so what did you do over Christmas?
Dear Savior, we are Your disciples, and You are teaching us the art of
living; but we are very dull and very slow, and beside, there is such a
bias in our corrupt nature, and there are such examples in the world, and
the influence of an ungodly generation tells even on those that know You.
O, dear Saviour, do not be impatient with us, but still teach us at Your
feet, till at last we shall have learned some of the sublime lessons of
self-sacrifice, of meekness, humility, fervor, boldness, and love which
Your life is fit to teach us. O Lord, we beseech You to mold us in Your
own image. Let us live in You and live like You. Let us gaze on Your
glory till we are transformed by the sight and become Christlike among
the sons of men.
Lord, hear the confessions of any that have backslidden, who are rather
marring Your image than perfecting it. Hear the prayers of any that are
conscious of great defects during the past. Give them peace of mind by
pardon, but give them strength of mind also to keep clear of such
mischief in the future. O Lord, we are sighing and crying more and more
after Yourself. The more we have of You the more we want You; the more
we grow like You; the more we perceive our defects, and the more we pine
after a higher standard to reach even to perfection itself.
Oh! help us. Spirit of the living God, continue still to work in us.
Let the groanings that cannot be uttered be stilled within our Spirit,
for these are growing pains, and we shall grow while we can sigh and cry,
while we can confess and mourn; yet this is not without a blessed
hopefulness that He that has begun a good work in us will perfect it in
the day of Christ.
Bless, we pray You, at this time, the entire church of God in every part
of the earth. Prosper the work and service of Christian people, however
they endeavor to spread the kingdom of Christ. Convert the heathen;
enlighten those that are in any form of error. Bring the entire church
back to the original form of Christianity. Make her first pure and then
she shall be united. O Savior, let Your kingdom come. Oh! that You would
reign and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We pray You use every one of us according as we have ability to be used.
Take us, and let no talent be wasted in the treasure house, but may every
dollar of Yours be put out in trading for You in the blessed market of
soul-winning. Oh! give us success. Increase the gifts and graces of
those that are saved. Bind us in closer unity to one another than ever.
Let peace reign; let holiness adorn us.
Hear us as we pray for all lands, and then for all sorts of men, from the
Sovereign on the throne to the peasant in the cottage. Let the
benediction of heaven descend on men, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
-- Spurgeon