Week 3 Friday Morning Prayer

ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast commended Thy love to us, in that, whilst we were yet sinners, Thou didst give Thy Son to die upon the cross for us all ; be Thou mercifully pleased to show us the light of Thy countenance, and bless us, and comfort us, while we now draw near to worship Thee. We come through Jesus. We trust alone to the atoning blood of Jesus. We acknowledge no other Mediator but Jesus. All our dependence is in Him for time and eternity.

Thou art greatly to be praised, O Lord, for the love Thou hast shown to us guilty sinners. We have rebelled against Thee ; we have provoked Thee to anger ; we have been transgressors against Thy laws ; and thou wouldst have been just hadst Thou condemned us to the lake of fire. Yet in mercy Thou hast spared us, and hast made known to us Thy willingness to save, by the Son of Thy love. Just, indeed, wilt Thou be in condemning those who neglect or reject that Saviour. And yet, Lord, we should have rejected Him, if Thou hadst not turned our hearts. Be Thy name adored, for those amongst us who believe ; be Thy mercy entreated for those who yet believe not. Give them the light of the knowledge of Thy glory, in the face of Jesus Christ. Cause the day-spring from on high to visit them.

And let none of us, O Lord, be satisfied with a mere salvation from the punishment of sin. Give us such a hungering and thirsting for righteousness — such an ardent love for holiness — as will make us press after an abundant entrance into Thy heavenly kingdom. We desire that whatever others do we may serve the Lord. We therefore pray of Thee, O blessed Lord Jesus, who hast received the Spirit for the Church, to grant it us in all the power and measure that Thou seest we require. We pray Thee to cleanse this tabernacle of flesh by the Spirit. Mortify our carnal desires ; lead us to the higher enjoyment of the spiritual things ; increase our love to Thee. For this we need, we ask, the Spirit ; and may we be raised above the world, to live in happy, peaceful waiting for Thy coming. Maintain this happy frame in those to whom Thou hast given it, and bestow it upon those who have it not. Cut Thou those ties that bind our souls to earth. Enable us to walk through this world as Jesus did — as strangers in a barren land. Oh, we grieve to feel how much our hearts still cling to the things of earth. Strengthen us for the time that remains ; and enable us to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Fill us with the Spirit, that the love of Christ may constrain us to speak thereof, one with the other ; and to go forth, and tell to those who are in darkness what a precious Saviour we have found.

We thank Thee, O Lord, for the rest, protection, and preservation of the night past. We thank Thee that we have had whereon to lay our heads, while others were in want and wretchedness. Give us hearts to feel for their miseries, and to relieve them. Be thou near to us all the day long, and let not our hearts wander from Thee. Let Thy word be the rule of our lives, Thy Son our holy example, and Thy Spirit our heavenly teacher. Let thy glory be our aim in whatever we do or say ; and teach us so to value the joy of Thy countenance, as to make any sacrifice rather than lose it for a moment. Oh, shine upon us, our gracious Lord, at this time ; shine, and the clouds of unbelief shall be scattered. May each member of this family, being endued with the power of the Spirit, be brought under the influence of the gospel of Christ, that we may be a household fearing God and working righteousness, that all anger, and wrath, and clamor, and evil speaking, may be put away from us ; and that the law and service of love may prevail over that of rigor or of fear. May the peace of God rule in all our hearts, and may we enjoy and exhibit the blessedness of them who dwell together in unity ; so that walking in the faith of the Gospel, we may all be found in the household of faith.

To the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be everlasting praise, majesty, and dominion, now and for ever. Amen.