Browse by Genre

Regard us all now, in the light of our circumstances. Thou knowest these better than we know ourselves, and far better than we know one another. May Thy gracious wisdom guide us, and may we not resist Thy guidance. May they not fail to give us what Thou seest our condition most requires. May we not turn away from Thy gifts, nor squander or misuse them. Keep us from wasting our Lord’s substance, from wasting the substances that Thou dost give us. May we feel that we are stewards as well as possessors; and may we, in all things, seek to praise and glorify Thee. Bless us each according to our diverse requirements. Comfort any that are in sorrow; be near all lonely and sad hearts. Let sorrow and loss be ministers to us of joy and gain. And may any tribulation of any kind, great or small, any difficulty or perplexity, anything disagreeable or unwelcome that comes to us in the way of our duty be useful to, and minister good to, us. And do Thou grant that, amidst all losses and pains, we may hear the great Voice that says to us, ‘Come up hither!’ and may we more and more set our affections on the things above, where Christ is; and with Him so many whom we know and loved, sitting at the right hand of God.

We pray that Thou wouldst use our many necessities and wants as open doors through which Thy grace may come into our hearts. We pray that we may keep open the door for the entrance of all Thy gifts. Draw near to us now, and help us always to wait on the Lord so that we shall not want any good. Thine ears are open to the cry of the righteous; make us righteous that our cry may ‘enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.’ Teach us how and what to desire. Help us to subordinate all our wishes for earthly things to the higher aspirations after greater and deeper good. May our lives be in accordance with that prayer; and may we, in all our daily pursuits and amidst all the temptations and distractions that belong to our earthly life, be seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Lord, we feel that our lives would be very different if that prayer were fulfilled, and we know that it is in Thy heart to fulfil it unless we hinder Thee. So we beseech Thee that Thou wouldst mould us, and discipline us so that we may cease to set our affections and minds on things of earth shutting out the things that are above where Christ is. We may not know what we ask, we do not know how Thou mayest be pleased to fulfil the petition; but we ask Thee to help us that we may stand to it, and even if Thou dost answer it by disappointment and by sorrow may believe that they too are working together for our good. Hear us; in Thy mercy forgive, quicken, strengthen and answer us, through Christ Jesus our Lord.