Week 3 Saturday Morning Prayer

O ALMIGHTY GOD, who givest liberally to all men, and upbraidest not, and dost not despise the meanest of Thy creatures who come unto Thee in the name of Jesus ; hear us, and answer us, while, through Him, as the way, the truth, and the life, we come boldly to Thy throne of grace.

Thou hast encouraged us to ask for great things, and we desire now to do so ; yet not for the things of this world — for its riches, its honors, or its goods, which might prove a curse instead of a blessing : but we ask for spiritual things — for the pardon of daily sin, through the blood of Jesus — for an assurance of that pardon, speaking peace to our souls — for an abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit, enabling us successfully to resist the temptation of the evil one, and to manifest in our lives the power of the grace of God. These, blessed Lord, are large petitions, but Thou hast encouraged us to expect great things. We acknowledge that we have not, because we asked not — that we have been straitened in ourselves, and not in Thee — that our conquest over sin might have been greater, had we waited upon Thee more for the Spirit. Oh, then, now that Thou hast put it into our hearts to ask, satisfy our largest desires, and give us all that we stand in need of. Oh, make us holy, for the Saviour's sake, whatever else Thou art pleased to deny.

We give Thee thanks, O Lord, for Thy preservation of us during the night past. We might have perished by fire, or have been visited by the pestilence that walketh in darkness. Oh, how great is Thy goodness to us, when we reflect how many have spent the night in agony of body or of mind, while we have been kept in health and quietness. Lord, we would praise Thee for these things ; and as every good gift cometh from Thee, we beseech Thee to enable us to show forth that praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives.

And now that we enter upon the last day of the week, we would ask the spirit of self-examination, that we may review those days that are gone, and be humbled to confess, and strengthened to forsake, all that conscience accuses us of. May we remember that this is the preparation of the Sabbath. Make it so to us, we pray Thee. Enable us to set our house in order, and so to arrange our worldly business, that we may serve Thee without distraction on Thy holy day, should we be allowed to enjoy it.

But forasmuch as we know not what a day may bring forth, oh, teach us to live this day as though it were our last ; as though we had a certainty of the call of death, or of the Saviour's coming, this night. Cut every tie which binds us to earth ; overcome our attachment to the things of the world ; and enable us to sit completely loose to all but Thee. And oh, may the roots of our affections strike deeper into Jesus, that, being stablished, and grounded, and confirmed in Him, we may be proof against the storms of adversity, and the force of temptation. Correct, we beseech Thee, whatever Thou seest amiss in our tempers and dispositions. Subdue the risings of unholy passion ; say to the ruffled waves, Be still ; let meekness and humility prevail over harshness and pride ; and may the loving spirit of the Saviour be manifest in all we say or do.

We pray of Thee to look this day upon Thy ministering servants, who are to stand up on the morrow to preach the Gospel of Thy grace. Be with them in their preparation for the holy work. May the Holy Ghost so fill them with the love of Jesus, and the love of souls for His sake, that they may speak that they do know, and testify that they have seen and felt of the riches of redeeming love. Feed their own souls while they prepare to feed their flocks, and cause that an abundant blessing may follow their labor in the Lord.

Grant these our petitions, O Lord, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.