Week 4 Wednesday Morning Prayer

O MOST MIGHTY GOD, who, though Thou humblest Thyself to receive the adoration of the heavenly host, art yet willing, for the sake of Jesus, to welcome even sinners, such as we are, who come to Thee in His name ; hear us while through Him we draw near to Thee in prayer, and present this our morning sacrifice.

We thank Thee for the protection of the past night. We thank Thee that we were allowed to lie down in peace, and to awake in safety. Oh, what cause have we to praise Thee, when we consider the miseries to which others of our fellow-creatures have been exposed, and from which we have been preserved! How many were in want and wretchedness during the past night, while we were in ease and comfort ! How many lay upon beds of sickness, racked with pain and torture, while we were in the enjoyment of refreshing sleep ! How many lay down in health, and slept in death before this morning's light, while we are still in the land of the living, and are spared to hear that the door of mercy still is open — that Jesus still waits to be gracious — that there is still pardon through His precious blood — that this is the accepted time — the day of salvation.

Praised be the Lord God for His unnumbered and most unmerited mercies ! Let all that is within us praise His holy name. Where should we now have been had death visited us during the last night? Lord, Thou knowest; and our consciences know likewise. Make those of us, we pray Thee, who are conscious of having rejected the Lord Jesus, and of being still unprepared to die, dread to spend another day, without life through a Saviour's death. Thou art now more willing to give than we are to ask. Lord, lead us all to Jesus, that those who have known Him not, may this day be made acquainted with Him as an all-sufficient Saviour ; and that they who have, may know Him still more perfectly.

Pour upon us an abundant measure of the Holy Ghost. Open the windows of heaven, and rain a gracious shower of the Spirit's blessings upon our thirsty souls. Cause that the wilderness within may be turned into the garden of the Lord. We grieve to think that we should have found pleasure in those sins which caused the sufferings of the Son of God. May we hate them for the future ; and, by the power of the Spirit working in us, may the love of holiness be so planted in our hearts, that we may find more pleasure in its ways, than we ever had in the ways of carnal enjoyment.

May the Spirit enable us, from love to Thee, to conform to the precepts of Thy holy word. Lord, Thou hast given us many talents to employ in Thy service. Make us faithful stewards. Enable us to trust Thee for food and raiment, which Thou hast pledged Thyself to provide ; and may we not distrust Thee, nor disobey Thee, by laying up treasures on the earth. Be Thou our treasure, from day to day ; then, where our treasure is will our hearts be also ; and our all shall be devoted to Thy service.

Bless our relations and friends, who are yet wanderers from the fold of Jesus. Lord, we carry them in the arms of faith, and lay them before Thee and say, heal them for Thy mercy's sake. Pour out Thy Spirit upon them, O Lord. Turn them from darkness to light, from the love of the world to the love of Thee. Whatever Thou mayest take from them of the things of this life, oh take not away Thy loving-kindness, but save Thou their immortal souls. May all who are dear to us by the ties of nature, be made still more dear by the stronger bonds of grace.

All our prayers and praises we present unto Thee, O Lord, in the name of Him, through whom alone Thou canst accept us — the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.