Week 3 Thursday Morning Prayer

O THOU whose name is Jehovah — the self-existent God, whose creatures we are, we live upon Thy bounty ; it is our duty to acknowledge our dependence on Thee, and worship at Thy footstool from day to day. We praise Thee that Thou hast permitted us to do so this morning ; that Thou hast even provided a way of access to Thyself, through the Lord Jesus Christ ; and that, by Him, we can not only come with acceptance, but with the expectation of being supplied, from Thy bounty, with whatever is needful for time and for eternity.

We know not, O Lord, what is for our good. We dare not, therefore, ask for any thing temporal, beyond the mere necessaries of life. Give us food and raiment, and make us therewith content. We beseech of Thee to bless us with plenty from Thy spiritual store. Give us a deep sense of our own unworthiness. Show us more of the corruption of our own evil hearts, that we may trust them less, and cling to Thee the closer for strength to resist their unholy propensities. We confide in the blood of Jesus for the pardon of all that is past ; and we implore the Holy Spirit, to shed abroad the love of Jesus in our hearts. Give to us then, the Holy Spirit, to make known that love to our souls — to make us holy — to make us faithful, zealous, and devoted witnesses for Jesus, in the midst of an ungodly world. O Lord, we wish to manifest in our lives the power of godliness ; to be living epistles, read and known of all men ; to exhibit the Spirit's work in subduing our flesh. Make us, Thy members, a temple of the Holy Ghost ; and may our lives proclaim that God is in us of a truth.

Lord, we pray for greater light and enjoyment in the reading of Thy holy word. We wish to feed upon its precious truths — to love it as the record of our Father's will — to prefer it to every other study. May we find it profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness ; and may we, by it, be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Grant, Lord, that we may not be carried about with every wind of doctrine, tossed to and fro in doubt and danger. But may the Spirit lead us to a sound interpretation of Thy holy word ; so that we may grow up into Christ in all things, being nourished by the sincere milk of the word.

Enable us to walk in wisdom toward them that are without — to show all forbearance in all things — to reprove sin in the spirit of love — and to manifest, that while we hate the sin, we are moved by kindness towards those whom we are called to rebuke. Teach us, also, to correct those faults in ourselves which we discover in others.

Look in pity, we pray Thee, upon our native land. Heal all divisions and distractions ; and pour the oil of the Spirit upon its troubled waters. May that righteousness which exalteth a nation be ours ; and put away from us that sin which is a reproach to any people. Have mercy upon those its inhabitants who are sitting in darkness, and in the shadow of death. Raise up faithful men to declare to them the Gospel of Thy grace. Open a door for the effectual preaching of Thy holy word ; and bless those that read it by the power of the Spirit ; so that Thy truth may be known amongst men, Thy saving health to all this nation.

Accept our thanks for the blessings of the past night ; for peace, protection, and health. Keep us this day in Thy faith and fear. May we walk as in Thy presence, assured that there is not a thought in our hearts but Thou knowest it altogether ; and may we do all things to Thy glory.

May the very God of peace sanctify us wholly ; and we pray that our whole spirits, souls, and bodies, may be preserved blameless, unto the day of the glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. May we then appear with Him in glory. We ask all for the same Saviour's sake. Amen.