Week 1 Sabbath Morning Prayer

ALMIGHTY and ever blessed God, help us to draw near to Thee through Jesus Christ, and to worship Thee in spirit and in truth. We thank Thee that Thou hast taken care of us during the night. We bless Thee for the life, and light, and mercies of this day. O fill our hearts with gratitude for Thy great goodness; and help us to spend the life which Thou preservest in Thy service.

We know that we are less than the least of all Thy mercies. We are unworthy of Thy great goodness. We are sinners exceedingly in Thy sight. But we thank Thee that Thou didst send Thy Son into the world to save sinners. We bless Thee that He died to make atonement for our sins, and that He ever liveth to make intercession for us. O have mercy on our souls, for Jesus' sake. Send Thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, and keep us ever sensible of our sinfulness and need of Christ. Help us to embrace Him as our Saviour, and rest on Him continually. May our life this day be a life of faith on Thy Son. Pardon all our sins for His sake. Accept of us in Him. Help us to live this day to His glory, and to show forth His praises. May we realize His presence, and walk as seeing Thee, who art invisible.

May Thy Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts, and make us holy, even as Thou art. Fit us for the discharge of every duty to which we may be called to-day, and help us to resist every temptation by which we may be assailed. Make Thy grace sufficient for us at all times, and perfect Thy strength in our weakness. Enable us to walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil, and to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Bless all the members of this family, according to their various circumstances and wants. Thou knowest the spiritual condition of every one of us. Make those of us who are believers, living epistles of Christ. Help us to let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify Thee, our Father in heaven. Make us useful and happy in Christ. Enable us to commend our religion to all around us, by our diligence in duty, by our holy cheerfulness, and by our loving, kindly spirit. If any of us here, bowed down before Thee, are still without Christ, O have mercy upon them. Pluck them as brands from the burning. Rouse them immediately from their carelessness. Convince them of the value of their souls. Lead them to flee at once to Jesus, and give them no rest till they have found peace in Him. Bless all our friends. Make them all the friends of Jesus, and cause all Thy dispensations to work together for their spiritual good. Bless the congregation to which we belong, and graciously revive Thy work among its members. Give a double portion of Thy Spirit to our pastor. Fill his heart with love to Christ and compassion for souls. Feed him with the hidden manna, that he may be able to give to each of us a portion in due season.

Bless Thine own cause in this neighborhood. May pure and undefiled religion prevail in it. May those who are Thy children walk more consistently, and be more diligent in Thy service, and more prayerful. Awaken the unconverted from their spiritual slumbers. Bless all the means of grace. Smile on every effort made to bring sinners to the Saviour, and pour out abundantly Thy Holy Spirit. O that Thou wouldest revive Thy work on every side of us!

Bless the whole church with which we are connected. Make all her ministers more faithful and self-denying, and prayerful, and successful. Strengthen their hands for the great work in which they are engaged, and cheer their hearts by permitting them to see abundantly of the fruit of their labors. Bless all the congregations of our church. May Thy children in them all be edified, and may the unconverted be saved. May their office-bearers be full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. May they be ensamples to the flock, and faithful to their trust. Bless all our missions and missionaries. Crown their labors with success, and give them many souls for their hire. Have pity on those of our countrymen who are still in darkness, and enlighten them. Take away the veil of unbelief from the minds of the Jews, and turn the heathen from their idols to serve Thee, the only living and true God.

Bless all the churches of Thy Son. Purify every one of them, and send down upon them all showers of blessing. May grace and mercy and peace be multiplied to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Bless every effort made to extend the kingdom of Thy Son. Fill the whole earth with Thy glory, and bring all the children of men into subjection to King Jesus.

And now, O Father, we commend us to Thy guidance and guardianship for this day. Show us the path of duty in the various circumstances in which we may be placed, and help us to walk in it. Keep us from all evil, and save us from every sin; and all the glory shall be Thine, through Jesus Christ, now and for ever. Amen.