"My soul is even as a weaned child."--Psalm cxxxi. 2.
O Lord, I rejoice that I am permitted with filial confidence to
approach Thy blessed presence. What a privilege it is to have such
liberty of access to the Mercy-seat--to look upwards to Thee, the
Infinite One, whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, and call Thee
my Father and my God! Earthly love may grow cold or changeable, or
perish; but "Thou art the same." The mercy of God is from everlasting
to everlasting. Like as a father pitieth his children, so doth the
Lord pity them that fear Him.
Alas! I have to mourn too often an unthankful spirit amid all Thy
manifold mercies. I have been rebellious and wayward, ungrateful and
selfish. Thou mightest righteously have surrendered me to my own
perverse will; left me to the fruit of my own ways, and to be filled
with my own devices. It is of the Lord's mercies that I am not
consumed! Infinite is my want, but infinite too is my help. I would
seek to stand before Thee, O God, in the nothingness of the creature,
and to know the boundless resources treasured up for me in the great
Redeemer. Unite me to Him by a living faith, as Thine own child by
adoption; may it be my great desire to glorify Thee, my Father in
Heaven; cherishing towards Thee a spirit of filial love and
devotedness, seeking to do only what will please Thee, and having a
salutary fear of offending so kind and forbearing a Parent.
Oh keep me from any sullen fretfulness, or unbelieving misgivings,
under the strokes of Thy chastening hand. Let there be no hard
construction of Thy dealings. May I see all Thy chastisements tempered
with gracious love--_all_ to be needful discipline. Give me an
unwavering trust and confidence in Thy faithfulness. Nothing befalls
me but by Thy direction; nothing is appointed but what is for my good.
Let Thy varied dealings conform me to the image of my adorable Lord.
Let me be willing to suffer patiently for _Him_ who so willingly and
so patiently suffered for _me_. Let me not so much seek to have my
afflictions removed as to have grace given me to glorify Thee in them,
and in the spirit of a weaned child to say, "Even so, Father!" O may
my heart become a living temple, my life a living sacrifice, breathing
the incense of gratitude and love. Let me give myself no rest until in
this soul of mine I find a place for the Lord, an habitation for the
mighty God of Jacob.
Do Thou sanctify trial to all the sons and daughters of sorrow. Draw
near to those bereaved of beloved relatives. Do Thou Thyself
compensate for every earthly loss. May they know that Thou art
faithful who hast promised, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world."
Have mercy on Thy whole Church. Heal divisions. Bless Thy preached
word. Strengthen Thy ministering servants, that they may be enabled to
proclaim the whole counsel of God.
Take the charge of me, and of all near and dear to me, this night.
Give Thine angels charge over us. May no unquiet dreams disturb our
rest, and when we awake may we be still with Thee. And all I ask is
for Jesus' sake. Amen.
"LET MY PRAYER BE SET FORTH BEFORE THEE AS
INCENSE: AND THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE."