Prayer LXXIX

O Lord, our gracious Father, we thank Thee for that ’ faithful saying... that Jesus Christ is come into the world to save sinners.’ And we beseech Thee that Thou wouldst show forth Thy longsuffering in us, and draw us to Thyself more and more, that we may partake more freely of that perfect salvation which is in Him. We bless Thee that whilst we have to lift up our hearts and thoughts to Thee as the King eternal, immortal and invisible, we can draw far nearer to Thyself when we think of Thee as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and when we feel that in the salvation of us sinners Thou hast manifested Thyself more tenderly and more blessedly than in all the mighty works of Thy hands. We come to Thee then, and beseech Thee that Thou wouldst help each of us to accept that ’ saying ’ which ’ is worthy of all accepta-: tion’; and in the strength of it may we daily live, and in the joy and peace of it may we more and more rise to the end of all Thy mercies, as well as of Thy commandments, which is love, out of a good conscience and a pure heart, which come through faith unfeigned. Oh, deepen and strengthen in us our confidence in that great Lord, and in the might of His work for us. And may we experience more and more the power of His salvation, so that it may be not only a matter of faith but a matter of daily experience.

Help us, we beseech Thee, day by day, to ‘cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.’ Help us daily to govern ourselves, our own tastes and inclinations, and to submit our purposes and thoughts, and all our plans and works, habitually to Thee, that we may have this approval consciously in our hearts ere we undertake, and Thy felt presence with us while we prosecute, the various duties and occupations of our daily lives.

We thank Thee, O Lord, that Thou art ever ready to stand by them that stand by Thee, and to be a fellow-worker with those whose deepest desire is to work the work of the Lord. May we realise more the greatness of the dignity to which Thou dost lift even such poor creatures as we are, in making us fellow- workers with the Truth; and that Thou wouldst more and more come into our lives and cause us to feel that God is of a truth ’ working in us both to will and to do, according to His own good pleasure.’ Thou knowest our weakness, the weakness which belongs to us by reason of being creatures such as we are, and that greater weakness which belongs to us by reason of having rebelled against Thee. We pray that in Thy great mercy Thou wouldst take out of our hearts all alien and sinful desires, inclinations, and tastes. We pray Thee to strengthen our feeble hands for warfare against our own besetting sins. We beseech Thee for grace to lay aside every weight ’ as well as every sin, that we may, unhampered and unhindered, run with patient perseverance the race that Thou, in Thy mercy, dost set before us.

We pray for forgiveness for all past failures, that we may make the future brighter and nobler than the past has been. We beseech Thee that we may have the consciousness of Thy Holy Spirit’s presence in heart and mind, and that men may see in our lives that we are guided and governed by something higher and nobler than men in the world.

Graciously do Thou bless our gathering together at all times, and especially now as we are here before Thee. We thank Thee for the opportunity of approaching Thy Throne together. We bless Thee for all the quickening which sluggish faith has received, and for all the impulse which has been given to holier living by our gathering together in times that are past. We pray that Thou wouldst be with us still; and help us in Thy great mercy that we may, at all times, when we assemble thus, have Thy presence manifestly with us; and that we ourselves may feel that the Lord our God is speaking to us, and is hearing the prayers which Himself hath taught.

We pray for one another, for all that are dear to us, present or absent, for all the families represented here, for any in sorrow or trouble. And we beseech Thee that where Thou dost send Thy providences to shroud homes and hearts in darkness Thou wouldst send the light of Thy face, and the consciousness of Thy presence. And may all Thy people hear, in their varying sorrows, the voice of their Father inviting them nearer to Himself.

And now we pray Thee to bless us in this hour of worship, speak through us and to us, and help us to accept Thy message, and to live according to Thy will in the time that is yet to come. Hear our supplications, O Lord! pardon our many sins; quicken and help us now, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.