Prayer LXIX

O Lord our God, Thou hast bid us to have faith in Thee, and Thou hast given us enough knowledge of Thyself, and possession of Thy blessings, to make it a sin and a shame if we do not trust in Thee. But our hearts are very weak, O Lord, and we cleave to the things here far too strongly, and so strongly does the current of our affections and desires set towards the things seen and temporal that it is hard for us to have any living and working faith in the unseen and the eternal. So Thy commandments drive us to Thyself to give what Thou commandest. And we beseech Thee that Thou wouldst help each of us to believe in God, and to believe also in Jesus Christ. And especially, Lord, when we come to Thee in the outward form and action of prayer, may there be a triumph of faith in our hearts, believing that we have the things which we desire. That we may so believe, keep us, we pray Thee, from all foolish desires about which we never can be sure that it is Thy will to give them. Concerning all these may our prayer be humbly submissive, and ever having in its depths, ‘Not my will, but Thine.’ And the less eagerly we set our affections and desires on this doubtful good, may we fix them on that which is certainly for our good, and which Thou art certainly longing to give us.

Lord! we pray for light, we pray for love, we pray for guidance, we pray for grace, we pray for peace, for power, for pardon, and for all mercies which Thou hast laid up for us in Jesus Christ. And we pray that our faith in Him may be more deep, real, constant, and effective in our lives; and may do more to lift us into the likeness of our Lord, and to make us ashamed of our own past selves and follies.

We would not limit Thy grace, O Lord; we believe that Thou canst do exceeding abundant above all that we can ask or think. And so we would come, and with steadfast confidence would beseech Thee for the great things which Thou hast promised, and which Thou hast laid up for us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Thou hast taught us to open our mouths wide, and Thou hast promised to fill the widest opened. Thou hast put petitions into our lips which we durst not have framed for ourselves. And so we ask Thee that Christ maydwell in our hearts by faith, and that we may know ’ the height and breadth and depth and length of that love which passeth knowledge’; that we may be ‘filled with all the fulness of God.’ And in regard, O Lord, to other things. Thou knowest what we have need of. Thou hast declared to us that it is Thy good pleasure to give us the Kingdom, and Thou wilt not starve Thy children on the road to it.

We beseech Thee, then, that Thou wouldst be near us day by day, and deal out to us, by Thy loving wisdom, the things that we most need. And help us, in Thy loving wisdom, to acquiesce in Thine appointment, and not to murmur at what is withdrawn, nor to complain because of what is not given.

We beseech Thee to lead us by Thy counsel, and to help us that we may in everything, by prayer, and supplication, and thanksgiving, make our requests known to Thee. And then, O Lord, let Thy peace, which passeth understanding, come into our hearts and minds.

Be near us as we are gathered in Thy presence; help us in this hour of worship. Give us some thoughts and words which may be helpful and profitable, and may lead us into the secret place of the Most High. And strengthen us for all duty; we pray that Thy good Spirit may be upon us in all our work and worship as a congregation, and that Thou wouldst guide us by Thy counsel; that Thou wouldst make us more fit to receive the blessing, and more worthy to be Thy instruments; and that Thou wouldst help us all, day by day, to remember Whose we are and Whom we ought to serve; and let Thy power be present among us in all our gatherings, and the word of the Lord be magnified.

We commend one another to Thy care; we pray for all the weary and the sorrowful. We would especially commend to Thee those on beds of sickness, and those that watch by them; and pray that Thou wouldst come near to all such suffering souls or households, and give Thy peace and Thy felt presence.

And now, O Lord, take us into Thy gracious care, and in Thy mercy forgive and bless us, through Christ our Saviour.