a Christian community, more and more of the conformity of our Master, and consistency in our lives. May we day by day, as we take up the burden of common, familiar, and often wearisome duties, find that strength comes to us according to our needs, and that holding Fellowship with Thee through Thy dear Son, the crooked things may become straight and the rough places plain. May we be helped to understand all that we ought to be and do; may we be quickened gladly to perform Thy holy will, and clearly to apprehend Thy blessed presence; do Thou help any of us that have any special need of special aid. Give patience, give trust, give victory; and grant, we pray Thee, that all of us who may be anyways exercised by any sorrow may find there the peaceable fruits which it is meant to bring to bear, and will bear for them who are rightly exercised thereby.
We thank Thee for all mercies which, individually, and as a church, and congregation, we have received at Thy hands. And we pray Thee to forgive all the imperfections of our service; and to grant that in the days yet to come, be they few or many, the word of the Lord may be faithfully preached here, and the message of God’s great love find its way into many hearts and lives. With like blessings we beseech Thee to visit all communions of Christian people in this city, in this land, and throughout the world. And grant that Thy servants may become more completely Thy instruments, and more manifestly before men be the worthy bearers of Thy word and the faithful witnesses to their Lord.
Hear us, we beseech Thee, when we cry; let Thy blessings descend upon us, and upon all who love the Lord Jesus Christ, and upon all wandering souls; on each let fall, O Lord! some gleam of light. And lead this weary, warring, distracted world to the apprehension of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the possession of the righteousness and peace and joy which belong to it.
We would commit ourselves to Thy loving hands, and pray for Thy gracious presence and help, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.