Week 3 Monday Morning Prayer

BLESSED Lord, who hast renewed Thy mercies to us this morning, and hast raised us up to see the light of another day, unto Thee do we lift up our souls in prayer, while we bow ourselves before Thy throne of grace. Adored be Thy mercy which has provided a way of acceptance for us, miserable sinners, through Jesus, the Son of Thy love. Adored be that goodness which allows us to come to Thee, with boldness, and to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Through Him we come — through Him we pray ; for His sake, hear and answer us.

O our God, we are ashamed, and blush to lift up our faces before Thee, for our iniquities have increased over our heads, and our trespass has grown up into the heavens. We are ungrateful children — rebellious children ; and Thou art a longsuffering and most merciful Father. But, O Lord, we desire not to persist in ingratitude, or rebellion. We hate ourselves on account of them ; but we are so tied and bound with the chain of our sins, that we cannot follow Thee as we desire. We therefore come to Thee this morning, pleading Thy promise, through Jesus, that Thou wilt give the Holy Spirit to them that ask. Lord, we ask it. With all our heart and soul we ask it ; for it is only as Thou dost endue us with power from on high, that we shall be enabled to resist the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We have labored in our own strength to conquer sin, and have failed. Our flesh cleaveth upon the earth. Though bound to Thee by every tie of gratitude, yet our affections will not dwell upon Thee. Though once warm in Thy service, we again grow cold and forsake Thee. O our Father — our loving Father — our compassionate Father, — have pity upon Thy poor weak children, who are struggling to love and serve Thee, in the midst of a world of sin and iniquity. We earnestly desire to overcome sin, yet have no power to do so. But we bless and praise Thee, that Thou hast made provision for our wants, and that Thou hast promised that Thy strength shall be made perfect in our weakness. Lord, endue us with the Holy Spirit, for all the purposes of holiness, and growth in grace, and subduing of the flesh, and mortifying carnal desires, and enjoyment of spiritual things, that we may abound in the work and enjoyment of the Lord.

We are now entering upon the new week, O Lord, and we desire to be more devoted to Thee — to come out from the world and to be separate — to war against every thing that may rob us of our peace, or provoke Thee to withdraw from us the light of Thy countenance. We wish to live to Thy glory, and to walk with thee all the day long. But who is sufficient for these things ? Lord, we are not, but Thy Spirit can enable us. Give us, then, the Holy Ghost in all the power which we are entitled to ask for, and which Thou seest right to bestow. Make us holy. Stamp thine image upon our hearts ; and enable us to manifest the life of godliness. We bless Thee for any enjoyment we have had in spiritual things. We praise Thee even for the desire to serve Thee ; and we beseech of Thee to strengthen us to follow, what Thou hast taught us to love.

But, O Lord, if there be any amongst us who are yet strangers to these precious truths ; who are yet living in the indulgence of sin ; for Jesus' sake have mercy upon them. Open their eyes to see their danger. Open their eyes to see the sacrifice for sin, in the blood of Jesus, and the remedy for the love of sin, in the regenerating and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost,

From all the temptations to which we may this day be exposed, good Lord preserve us. Keep us humble ; distrustful of ourselves, but confident of strength in Thee. Let us not run into forbidden ways, nor expect protection but in the path of duty. Grant these our petitions, O Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.