Prayer LXXV

O Lord, most merciful, and near us, we seek to be near Thee, and to feel Thy presence, the touch of Thy hand, and the joy of Thy Spirit. Help us, we beseech Thee, to approach Thee now, not only in outward form or with words of course, but in our lowly and trustful hearts may we realise Thy presence. We thank Thee that the light has been manifested, that the darkness is past; and beseech Thee that it may be past in our hearts, and that we may walk in the light. May our joy be full because we know that which was from the beginning; and may our eyes behold, and our hands handle that Word of Life by the vision and the touch of humble faith, and constant cleaving to Him.

We thank Thee that we are not left to grope in the darkness. We thank Thee that we are not left to fight alone. We thank Thee that for mind and heart and will, and all our being, there is enough and more than enough in that one Name which is above every name, and in the great truth that God is manifest in the flesh. Blessed be Thy gracious dealings with us which have taught us how true it is that in Thee is no darkness at all. We have often been afraid of Thee, often thought hard things of Thee, often clothed Thine image in the garb of our own weakness, and have thought of Thee as seen through the mists of our own sin. But we bless Thee that Thou hast swept away all that, and that we know now that Thou art not austere, reaping where Thou didst not sow, and gathering where Thou didst not straw, but that Thou art the giving God, the forgiving God, Who dost bestow upon Thy people that which Thou dost command, and dost give unto them all the things which Thou dost delight in beholding them possess. So we come to Thee and ask that into our emptiness Thy fullness may flow, and that we may not only be made to drink of the river of Thy pleasures, but may draw the better life from the fountain of life, even as we draw the life of the body from Thyself, and that in Thy light we may see light.

We thank Thee for every good gift of Thy hand. “We beseech Thee to raise us to the full apprehension of all which Thou dost mean us to possess. Surely Thou hast given us a great deal that we have not taken, and we would confess our own shame and negligence in that we have left Thy gifts lying uncared for and unused. But we pray that Thou wouldst help us to take the things that are freely given to us of God, and taking them to call upon Thy Name. Help us thus to associate Thee with all our blessings, with every kind of good, the smallest and the most fleeting as well as the greatest and the eternal. And strengthen us, we pray Thee, that our whole lives, and our whole selves, which are more than our lives, may be rendered up in sacrifice to God for His unspeakable gift.

We thank thee, O Lord, for this opportunity of turning away from the daily cares of pleasure and constant duties. We beseech thee that whatever burdens any of us may have brought here we may get light upon our paths from Thyself, and from Thee derive new strength for the old duties which abide, -and be prepared for any new duties, sorrows, or trials which may emerge upon us from out of the dim future. Help us through all the changing scenes to keep firm hold of the unchanging God, and may we realise more and more that Thou art near us and ready to bless us. Help us when we try to meditate together upon Thy word, and speak Thou to us through Thy strength. Give us the hearing and the understanding heart, and the obedient will; and may we carry into our daily life all that we gain here of insight into Thy mind and heart, and of wish to serve and love Thee. Pour out Thy blessing upon us whensoever we gather together.

And make us, united here together in the bands of professed Christian fellowship, more truly a church of Jesus Christ after His mind and heart. May all the members of this community love their profession, and adorn the teaching in all things. And may each of us find work to do in the Master’s vineyard, and none of us take refuge in the pretext that no man hath hired us. Surely Thou hast hired us, and given us plentiful wages beforehand. Help us all to be Thy workers.

And now, O Lord, we desire to commend ourselves to Thy gracious care, beseeching Thee to forgive all that is amiss in our dispositions and characters, and all that has been sinful and wrong in our conduct, and anything that to-day has been contrary to Thy holy will. And hear us now, and accept and bless us, for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’s sake.