The Living God of This Day

ALMIGHTY GOD, Who in many ways dost fulfil Thyself, deserting no generation, falling away from none who trust in Thee! Grant that at all times we may serve Thee as the present and ever-living God; that no greatness of ancient testimony, no awful record touching Thy deliverances in olden times, may be so great as to hide for a moment Thy nearness to us, and Thy loving presence in our souls. And if at any time we believe that Man was once nearer to Thee than now;—if, misled by a brightness long since faded, we come to think that the heavenly joys were easier gotten, and the consolations of the Spirit closer at hand in those days than they are now,—wake us up to understand our own dulness, and to know Thee as the living God.

If, with foolish fondness, we turn to ancient forms, and believe that they were of deeper worth than the souls that are inspired now; help us to turn to Thee, and remember that Thou art the ever-living God, Thy Spirit never resting, Thy voice never dumb.

If we believe that once the oracles of God were lively oracles, and that now they be but echoes of what once was the voice of God; help us to know Thee as the living God who speaketh to-day as ever; and to remember that all forms are Thine, all life is Thine, all words are Thine, and that to us, in this our day, Thou speakest as of old. For those who look for ancient signs and wonders we beseech Thee, that they may look for Thee as Thou comest, and hear Thee as Thou speakest; not in the trembling earthquake, nor in the fire, but in the still small voice.

Lord God! if we seek after earthquakes of spirit, and believe it possible to bring Thee nearer by what they can do; let us remember that if we draw near to Thee, Thou art here; that every day we may behold Thee; that not a breeze can blow without whispering of Thee; that the flowers cannot bloom without telling of Thee; that the little child cannot smile without preaching Thy sweet gospel; that human love, and friendship, and tenderness, and pity should never be passed by, except we look upon them all as heavenly messengers, telling us of God.

And may the smarts and woes of life, its bitterness and tears, its dreary discipline, all tell us that this world is but a school-house, which, though irksome to the child, is nevertheless a preparation for a loftier Life.

So be to us the Living God, that we may no longer ask the men of old to teach us of God, but wisely ask how they lived and loved, and remember the words of the Lord:

“Greater things than these shall ye do, because I go unto my Father.”

And not in the sacred song of so-called Divine Service may we sing to Thee only; but every day, in every work, in every play, in every thought; finding Thee the God of discipline, and the God of joy, ever-blessed, Who art ever looking upon the sin and sorrow of the world that Thou mayest relieve it.

So, turning to Thee in sin, in sorrow, and in righteousness, whether holy or sinful, may we find Thee ever ready, now to kiss us with Thy mercy, now to lay upon us Thy chastening hand; knowing that all Thy dealings with us are for our ultimate salvation. So may we walk in wise joyousness. And if the clouds appal us by their dreary lowering, even then, in the darkest days of our lives, let us trust in Thee.

In day and in night, in life and in death, may we ever trust in the Lord of life, the Lover of the soul, our Father-God, our ceaseless Friend, our merciful Judge. Into Thy hands, O God! we commit our spirits. Of Thy mercy hear these our supplications. We ask it, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.—AMEN.