Strength to Serve God and Neighbour

O LORD GOD! Strong and Mighty, we would draw near to Thee, confessing our weakness, beseeching Thee to make us strong. We would be strong in body, that we may do our work in life well and cheerfully; that we may help the weak, and put a strong and willing hand to the burdens of those of us who have more than they can bear.

We would, O Lord, be strong in heart; full of courage, fearless of danger; holding pain and danger cheap when they lie in the way of our duty. We would be strong in love: make us warm-hearted, true friends, tender lovers, loving our neighbour as ourselves, and loving Thee with all our heart and soul and strength.

We would be strong in faith; believing Thy word and Thy promises; ever trusting in the victory of good over evil; ever confident that all things work together for good to them that love Thee.

We would be strong in hope; undaunted by seeming defeat; ever looking beyond the mists and clouds of time, into the clear shining of the eternal life.

We would be strong in patience; bearing our burdens, suffering our pains quietly and without reproach toward man, or rebellion against Thee.

We would be strong in voice; to sing Thy praise, to magnify Thy Name, to resist evil, and to be a terror to evil-doers, and a praise to them that do well. Oh Lord, strengthen us daily to do and to bear, to suffer and to hope, to fight the good fight, and at last to lay hold upon the crown of Life Everlasting. Hear our prayer, O Lord, who art our strength and our Redeemer, for Jesus Christ’s sake.—AMEN.