Prayer LXXX
TO Lord, Who hast been the dwelling-place of Thy people in all generations, and art still our strong habitation whereunto we may continually resort, we would draw near to Thee now, and remember with thankfulness and submission all the way by which the Lord our God has led us. We partly understand Thy loving meaning in our lives, and we pray for a clearer vision, and a more settled faith, that observing these things we may in them all perceive the loving-kindness of the Lord.
We would come to Thee this morning, O Father, and in the exercise of the faith would bring Thee our thankfulness, and beseech Thee to deepen in our hearts and minds the quiet confidence that all things work together for good to us if we love Thee. Thou dost weave the mingled web of our lives. We would believe that Thy goodness has put every thread into it. We bless Thee for guidance, for protection, for abundant mercies, often received without recognition of their Source, and used without remembrance of our responsibility, and dismissed without the memory of their sweetness. But we thank Thee for all things, and pray that Thou wouldst come near to us in and through Thy varying gifts and dealings, so that all things may be good because they whisper to us of Thyself.
We would cast ourselves on Thee, O Lord, for all the time to come, be it long or short, of our pilgrimage here. We thank Thee that we do not need to be sad when we remember that we are as pilgrims and sojourners, because we can say that we are pilgrims and sojourners with Thee, and dwell in Thy house, if we will, all the days of our lives. May the assurance of Thy presence go with us, and give us the rest which nothing else can give. May the sense that God is not far from every one of us be a perpetual light, and the lamp of our lives, giving guidance, companionship, and good cheer at all times.
Help us to make the most of our time, of ourselves, and of all Thy gifts to us; and may we be more concerned to grow what Thou wouldst have us to be, and to do with an increasing promptitude and cheerfulness whatsoever Thou wouldst have us to do, than to win earthly joys, or to secure our transitory wishes.
We pray Thee to guide us by Thy counsel. We thank Thee that we can leave to-morrow, the next moment, and the Eternity beyond, alike in Thine hands. Since we must trust Thee for even the nearest future may we trust Thee for the greatest and remotest. And since Thou hast replenished all our past so wisely and abundantly, may our faith never fail, but in quietness and in confidence may our strength be found; and may we be anxious about nothing, because everything we commit, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, unto Thy loving, mighty, wise hands.
Hear us, O Lord; grant to us individually and as a congregation of professing disciples in Christ Jesus Thy blessing in this year. We know not what shape the blessing may take. We ask Thee for help to conquer our sins and faults; for increasing knowledge and delight in Thy holy will. We ask Thee to give us such outward gifts as Thou knowest to be for our good, and help us to subdue our limit and wishes according to Thy providence, and neither to be encumbered with regrets for what Thou hast taken, nor tortured with anxiety as to what thou mayest give.
O Lord! pour out upon this Church and congregation a larger measure of Thy Holy Spirit. Help us, rather, that we may more completely make our own that which Thou hast given us, for we are not straitened in Thee but in ourselves. Help us more and more to derive the impulse for our lives, the pattern for our lives, and the power to reproduce that pattern according as Thine own gracious promise has told us, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. O Lord, mercifully hear us, forgive, accept, and bless us, for Jesus Christ’s sake.