Renewal and Compassion for Struggling Lives

ALMIGHTY God, our Heavenly Father, as we enter Thy presence, we are ashamed of our poor, sinful lives. We have been drawn away by evil from the holy path of Thy commandments. Doubt has dimmed our vision of Thy supreme realities. Pride has shut the doors of our souls against the entrance of Thy spirit. The clouds of faithless sorrow have hidden Thy face from us. The bitterness of disappointed hopes has shut us out from the healing sunshine of Thy presence. Outside the closed portals of our hearts Thou hast stood, in Jesus Christ, knocking, ah! how long, how patiently; but within, it may be, and forgetful of Thee, we have worshipped other gods, or served our own imaginings, or loved too well our own ambitions. O Thou, with whom is plenteous forgiveness, waken us from our vain dreams and reveal to us the hidden treasures of life and blessedness. Henceforth may we not waste Thy precious gift of time, but use it well, that we may lay hold on eternal life, and work and watch and wait, as under Thine eyes, and in Thy strength. For the time that remains, help us to live as those who have been called to be Thy sons. Grant us the filial spirit of unfailing trust and glad obedience, so that the daily task, whether in the school of childhood, or in the wider discipline of riper years, may become a sacrament, a token of Thy grace. Lead us into the knowledge of Thyself, that we may be at peace. O Spirit of holiness and grace! stay with us, to breathe into our souls new love after the shame of guilt, and new resolves after every failure. Hush every passion; heal every sorrow; help every infirmity, and quicken within us new faith and hope and trust. Save us from sin, save us from the darkness that is in us; from our evil ways, our meanness, our injustice, our foolishness, our pride; and work Thy commanded good through our frail wills.

We bear in our hearts all the sorrowing and unhappy among Thy children. Be gracious to those who are made sad by sins of others, who are vexed by the cruelty of those whom they love, yet cannot save. Let them know that Thou art strong to save, and give them a trust in Thee that will make their burdens light. Remember in pity the anxious and care-laden, the victims of irritable weakness, of morbid fears, and unchastened impulses. Give peace to such distracted souls. Restore to unity and harmony the inner life, that mind and body may be attuned to Thy perfect laws. We pray for the bond-slaves of degrading habits; for the drunkard, that he may see the evil which his sin works in himself, and the pain it brings on others, and that this vision may make strong the will to resist. May the power of a new affection conquer the demons of base indulgence and set Thy children free. We pray Thee, O God, to have mercy upon any who have fallen by the roadside, sore bruised by the evil of the world. May we never pass by such, but be moved to compassion and be to them as the Good Samaritan, after the example of Jesus Christ. Some there are who cannot pray to Thee, who only cry out against Thee as against some dreadful fate. Thou knowest the riddle of their lives. Thou canst interpret their experience. Speak Thou to them the word that illumines, and let Thy glory break through the darkness.

Hear our prayers, O Lord, and what in our ignorance we fail to ask, fail not Thou to give; and unto Thy name we give the glory, now and ever. Amen.