An Undivided Heart in Common Prayer

BE pleased, Almighty God! by that power which Thou canst in a moment exercise over the things of earth and the spirits of men, to hush within our foolish and wandering hearts all voices which might hinder our cry unto Thee from finding acceptance at Thy throne. Remove all thoughts and imaginations which might hinder our receiving a blessing in answer to our prayers.

Almighty God! do Thou banish from our minds just now all foolish desires. May we close our eyes in reverence, and not in mockery. Let not our thoughts be wandering round the earth, while we profess to draw nigh unto Thee. Out of our hearts do Thou take all thoughts of others, so that indeed from the depths of our own souls we may make supplication to Thee. Do Thou search us just now, and see if there are any foolish ways in us, and cast them out. Thou seest what thoughts are chasing through our hearts; Thou knowest the imaginations that are coursing through their inmost recesses.

Almighty God! do Thou look upon those who, with knees bowed, assume the outward look of prayer, but who are not praying unto Thee. Look upon those whose foolish thoughts are filled with neighbours' faults, neighbours' ways, and idle imaginings, instead of their own sins, and the working out of their own salvation. Do Thou, by Thy Spirit's purifying influence, help us to pray acceptably unto Thee.

O Lord our God! we do cry unto Thee for Thy mercy, and that Thou wilt be pleased to cast out our sins, through Jesus Christ. O Lord our God! we cry unto Thee that Thou wouldst be pleased, by Thy mercy in Christ Jesus, to forgive all our offences. So teach us the guilt of sin, that though we may feel Thou art never weary of forgiving, we may also feel that there are times when we may almost despair of forgiveness, by our obstinate persistence in our sins. So teach us to live, that we may conquer our sins. So impress us with Thy mercy, that we may overcome the evil propensities of our nature. Fill our hearts with such deep love of Thee, that there may be no room any longer for the idols we have served. Teach us to cast out everything that stands between Thee and us, however loved and worshipped. Let us remember that there should be the supreme place in our hearts for Thee. Lord, do Thou occupy it in each of us.

Almighty God! we pray Thee to accept whatever we have done in the past week that was right. Accept that which we have done by which we meant to serve Thee; accept what we have done which was intended to do good to others; accept that which was worthy of Thy blessing, and which was meant to give Thee praise. That any of us should be led to do any such things, we bless Thee.

Lord, we can bring Thee but our duties for an offering, and of these the holiest and the loftiest are not worthy of Thine acceptance. But if Thou art pleased to take our duties as our graces, if Thou art pleased to call our debts our gifts, and to accept them upon Thine altar, we give Thee praise; and we offer Thee our thanksgiving, if we have done any good. If we have said some right things, and fallen into other unholy ones, do Thou accept the good, and give us sorrow of heart for the evil.

Help and enlighten those who boast of the goodness of their living. Grant that all these tares may be rooted up, and that foolishness may no longer beguile our wisdom.

Almighty God! we cry unto Thee the old cry—"Unite our hearts to fear Thy name." We mourn a disobedient spirit to-day; we serve Thee to-morrow. To-day we bless Thy name; to-morrow we take it in vain. To-day we have holy communion with Thee; to-morrow we are seduced into evil. So has it been with us these many years. Help us to overcome this; teach us that any day and every day is the right time to begin the work of examining our hearts and turning away from evil.

Teach us the great forces there are in Christ's Gospel to assist those who strive to overcome their sins. Make us to search our hearts diligently, knowing the great issues of life do all go forth from them.

Save us from all false notions of our duties; especially save us from measuring our own duties by our neighbour's shortcomings. Save us from that unprofitable state of conscience which would lead us to suppose that, because others are doing evil, we are excused from obeying the truth and walking in the paths of holiness. Grant that we may look to our own eyes, rather than to the eyes of others. Help us to root out that pestilent habit of constantly intermeddling with the sins and doings of others, which, turning us into Pharisees, hides from us the blessed thoughts of God, because we are only contemplating evil.

Do Thou help us, where Thou seest help is needed. Teach us to keep our hearts with all diligence, at all times; in prosperity, lest we rest upon earthly things to the forgetting of God; in adversity, lest we think the heavens have forgotten us, because the light is so long in returning. Whatever we do, help us to watch over our hearts, because out of them are the issues of life.

We worship Thee with joy and gladness, because Thou knowest us altogether; Thou seest all our hearts. Bless each of us. Thou knowest the condition of each one of us; be a present help to all. Grant that Thy heavenly light may brighten as the earthly light fades.

Bless the young amongst us; give them abundant joy; show them the true end of life, and the blessedness of obeying Thy law. Let their strong joy be chastened by love to Thee. Bless those who mourn for the loss of loved ones; comfort them. Bless those who mourn for their sins, who sorrow, weep, and vow, and repent. For that repentance, those vows, that weeping, and that sorrow, we give Thee blessing. Thou hast not deserted us, but out of this sorrow, weeping, vows, and repentance, Thou wilt bring forth a blessed result, and give us strength that shall keep us from falling, and enable us to stand.

Bless those who are about to leave this, for other lands. May Thy blessing accompany them. Bless those who are far away. Bless those whose households are newly formed; let Thy holy will be their law. Bless those who see their households breaking up; teach them to rest more closely upon the household of faith. Whatever our state may be, leave us not during the rest of our journey through this life. If we are near the entrance into the long life of a future state, grant that we may live without sin, as little children abiding their Father's time, and dwelling in the light of their Father's countenance. These blessings we ask, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.—AMEN.