01.03. Week 3

THIRD WEEK

Sunday morning

O almighty God, the King of kings and Lord of lords — we would praise and magnify You as the God of all mercy and grace. We praise You for this day of blessing and help. Your gate stands open wide, and You are calling us to Yourself. We would have forgotten You, and gone immediately down the road that leads unto eternal destruction — but You are very pitiful and of tender mercy. You invite us to return to You by all the ordinances of Your house, and by all the messages of Your Word.

O pour upon us the Spirit of grace and supplication. May we look on Him whom we have pierced. May we grieve for the sins which He bore in our place — and may we rejoice that through His precious blood, we can approach You as our Father.

We would desire this day to have closer fellowship with You. O God, You are our God, early will we seek You. Our souls thirst for You, for there is no true satisfaction if You are absent. Your loving-kindness is better than life. O let us see Your power and Your glory this day. Take away every veil that hides from us the all-sufficiency of Christ. May we look up to Him as our Shepherd and Physician, as our Friend and Redeemer. May we trust in Him as our Merciful and Faithful High Priest, ever speaking good for us to You our Father in Heaven.

O gracious Father, we beseech You to make this day to be one of true profit to our souls. We are going to Your house, and we beseech You go with us, and may we feel that You meet with us according to Your promise. May our prayers be offered in spirit and in truth, and ascend with acceptance to Your Throne. May we lay aside all malice and envyings and evil speakings, and may we receive with meekness the engrafted Word which is able to save our souls. May we sing Your praises with a thankful spirit, and may we thus have a foretaste of the joys of the redeemed above. Let Your Word this day run and be glorified, and may those who hear it receive it as Your Word, and not as the word of man. Let Your people in every place delight to throng Your courts, and may Your ministering servants be cheered by the success of their labors. Gather together the outcasts, and bring them back to Your fold. There are many who stand in the way of sinners and sit in the seat of the scornful. Put forth Your own hand, and constrain them by Your grace to come to Your house and hearken to the joyful sound of Your Gospel. Be very present as the refuge and strength of all Your afflicted and sorrowing children. Be to them as a little sanctuary, wherever their lot may be cast. Leave them not comfortless because unable to meet with Your people, but make Your abode with them, and give them songs in this night of trial and distress.

O Lord, You know all our need far better than we can express it. Mercifully bow down Your ear and give to us according to Your infinite wisdom and the exceeding riches of Your grace, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Sunday evening

Most gracious God and heavenly Father, You are good and do good continually. Especially would we bless You for the help You afford us by Your holy Sabbaths. May every day of holy rest be a step onward to Your blessed kingdom.

O Lord, Your servants this day have been casting abroad the good seed of Your Word. Send forth the dew of Your blessing that it may abide in the hearts of those who have heard it, and bring forth fruit a hundredfold. Grant that the evil one may not be able to catch away that which has been sown. Grant that the stony ground may be softened — that Your Word may take deep root. Grant that neither the riches nor pleasures nor cares of this world may be able to choke the Word and prevent its bearing fruit. O let not Your Word return unto You void, but may it accomplish that to which You have sent it. May sinners be turned unto You, and Your people filled with holy joy. Instead of the brier, let there come up the myrtle tree; and instead of the thorn bush, let there come up the fir tree. Let Your people be as trees of righteousness, filled with the fruits of Your grace, to the praise and glory of Your name.

O Lord, we beg You, give unto each of us life eternal — which is to know You the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Remove the blindness which hides from us Your glory, and make all Your goodness pass before us. Show unto us the greatness of Your love, and make us indeed partakers of its blessedness. Make us truly to believe in Jesus, and to rest all our hopes on Him. Make us to know Him as the Way, the Truth, and the Life — and may we ever walk in His footsteps.

Father, glorify Your name in us by renewing us in the image of Your well-beloved Son. We are Yours, O save us by Your mighty power. Holy Father, while we are in the world, keep us from the evil one. May the truths we have this day heard raise our hearts from earth to You, and enable us to triumph over the snares which surround us on all sides.

Keep us from being content with merely bearing Your name, and may we strive in everything to live for Your glory.

We beg You to sanctify us by Your truth. Without holiness no man can attain Your glory, and we would be holy in body and in spirit. Purify and cleanse our thoughts and motives and desires, by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit. May the words of our lips and the meditation of our hearts be always acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our Strength and our Redeemer. Knit us all together in Your love. Unite our hearts to fear Your name. Give unto all who love You, one heart and one way, and may nothing separate those who are joined together in the bonds of Your Gospel. This night be our Guardian and Protector. Bless all whom we love, and all who are loved by You. And grant that when all our earthly Sabbaths are past, we may be with You, and share Your glory and kingdom, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Monday morning

O almighty God, our Creator, our Preserver — we come to You this morning as our reconciled Father in Christ Jesus. We thank You for the quiet rest of Your holy day, and we beg You that its lessons may not be forgotten. May we cherish in our hearts whatever You have taught us out of Your Word, and may every day of this week be hallowed by the sense of Your presence. Make us desirous of giving ourselves entirely to Your service, and of living to please You in the duties of everyday life. Grant that in our various occupations we may not be drawn aside from the remembrance of You. Remember us, O our God, for good, through the merits of Your Son — and may we often remember You and think upon Your name.

O Lord, we beseech You look upon the younger members of Your flock. They are very dear to You, and it is not Your will that the least of them should perish. May they ever look up unto You as their Father and as the Guide of their youth. May they take Your Word as a lamp unto their feet, and a light unto their path. O keep them from being dazzled and led astray by the deceitful pleasures of a sinful world. Let them rejoice in Your Fatherly care, and find their greatest happiness in the love of the Good Shepherd.

O God, we entreat You likewise to give unto all parents a due sense of their solemn responsibilities. May they ever remember the great charge committed to them in the training of their little ones. Teach them to watch over them from day to day, and may they endeavor to bring them to Your footstool. Keep them from all harshness and anger, lest the young be discouraged. Keep them likewise from all false kindness. May they teach the children to fear and reverence Your holy name, and to hate all that is sinful. O may every home be a home of peace and love, and grant that both old and young may walk before You in holiness and righteousness all their days.

We beseech You, O merciful Father, give unto us, and to all who are dear to us, a single eye as to Your glory. Give us a tender conscience, that we may never willfully commit the very least sin. We pray that our love to You may abound more and more as we learn to more of Your love to us. May we love those things which are excellent, and be sincere and without offence until the day of Christ. May we thus glorify You in our bodies and in our spirits, which are Yours.

O Lord, give unto us also a calm and quiet spirit. Keep us ever near to You. Empty us of all pride and self-will and covetousness — and enrich us more each day with the treasures of Your grace. May we have our eye fixed on the crown of righteousness which You have promised to those who love You. May we so pass through temporal things, that we lose not the eternal things. Grant us every petition, and forgive us all our iniquities, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday evening

O almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ — be merciful unto us and bless us this night. Give unto us Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us, and make us Your habitation. Be our God, and may we ever rejoice that we are Your people. Make us separate in heart and mind from an evil world, and may we touch no unclean thing. Sanctify and cleanse us by Your Spirit and Your Word, and may we perfect holiness in Your fear. O receive us, and be a Father unto us through Christ. Grant that we may abide before You in filial trust and holy love, as Your sons and daughters.

O Lord our God, teach us continually to rely upon Your Fatherly goodness. Not a sparrow is forgotten before You — and You number the very hairs of our head. You regard every care and every sorrow that comes upon us. You pity us in all our fears and troubles. Your eye is open by night and by day. When we feel desolate and lonely, You are very near to comfort and uphold us. As You sent Your angel to Hagar in the desert — You are ready likewise to help us in distress. As You sent Your angel to feed Your servant Elijah by the brook — so You delight to supply all our need.

Father, teach us to trust You evermore. Forgive all our unbelieving doubts and our faithless murmurings. Increase our faith, and make us joyful in Your salvation.

O Father, we have grieved You this day by our sins, but especially by our forgetfulness of You and Your love. Teach us the sinfulness of forgetting You, who are never unmindful of us. Stir up our hearts continually by some thought of Your goodness, or by some promise of Your Word. May we set You always before us, and walk before You in all good conscience. Make us upright and sincere in all our dealings, and may there be no deceit in our lips. May we do Your will, not with eye service as men pleasers, but as Your willing servants. May we serve You cheerfully with our whole heart, as we remember all Your love to us.

O Lord Jesus, make all Your ministering servants to proclaim Your Word faithfully. Keep them from all error in doctrine, and make them true witnesses for You, both by their lives and by the truth which they preach. Bless all missionaries wherever they have gone forth in Your name. Prosper all their labors, and by their means gather out multitudes to be the sheep of Your flock.

We would remember also before You those who are in any way connected with us. Bless all our relations and friends with Your grace and favor. Bless them and make them a blessing to others. Fulfill, O Lord, these our prayers and supplications for the sake of Him whom You hear always, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday morning

O God, our Heavenly Father, may we look up to You this morning and have fellowship with You through Your Son Jesus Christ. You are more kind than any earthly parent. Your heart is full of pity and compassion toward us. Your hand is full of blessing and grace. You are slow to anger, but ever ready to forgive and to help us. We turn to You for the support that we need. We have no plea but the atoning death of Christ. Receive us at all times through Him; and since He ever makes intercession for us before Your throne — abundantly answer all our petitions.

Help us, O Merciful Father, henceforth to walk and please You more and more. Teach us carefully to shrink from that which is evil in Your sight, and to cherish that which is right and acceptable before You. May we honor You by the steadfastness of our faith, and never give way to unbelieving fears. May we love You above those who are dearest to us on earth, and above all things which this world can offer. Help us diligently to improve the talents You have committed to our charge, looking to You alone to prosper us in all we do. Give us the ready ear for every call of duty, and the willing hand to give freely of that which You have bestowed upon us.

O blessed Savior, You have taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to do to others as we would that they should do unto us. Give us the mind and disposition thus to act. Remove the veil of selfishness that so often hides from us the claims of those around. Make us ever considerate towards those who may be in distress. Make us willing to sacrifice our own comfort interests, that we may relieve the troubles of those in sorrow or need. Teach us to give care and time and money, when You call us to the sacrifice. Like the good Samaritan, may we be ready to bind up the wounds of others, and bear each others burdens according to Your Divine will.

O Lord, our God, remember with Your favor Your holy Church. Grant to every believer, grace, mercy, and peace, that each one in his vocation and ministry may truly and humbly serve You. O pour out Your Spirit abundantly in all His manifold gifts of grace. Raise up men of wisdom and power, who shall have knowledge of the times, and who shall be able to lift up a standard for Your truth. Beat down Satan beneath our feet, and increase the number of Your faithful servants in every town and city and village throughout our land.

Bless the families of all who love You, and may the children walk in the footsteps of their parents. Have mercy on any who have turned aside, and fulfill the prayers which have been offered for their salvation. Comfort the heart of every godly parent by the remembrance of Your faithfulness in rewarding the prayers which are offered before You in true faith.

Hear us, Father, and bless us exceedingly, according to Your good pleasure, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Tuesday evening

O Lord God Almighty, the Everlasting King, we bow before You this night with reverence and godly fear. May we approach You with holy awe, for Your name is Holy; but may we also come to You with boldness and confidence, for You are Merciful and Gracious. We would enter into the holiest by the blood of Christ, and look up unto You crying, Abba Father. We would bring to You our sins and our sorrows, our needs and our cares. Forgive us all that has been amiss, and let Your tender mercy relieve all our distresses.

We hear Your voice, O merciful Savior, bidding us turn unto You. You have said, "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden" — and You have promised to give rest to our souls. O Lord, we are grieved and wearied with the burden of our sins, and we beg You give us the rest that we need. Give us rest from a guilty conscience, and from all disquieting fears. Give us rest in the assurance of Your presence and Your love. Hide us in Your wounded side, and be to us a covert from the storm and a shadow from the heat. Be our strong Refuge whereunto we may continually resort, for You are our Rock and our only sure Defense. Enable us in Your strength to take upon us Your easy yoke and Your light burden. Put within us Your love, that we may find it our joy to serve You. Shed abroad Your Spirit in our hearts, that we may delight in Your commandments, and never grow weary in Your service. May we commend Your Gospel to others by our cheerfulness in doing Your will, and by the holy consistency of our lives.

O Lord, our God, our Father, watch over us, and all whom we love, through the coming night. When we lie down to sleep, may we not be afraid; yes, grant that our sleep may be sweet because You are near. The day is Yours and the night is Yours — and in both Your hand is mighty to protect and save. Grant that whether we wake or sleep we may ever abide under Your sure defense. And when the night of death shall come, may we have You as the Light and Life of our souls. May we live hereafter with a more earnest desire to please You in all things, and when our work on earth is done, may we be found fit for the inheritance of Your saints in glory.

Finally, we bless You for all Your mercies granted to us and to those who are dear to us. We bless You for all the comforts we have enjoyed this day, and for all Your goodness to us through our whole past life. We bless You for days and years of health and prosperity. We desire no less to bless You for days of trial and affliction — for these also You have sent in love to our souls. We bless You chiefly for Your unspeakable gift, Your well-beloved Son, whom You have given for our salvation. We bless You for the means of grace and for the hope of everlasting life. Accept, O God, these our prayers and praises, through Jesus Christ our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

Wednesday morning

O God and merciful Father, You are near to all who call upon You faithfully. Draw near unto us this morning, and quicken our hearts to seek You. You have been gracious to us in preserving our lives, and giving us fresh opportunities of seeking Your face. O grant that we may live for You, and may each day bring us nearer to Your rest.

O Lord, we entreat You, deepen Your work in our souls. gracious Savior, be dearer to us than any friend on earth. May the remembrance of Your precious name fill our hearts with unspeakable joy. May our eyes be ever looking unto You for all grace and help and strength. Give us great delight in Your blessed promises. Give us the comfort of Your Presence at all times, and be near to us whenever our hearts are cast down. Give us a desire to work in Your vineyard, and may gladly we lay at Your feet all we possess, to be employed in Your holy service.

O Lord, we beseech You, give us true humility. May we so behold You in Your glorious holiness that we may abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes. Be merciful unto us, God, for our sins are great in Your sight. Wash us in the Savior’s blood, and we shall be whiter than snow. As far as the east is from the west, so far do You remove our transgressions from us.

Help us diligently to use all the means which You have appointed for our spiritual growth. May we search deeply into the hidden treasures of Your Word. Open our understandings that we may understand the Scriptures. May we neglect no portion of that which You have revealed, but may we find it all profitable for our edification and comfort.

Teach us the value of the Mercy-seat, and may we rejoice continually that we are invited to tell You all our necessities. Give us more faith and reality in prayer. Let each petition be presented with a full expectation that the best answer will be granted, and may we ever behold our Great High Priest pleading on our behalf.

Stir up the hearts of Your children to seek more fellowship and communion one with the other. May we love each other as we are loved by You. May we bear each others burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Teach Your people likewise to prize more the Supper which You have appointed for a continual remembrance of the death of Christ. May all Your children draw near from time to time, and there feed by faith on Him who died for sinners on the cross.

We now go forth to the duties of another day. Guide us, direct us, counsel us in all we have to do. May our common duties be done for You, and be acceptable in Your sight through Christ. May we watch over our words and actions, lest we put a stumbling-block in the way of others. Keep us steadfast in Your fear and love, and uphold us in the hour of sorrow or temptation. Fulfill all our desires, and accept these our prayers and praises, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday evening

O eternal God, who dwells in the High and Holy place, behold us this night with Your favor. We cast ourselves down before You with the deepest humility. God, You are infinite in power and glorious in majesty — but we are as a thing of nothing, and frail children of the dust. You are from everlasting to everlasting — but our days on the earth are as a shadow, and we spend our years as a tale that is told. You are the thrice Holy Jehovah, but we are as an unclean thing, and our iniquities bear witness against us.

We beg You, O Lord, to grant unto us true brokenness of spirit. Teach us more and more our exceeding unworthiness. Make us to know our iniquity and our sin. May we look at ourselves in the looking-glass of Your holy Word, and learn there our true character. May we cast away every self-righteous excuse, and own our guiltiness and just desert of Your anger.

O God, we bless You that You have promised to make Your dwelling with the lowly and contrite in heart. Fulfill this promise unto us this night. Come and make Your abode with us by Your Holy Spirit. May we rejoice that You are near to us as our Father and our Friend. We dare meet You only at the cross of Jesus. We would make His name and His sacrifice, our only plea. May the sweet savor of His Sacrifice be upon us, and may we ever have peace with You through Him, our only Hope.

Give unto us, Lord, the consolation of daily communion with You. May we hear Your voice speaking to us continually out of Your Word. May we delight to tell You all our needs, and pour out our hearts before You.

Let Your quickening Spirit ever abide with us and strengthen us in Your service. Work in us both to will and to do of Your good pleasure. You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are our Potter. O forsake not the work of Your hands, but make us perfect in every good work to do Your will. Work in us that which is well-pleasing in Your sight, through Jesus Christ, and cleanse us from all the imperfection that cleaves to us in His precious blood.

We plead with You this night for all the children of sorrow, especially for any known to us. Have compassion on the widow and the fatherless, and on those who are anyways afflicted and distressed in mind, body, or estate. Leave them not comfortless, Father, but lead them to take shelter in Christ as their Refuge. Mercifully look upon any who may be near unto death. Turn their eyes to Him who is the Resurrection and the Life. Let Your rod and staff comfort them in the dark valley through which they are passing.

Father, receive us and all whom we love to Your care this night, and accept these our prayers, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Thursday morning O God the Father, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Son, our adorable Redeemer, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

O God the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

Holy, Blessed, and Glorious Trinity, three persons and one God — have mercy upon us miserable sinners.

We come to You once more, O Lord our God, taking shame to ourselves for our sinful lives — and yet looking to You for all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. Remember not, O Lord, our offences, neither take vengeance for our sins — spare us, good Lord, spare Your people whom You have redeemed with the most precious blood of Your dear Son, and be not angry with us forever. Regard us as Your children for His sake, and grant to us abundance of mercy and peace.

We beg You, O Father, to send unto us the Spirit of Truth to convince us of sin and righteousness and judgment. May we have no confidence in any works or doings of our own, for of ourselves comes no good thing. We have destroyed ourselves by our sins and transgressions, but in You is our help. Let Your mercy relieve our misery — and may Christ’s righteousness in cover our unrighteousness. May we ever come before You, not in our own righteousness, but in that which is by the faith of Christ.

We would remember, Lord, that without holiness no man can see Your face. Bestow upon us the grace we need to renew us in Your own likeness. Make us as holy as You are holy, and let us this day walk before You in uprightness of heart. Teach us to live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world. Give us a pure motive in all we do, and may it be our chief desire to please You in all things.

Enable us to forget the things which are behind, and press forward to those which are before. May our affections be set on things above, and not on things on the earth. Raise our thoughts continually to that merciful Savior who is exalted to Your right hand, and may we ever be looking for His appearing. On that day may we be found acceptable in Your sight, and share His glory and His kingdom.

O Lord God, it is Your will that all men should hear and believe the message of Your salvation. Stir up the wills of Your faithful people, that they may be zealous in sending forth able men to carry the gospel of peace to all lands. Let Your servants who are called to this work, be filled with the spirit of wisdom and love, and touch the hearts and consciences of those to whom they speak. Raise up to Yourself in every place, both at home and abroad — witnesses of Your truth. Gather into Your fold the lost and the perishing, and may the name of Christ be glorified in Your Church. O heavenly Father, fulfill these our desires and petitions, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Thursday evening

O Lord God, our Merciful Father, You are the Sustainer of all Your people. You behold our necessities — You care for us in all our cares and sorrows. We beg You this night that Your favor may rest upon this household. You have declared in Your Word that You will bless the habitation of the just. You have promised that the voice of joy and salvation shall be in the dwellings of the righteous. O fulfill to us Your gracious words. With Your blessing, let the house of Your servants be blessed forever.

O Gracious Father, make each of us to live in all things according to Your will; by the continued help of Your Spirit awaken any of or family who may still be dead in trespasses and sins. Subdue and mortify all our evil passions and sinful tempers, and make us to walk as children of light. Beautify us with the holy character of our Great Example, and draw us in heart and mind nearer to Yourself.

O You who hear prayer, make our prayers very acceptable in Your sight. Keep us from all lip-worship and formality. May we never approach You without due reverence for Your Divine Majesty. May Your Spirit make intercession within us, and fill us with earnestness and reality and faith. Whenever we meet together as a family to seek Your face, prepare our hearts to worship You, and plenteously answer us in Your goodness.

Give us likewise to revere and love Your Holy Word, and carefully to ponder its sacred truths. May we hearken to each portion that is read, as to a voice from Heaven. May we hide it in our hearts, and constantly think upon it by day and by night, that we may not sin against You. Give to us such daily help and consolation from the promises of Your Word, that we may be strengthened to resist and overcome every temptation of the Wicked one.

Prepare us all, blessed Lord, for the time when we must bid farewell to all earthly ties. This home must one day be broken up. We may be scattered far and wide, or death may come and summon us into Your presence. May we be found ready for any change. May we ever abide in the love and friendship of our merciful Redeemer. May His presence be with us in the day of separation, or in the hour of death. O grant that at the day of Christ’s appearing we may all be found without spot and blameless, and be heirs together of Your everlasting kingdom. In Your great love, most Merciful Father, deal pitifully with all who love us. Have mercy upon our kindred and our friends. Bring those who are still far from You in true penitence to the cross of Jesus, and knit them to Him in the bonds of the covenant. Write their names in the Book of life, and give them the victory over sin and death, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Friday morning

O Lord, our God, our Father in Christ Jesus — we come this morning to praise You for the blessings of the past night. You have guarded us through the hours of darkness. You have refreshed us with quiet sleep. Be near to us also through this day. Defend us from all harm, and bestow upon us all needful good.

We bless You that You have promised to supply all our need, and to withhold no good thing from those who seek You. Fulfill, we beseech You, this Word on which You have caused us to hope.

Give us the wisdom we need for every difficulty. Give us strength and grace necessary to every duty. Give us a calm and patient spirit, that we may be kept from all anxious care. May we rest in Your promises and Your love. Lead us to the Rock that is higher than ourselves, and there help us to abide until trials and troubles are past. May Jesus be our stronghold and sure refuge until our journey of life is over.

O heavenly Father, we thank You for the hope that is laid up for each of Your redeemed children. How great is Your goodness which is prepared for those who love and fear You. We bless You for all the wondrous consolations of Your Word — and most of all, for Your fatherly pity and compassion towards us. May we take a firmer grasp of those exceeding great and precious promises which are made to us in Christ. May we add to our faith the spirit of true courage, that we may never be ashamed of Your name. May we increase in the knowledge of You, and of Your will concerning us. Make us temperate in all our pursuits and enjoyments. Make us patient in the time of tribulation. Grant unto us grace to walk before You in all godliness and righteousness of life. Fill us with love to all Your children, and may we cast a cloak of charity over their failings and infirmities.

O give us daily fresh supplies of the grace of Your Holy Spirit, that we may not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Christ. And when the time shall come that the house of our earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved, grant unto us an abundant entrance into Your everlasting kingdom.

O Lord, You have commanded us to pray one for another. We commend to Your care our relations, our friends, and our neighbors. Bless all whom we love with the richest enjoyment of Your favor, and may they count all things but loss in comparison of Christ. Bless the households of those who dwell round about us, and may they unite in serving You with willing hearts. Send upon our country showers of blessing, that Your fear and love may be the strength of this land. Accept us, and fulfill all our desires, we beseech You, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Friday evening

Almighty and everlasting God, we would hear Your voice this night bidding us draw near to Your mercy-seat. You have called us to Your throne of grace, and have promised that whatever we ask in Your Son’s name, that You will give to us. O Lord, teach us to pray with a true heart, and with full assurance of faith. Give unto us all things needful both for our souls and bodies.

O Lord Jesus, we would lift our eyes to You, our Great High Priest and only Mediator. We would look unto You, once lifted up on the cross, and now exalted to the right hand of the Father. Speak peace to every heart through Your atoning blood. You are able and willing to save them to the uttermost who trust in You. Be our salvation. Save us from the guilt of our former sins. Save us from the power and dominion of evil. Save us from all the snares and temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. Grant us daily grace and strength to walk in the narrow way. Uphold us with Your own right hand that we may never faint or grow weary. Keep us evermore by Your help and goodness. Leave us not, nor forsake us until You have brought us to Your kingdom in Heaven.

O Good Shepherd of Your flock, help us to follow in Your footsteps and to walk constantly after Your holy example. We would look unto You as our Great Pattern. Make us like Yourself in all things. Give us perfect confidence in our Father’s love. Make us in all things obedient to our Father’s will. Make us submissive in the hour of trial, and may we drink in meekness of the cup of sorrow.

Fill us with tender compassion toward those around us. Endue us with fervent zeal for Your glory, and make us patient towards those who may injure us. Give us a joyful hope of coming glory. May we bear our cross, and despise the shame in, blessed expectation of Your kingdom.

O Gracious Savior, You are soon coming to reign with Your saints. Prepare us for that day. May we ever be looking for that blessed hope, even Your glorious appearing. May we stand on our watch-tower ready to mark the first sign of Your approach. Keep us mindful of Your Word, and give us at that day the crown of righteousness which You have promised to those who love You.

O merciful Father, into Your hands we commits ourselves this night. Bless us and all Your children everywhere, with tokens of Your Fatherly kindness.

Accept our hearty thanksgivings for all of Your temporal and spiritual blessings — for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Saturday morning

O almighty and eternal God, You are in Heaven — and we are on earth; help us therefore to worship You with reverence and godly fear. Prepare our hearts to seek Your face, and incline Your ear to hearken to our cry. Your name is Great, Wonderful, and Holy. You are exalted far above all blessing and praise. The very angels are unclean in Your sight, and veil their faces before You. But we are sinful dust and ashes, and all our works defiled by sin. May we take the very lowest place, and cast ourselves entirely upon Your mercy in Christ.

We bless You that You are our Father. We are Your offspring, for You have created us. You are the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and through Him, You are our Father and our God. O may we be indeed Your children through faith in Jesus. May we be led and guided by Your Spirit, and thus manifest that we are Your sons and daughters. May our filial trustfulness, and our love and obedience to Your precepts, show day by day that we are Your in truth. As we draw near to the dose of another week, we would beg You, O Father, to glorify Your name in Your Church, and especially on the approaching day of rest. Let Your name and Your Word be everywhere honored by Your children. Stem the tide of profanity which is heard in our streets. Pour out Your Spirit on the people of our land, that they may greatly fear You, and regard Your day as holy and honorable. Fill the temples of Your grace with devout and earnest worshipers, and banish from them all lightness, formality, and irreverence.

O Lord God Almighty, set up through this and every land, the Kingdom of Your dear Son. Cast down the Prince of darkness from his dominion over the souls of men. May the gentle reign of the Prince of Peace everywhere extend.

O gracious Savior, make our hearts Your throne, and subdue within us every proud thought and every unruly passion. Teach us to do Your will more perfectly. As the angels ever hearken to Your voice, and delight to execute Your commands — so may it be here below. Transform us by the grace of Your Spirit, that we may in all things know what You require of us. Strengthen us by Your mighty power to perform faithfully every duty, and to suffer patiently every cross laid upon us.

We beseech You, Father, forgive us all our sins of thought, word, or deed, through the atoning blood of Christ. Pardon our neglects of duty, and our lack of love to You. And give unto us the spirit of true charity, that we may ever be ready to forgive those who have in any way wronged us. Keep us henceforth from all evil, and especially from our besetting sins. Do not allow us to be tempted above that we are able, and in the hour of temptation, grant us the support that we need.

O our Father, to You alone it belongs to help and deliver us. Let Your power be manifested in our salvation, and to You will we ascribe all the glory. Hear us and bless us, Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Saturday evening

Most merciful God, our Father in Christ Jesus, we would come to You again at the close of another week. May we come to You with true contrition, for our sins and iniquities bear witness against us. May we come to You with holy boldness, for You are a God of mercy and love.

O Lord, we confess before You tonight that we are unprofitable servants. You have never been weary of doing us good — but we have continually turned aside from Your commandments. We have been unmindful of Your love, and have lived too much in forgetfulness of You. We have pleased ourselves instead of seeking to please You. We have sought the favor of those around us, instead of the honor that comes from You. We have chosen the path of ease and self-indulgence, instead of taking up our cross and following Christ. But we bless You, O Father, that Your nature is ever to have mercy and forgive. You will abundantly pardon those who turn to You in true repentance. For Christ’s sake revive us once more in Your mercy, and make Your face to shine upon us.

O gracious Savior, we beg You to cleanse us from all iniquity in the Fountain of Your precious blood. We have destroyed ourselves, but in You is our help. O Lord, wash us thoroughly in that blood which flowed from Your wounded side.

Grant us likewise the power of Your Spirit to cleanse and wash our hearts. Purify every thought and motive. Keep us daily by Your mighty power, that we may never soil our garments by the least touch of sin. And when our conscience condemns us in the very least matter, teach us again to turn to You, that we may be at once forgiven through Your mercy. Renew us continually by Your Holy Spirit, and grant that our whole body, soul and spirit, may be kept blameless to the day of Your appearing.

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, bestow upon Your Church the rich abundance of Your heavenly grace. May tomorrow be a day of blessing to Your people. Pour out the dew of Your Spirit on all the congregations of Your servants throughout the world. Stir up the hearts of Your ministers, and give them great boldness in reproving sin and proclaiming the Gospel of Your dear Son. Turn back many sinners from their evil ways, and restore those who have forsaken the fold of the Good Shepherd. Be gracious, O Father, to all who are exposed to special danger and temptation. Bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived. Strengthen such as do stand. Comfort and help the weak-hearted. Raise up those who fall, and beat down Satan under our feet.

O Lord, we commend ourselves and all dear to us to Your faithful care. Be near to guard us by night as by day. And bring us at last to the city where there is no night, and where the Lamb is the light thereof. Hear us, Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.