23. PRAYER FOR A WORTHY COMMUNION

      Behold, I come, my Savior, upon Thy most loving invitation.  Let me find grace in Thine eyes, Thou Lover of life; for who am I that Thou callest me so kindly?  Though I were holier than the angels, I would not for that reason be worthy of this repast; for how could I, being of unclean lips, yea, vile and base, be counted worthy unless Thou make me worthy?  Therefore answer before I call and prepare me by Thy grace.  Thou hast said:  "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out"; therefore take my soul into Thy keeping, according to Thy great compassion.  Remember, O Lord Jesus, that I have in my nature much that is evil, and nothing that is good; help me for Thy mercy's sake.  O see how poor and wretched I am; O Thou Savior of the world, keep in remembrance Thy faithfullness and satisfy my heart with grace.  How gladly I would appear before Thee in perfect faith and with due reverence and fervent devotion!  But how am I to do this except by and through Thee, Thou Author and Finisher of my faith?  Do Thou therefore grant what is well-pleasing to Thee.  Graciously remove what displeases Thee or at least cover it, I humbly pray Thee, with the cloak of Thy righteousness.  Blessed is the soul that is acceptable to Thee.  Open my eyes that I may see the wonders of Thy institutions.  Awaken my heart, remove from me all foreign thoughts, increase my hope, kindle my affections, render fervent my devotion, cleanse me of all uncleanness, and santify me wholly that I may aproach Thy Table in cheerful confidence and with a pure mouth, holy heart, and heartfelt desire partake of Thy Holy Supper unto the blessing and salvation of my soul.  Amen.

22. MORNING PRAYER FOR A COMMUNICANT.

     O Lord Jesus, this morning I rejoice in being privileged, because of Thy great goodness, together with my fellow-Christians, to go to Thy house and to partake of Thy body and blood in, with, and under the consecrated bread and wine.  Oh, how my soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord and His alter!  As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, my Redeemer.  For Thou art my Shepard; I shall not want.  O Lord Jesus, even as Thou hast begun the good work in me, a poor wretched sinner, so also mercifully perform it by the gracious aid of Thy Holy Spirit unto Thy honor and the welfare and salvation of my soul.  O dearest Redeemer, I am indeed not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof, but may Thy grace, able to do all things, render me worthy and well prepared, so that Thy true body and blood, a priceless nourishment, may refresh my soul in this heavenly feast of love and joy.  Array Thou me, I beseech Thee, in the vestures of true faith that I may not be found among the guests without wedding-garments, but be a worthy guest at Thy Table and partake of all the treasures of grace which Thou hast provided.  May Thy grace, O Lord Jesus, be and remain with me, even as my hope is continually in Thee.  May Thy providence preserve my spirit, my life, and my Being.  And do Thou bestow, O faithful God, what else I may stand in need of in this world and the next.

Thou, who feedest us below!

Source of all we have or know!

Grant that with Thy saints above

We may share Thy feast of love!

Amen.

21. A PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION WITH OUR NEIGHBOR

     O merciful Jesus, moved by Thy grace, I am about to go to Confession and Absolution for the remissions of sins.  But I recall Thine earnest words:  "If thou bring thy gift to the altar and there rememberest that thy brother hast aught against thee, leave there before the alter thy gift and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift."  Now, unfortunately, I have gotten into a strained relation with my neighbor; therefore grant me Thy grace and so rule me that my heart may be inclined to reconciliation.  I recognize the hardness of my heart, and acknowledge the difficulty of keeping my flesh and blood in subjection and of abstaining from all wrath and desire for revenge.  But I desire, yea, I supplicate Thee, O Lord, to take out of my flesh the heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh, a heart of love and reconciliation.  Make of me a person that loves his enemy, blesses those that curse him, does good to those that hate him, and prays for those that despitefully use him and persecute him.  Oh, let me ever be mindful of Judgment Day and strict account I must render, so that I may abandon the enmity that looks to death and destruction and agree with mine adversary while I am in the way with him and do not let the sun go down upon my wrath.  And even as I in Thy name pardon and forgive all persons by whom I have been offended, so grant that I may also find those whom I have hurt and provoked willing to pardon and forgive me.  O Lord Jesus, forgive us all our sins and so rule our hearts as to live together in a peaceful and Christian spirit, blessing Thy name here in time and hereafter in eternity.  Amen.

20. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN.

     Eternal and merciful God, I a poor, miserable and distressed sinner, enter the presence of Thy devine majesty with nothing but my sin; therefore I dare not lift up mine eyes, but am abashed before Thee, since I have so often provoked Thee, my God, my Creator, and my Father, with sins great and manifold.  If Thou wouldst deal with me according to deserts, I should be and forever remain a child of wrath and eternal damnation.  But, O my dear God and Father, I take comfort in Thy great mercy, in Thy grace unfathomable, infinite, unspeakable and without measure; a grace Thou Thyself didst promise and confirm with a solemn oath when saying:  "As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live."  I take comfort in Thine only-begotten Son, mine only Redeemer, Justifier, Mediator, and Savior, who by virtue of His obedience, suffering, and death hath gained Thy favor for me and hath given me, who believes in Him, power to be and remain His child and heir.  Therefore I do not despair, but confess unto Thee my sins, sins of thoughts and deeds, sins secret and public, and I plead guilty in Thy sight of being a great malefactor and evil-doer.  So nothing remains for me to do but to approach to Thy throne of grace, relying on Thy word ith a meek heart and yet a fearless spirit and in true faith and firm confidence bising my hope of forgiveness on the grace Thou hast promised, and on the bitter sufferings of Thy dear Son.  And I cry from my inmost heart; Abba, my Father and Lord, have mercy upon me!  O my God, be gracious to me, a poor sinner, and forgive all my sins, original and actual - all thoughts, words and deeds that knowingly or unknowingly I have committed against Thee.  There is in me, that is, in my flesh, no good thing.  In sins have I been conceived and born, in sins have I lived and shall continue to live, as long as I have this sinful flesh.  My transgressions are continually before Thee.  Thou seest in me a thousandfold more and greater sins that I myself can see, know or realize.  O Lord, do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.  Be gracious unto me for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, my Lord and Savior, and blot out my transgressions according to Thy great mercy, which is much greater than the sins of all mankind.  Purge me with yssop and wash me with the pure blood which Thy dear Son shed upon the cross.  Let me be Thy child and heir, a vessel of Thy grace, and an abode of the Holy Spirit.  O Lord, save, comfort, and refresh me with the joy of Thy salvation.  Thy holy, joyous and lifegiving Spirit lend gladness to my distressed soul and contrite heart.  The bruised reed Thou wilt not break, O Lord, and the smoking flax Thou wild not quench.  Thou wilt not cast me away from Thy presence; of this I feel confident.  Thou wilt not suffer me to despair, but wilt renew me with Thy right Spirit, who will kindle and confirm true faith in my heart and mightily comfort my soul.  O Lord, my faithful God and Father, hear my prayer that I may be and remain Thy child and Thy temple now and forever.  Let me not fall into error and vices, which war against my conscience.  Preserve me from blood-guilt and from all ills.  Grant me grace at all times to delight in Thy Word, so that I will gladly hear it, read it, meditate on it, and with it minister unto others.  Grant that I may speak of it day and night and that my mouth may show forth Thy righteousness and praise.  For all this I will ever love, bless, and praise Thee, my God and Lord, together with Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and the Holy Spirit, thanking and serving Thee with all men and angels now and in all eternity.  Amen.

19. PRAYER FOR TRUE CONVERSION

     O almighty God, merciful Father, Thou dost call me and all sinners to repentance by saying: "Return, thou backsliding Isreal, and I will not cause Mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, and I will not keep anger forever.  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord, thy God."  This voice of repentance and grace daily reaches my ears and my heart; but alas! I am not able of myself to bring about my conversion.  No more that the Ethiopian can change his skin or the leopard his spots, can I by my own natural power abstain from sin and turn to good deeds, inasmuch as the imagination of my heart is evil from my youth and continually.  Even when by Thy grace I resolved to arise to seek reconciliation with Thee and to offer the sacrifices of a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, even then Satan, the accursed, places a thousand obstacles in my path; and also my own flesh and blood endeavors to prevent me from doing "the good that I would," but would have me continue in sin and perish therein.  For this reason I bow my knees to Thee, Abba, dear Father, praying for the sake of Thine infinite mercy:  "Turn Thou me, and I shall be turned." Let Thy grace, O my God, not be lost on me, but as Thou didst work in me to will, work also in me to do of Thy good pleasure.  Counteract, I pray Thee, the evil designs of the infernal fiend and arrest the promptings of my perverted heart, so that the holy resolution I have may not be hindered or come to naught.  Open mine eyes, that I may clearly see and bitterly lament my sins.  Give unto me that godly sorrow which worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of.  But do not let me perish under the load of my sin nor despair, as did Cain and Judas, but turn Thou to me and be gracious unto me; look upon my misery and distress and forgive all my sins.  Show unto me, I pray Thee, Thy fatherly, loving and merciful heart, which hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.  Speak kindly to my soul, saying Thou wilt show mercy in place of justice and nevermore remember my transgressions.  Have me look upon my crucified Savior, who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification.  Open to me for a safe refuge His bleeding wounds, in which so many a poor sinner has found comfort and salvation.  Creat also in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation and uphold me with Thy free Spirit in the fixed purpose to amend my sinful life and to serve Thee all the days of my life in holiness and righteousness which is pleasing to Thee.  O Lord, hear me!  O Lord, have mercy up on me!  O, Lord bring it to pass for Jesus Christ's sake.  Amen.

18. A POOR SINNER LAMENTS THE IMPENITENCE OF HIS HEART

     O heavenly Father, I, a miserable and wretched sinner, come before Thee with nothing but my sins, and so I dare not even lift up mine eyes to Thy most holy majesty on high, but feel abased for having so often offended Thee and disobeyed Thy voice.  Alas! there is no good thing, for I have been conceived and born in sin, and by nature I am perverted and corrupted to such a degree that I neither feel nor experience any love or desire for virture and heavenly treasures, but only of temporal honor and pleasures and all manner of baseness.  From my youth I have lived in sin and do so to this day, having within me my sinful flesh, the Old Adam.  But I take comfort, dear Lord, in Thy boundless, unsearchable, infinite, and unspeakable grace and mercy, which Thou hast promised in Thy Word to all penitent sinners and which promise Thou hast confirmed by a sacred oath.  I take comfort in the precious merits of Thine only-begotten Son, who was given into death also for my sins and was raised again for my justification.
     Hide Thy face, O my heavenly Father, from my sins and behold the face of Thy Son, who never Himself committed a sin, yea, who knew no sin, but who by His most holy obedience, by shedding His blood and dying for me upon the cross, hath fully atoned for all my sins and also for those of the whole world.  For the sake of this Savior receive me again into grace, O my Father, and do not let His bitter sufferings and death and the perfect, precious ransom which He has paid Thee for my sins be lost upon me, poor sinner, but let it be effectual in me.  I will then laud and praise Thee here in time and there in eternity.  Amen.

BRIEF INSTRUCTION ON CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION.

     When, my dear Christian, you go to confession, you must not content yourself with repeating, by rote, a memorized confessional prayer or with having your pastor repeat it to you, but you must bring along a penitent heart, from which your confession will flow of itself.  To offer confession when the heart is impenitent is mocking God, and without a penitent heart there is no forgiveness of sin.
     The first requisite for a penitent heart is that you recognize your sins and feel sorry and repentant over them.  By nature no man knows his sins, nor can he of himself cause repentance to spring from his heart; on the contrary, this must be obtained from God by prayer.  By nature we are far too blind, too indifferent, too careless, to self-righteous, too much absorbed in self-love and self-conceit, honestly and penitently to plead guilty in the sight of God of all sins.
     Above all things therefore bow your knees before God and call upon Him to open your eyes that you may recognize the multitude and magnitude of your sins.  Pray in the words of the sainted David:  "Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting."  Hereupon take the holy Ten Commandments and according to them institute a careful examination of your whole life.  You will then soon find that you are a sinner.  For even as a man does not see a spot on his face without a mirror, so he does not recognize his sins unless he sees himself in the mirror of the holy Ten Commandments.  For every deed, every word, yea, every thought against God's commandments is a sin, whether it consist in doing what God has forbidden or in failing to do what He has commanded.  But you must look not only at the gross, external sins, but also at those internal, secret digressions from God's commandments, the evil thoughts and desires of your heart.  When thus examining yourself, being instant in prayer, you will discover that you did not fear, love, and trust in God as He demands; that you have not called upon God in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving so heartily and cofidently as you should have done; that you have not properly heard and learned His Word and kept it sacred.  You will find that you have not duly honored and loved your parents and superiors, but that you have been disobedient and surly towards them; that you have sinned against your neighbor by being angry, revengeful and unforgiving; by showing envy, covetousness, and a carnal mind or by speaking slanderous words.  To sum up, you will come to know that you did not love your neighbor so uprightly and heartily as yourself; rather, that self-love, the quest for personal gain and honor, was the motive power of all your actions.  Because of these and other sins you indeed have deserved God's wrath, temporal and eternal punishment, if God would deal with you strictly according to justice.  From these sins that you notice in yourself you can infer how unclean and polluted your heart must be from which these sins flow; for the stream is no purer than its fountain, and by its fruits the tree is known.  In this way you will come to a true conception of original sin.
     Now, when you notice these and other sins in yourself, yea, if you consider that the sins you do not know, but still have committed, are far more numerous that those you do know and that the omniscient God places all your sins in the light of His contenance, you certainly will be terrified in your conscience and experience sorrow and contrition for having offended your loving God so grievously and for having repaid His mercies with such base ingratitude.
     The second part of repentance is faith, faith in Jesus Christ, who has rendered full satisfaction for all your sins, procuring forgiveness of them all, also for you.  Faith is, so to speak, the hand that appropriates forgiveness of sin and accepts it as an unmerited gift of divine grace.  Without this faith all knowledge of sin and repenitence over it is nothing but the repentance of a Cain and a Judas and must end in despair.  But by faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of all sinners, the heart is comforted and satisfied.  This faith, however, you cannot bring forth yourself; it is the work and gift of God the Holy Ghost. But if you feel that your faith is weak,-- you desire to believe, but you think you cannot, -- then pray God to strengthen this faith of yours, which is battling against doubt.  He is willing to do so and surely will give you a stronger faith, so that you will overcome all the doubts which are harassing your soul.
     Now, if you come to confession with such a penitent and believing heart, you will rejoice in the absolution spoken by your pastor, by virtue of which your sins are really and truly forgiven by God in heaven.  Forgiveness of sins, Christ has procured for all sinners by the shedding of His bloood and by His death and by His resurrection He sealed it to them.  This He commanded to preach throughout the world by means of the Gospel.  Therefore, when your pastor absolves you, he does nothing else than proclaim to you the Gospel of the foregiveness of sins.  This, however, is not an empty announcement, but one actually offering and coveying the forgiveness of sins to the penitent sinner.  Whenever, therefore, you hear your astor pronounce absolution, do not doubt, but firmly believe, that your sins are forgiven before God in heaven; believe it as firmly as though Christ were calling to you directly from heaven; "My son (my daughter), be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven thee."  For He says: "Whosoever heareth you heareth Me"; and: "Whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them."
     Thereupon the fruits of repentance are to follow.  These consist in no longer knowingly and intentionally committing such sins as were forgiven you, but rather hating them, abstaining from them, and battling against them with the assistance of the Holy Ghost.   

17. PRAYER FOR A VOYAGER IN A STORM

     

      O God Almighty, Thou God of the righteous, who hast made the sea and the dry land and hast all things in Thy hand, Thou didst give rise to the storm which raises such billows that our vessel is now borne aloft towards the heavens, now down again into the depths, and reels to and fro like a drunken man and is at his wit's end - to use the words of inspiration.  In such danger and distress we now are on this voyage.  But since Thou hast said, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee," we in this great need, from which no creature can deliver us but Thou alone, hold out to Thee Thy word with believing hearts and pray Thee that according to Thy mercy Thou wouldst show forth Thine almighty power, rebuke the wind and the sea, and let there be a great calm.  Graciously preserve us, we beseech Thee, from harm and shipwreck, hold Thy gracious hand over us, and mercifully deliver us from this danger.  We shall then bless Thy name all the days of our lives, ever be mindful of this Thy signal help, and amend our lives to accord with Thy holy Word.  O Lord God, be merciful unto us and forgive our sins for Christ Jesus' sake.  O help us, or we perish!  O Lord, deliver us for Thy mercy's sake!  But if Thou hast decreed that our life is to end here, then grant us Christian patience, keep us in true faith, give us the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.  Lord, be Thou with us, forsake us not.  Thou canst deliver from death; Thou canst also deliver us from danger. O hear us, hear us, hear us, God the Father, for Jesus Christ's sake!  Hear us, O Lord Jesus, for the sake of Thy holy five wounds! Hear us, O God the Holy Ghost, for the sake of Thy mercy and grace!  Help us, God the Father; help us, God the Son; help us, God the Holy Ghost, for Thine own sake, for the sake of Thy glorious name, and for the sake of Thy never-ending grace and mercy.  Amen.

16. PRAYER WHEN PUTTING OUT TO SEA

     Behold, eternal God, I now launch out upon the deep and commit myself to the wild, rough sea.  Here I am floating on the water, between heaven and  earth, as it were, and on so small and fragile a structure as cannot protect itself, much less me. Upon whom, then, am I a poor human being, torely?  Ah, pon Thee alone and Thy fatherly protection and care, my God and Lord; for neither man nor any other of Thy creatures can save me.  The wind bloweth whither it listeth;the sea raiseth its billows; beneath me I see no footing and above me only the bare heavens.  My fellow-beings at my side are in like danger and anxiety; therefore, O God, I lift mine eyes up to Thee, from whom alone my help cometh; my help cometh from the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth.  To Thee I entrust myself, my body and soul, to be Thine own with all I have and possess.  To Thee alone I look, in Thee I trust, my hope rests with Thee; there is no help with man.  Bear up this ship in Thy hands, guard and keep me in it, yea, be Thou with me in the vessel; for otherwise, O Lord, we perish.  "Whom have I in heaven but Thee?  And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee."  When now leaving the land behind me, grant that I may also leave behind me all trust in human or earthly aid and rely entirely upon Thee.  Behold, O Lord, I surrender myself entirely to Thy pleasure; shape my destiny as accords with Thy will and best advances my soul's salvation. Into Thy hands do I commit myself; behold, Thou hast graven me upon the palms of Thy hands; no one shall pluck me out of Thy hand, for "I am of the people of Thy pasture and the sheep of Thy hand."  Being assured of this, I will gladly live and die by the help of the Holy Ghost.  Amen. 

3. EVENING PRAYER FOR SUNDAY

     O Lord, almighty God and heavenly Father, I thank Thee from my inmost heart for all Thy mercy and kindness which, like as a father, Thou hast shown me this day.  Thou has kept me safe from all ills.  I beseech Thee, as Thy dear child, that Thou wouldst graciously preserve me to my last breath in Thy saving Word and enlighten my heart with Thy Holy SPirit, so that I may know what is good or evil.  All sin that I have knowingly committed this day, also my secret faults, I ask Thee to forget for Jesus' sake and to grant me, dear Father, by Thy grace, to begin a new life, well pleasing to Thee, to my soul's salvation; through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our only Helper.  Amen.

15. PRAYER WHILE ON A JOURNEY

     O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou all-gracious Lord and Savior, who for our sakes didst become a guest and pilgrim upon earth, I come unto Thee in humbleness of heart and pray Thee to take into Thy fostering care my whole life and walk in this world.  Graciously preserve me, through the ministering care of Thy holy angels, on this journey and on all my ways, from all ills and misfortunes, from accidents and dangers of soul or body in order that I may bring my understanding to a successful end and return to my beloved ones in good health and spirits.  To Thee alone, O lord, I entrust my body and soul and all I own during the whole journey.  Guide Thou my walk and my way to my temporal and eternal welfare.  In the mean time take into Thy faithful providence those dear to me at home that we may meet again in happiness and health.  And when at last I have ended the pilgrimage of my life here on earth, take me, O Lord, by a peaceful and happy death into Thy glory, my heavenly home; for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

14. THANKSGIVING UPON COMPLETION OF WORK.

     Almighty, eternal, and beneficent God, I give unto Thee hearty thanks and praise for Thy most holy aid and assistance shown me this day; for without Thee I surely could have done nothing, and therefore all praise properly belongs to Thee.  And I pray Thee, deign to be pleasled with my work and have it tend to the welfare, in body and soul, of myself and my fellow-men; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, true God, who liveth and reigneth to all eternity with Thee and the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

13. PRAYER IN VIEW OF AN IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING

     O Lord, Thou doest great deeds past finding out and wonders without number, and Thy strength is made perfect in weakness.  I beseech Thee, O Most High, to give success to my efforts and graciously to aid me in completing the undertaking that I have begun in full reliance on Thee.  Lord God, strengthen me in this hour and forsake not Thy servant, who places all his hope in Thee and without Thee cando nothing.  Provide me with strength from on high and give me of the wisdom that is perpetually about Thy throne that it may be with me and assist me in my work.  And since all depends on Thy devine blessing, I now pray Thee, O my God, remember me according to the riches of Thy grace and bless all I do or leave undone, that I may begin all my undertakings prudently and bring them to a happy issue.
                          In every enterprise,
                          Lord, counsel me, advise;
                          Speed all my work; in favor
                          And blessing crown my labor.
     To Thee I commit my going-out and my coming-in; to Thee I will thankfully ascribe all praise for the success of my undertaking.  Amen.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

12. A PRAYER OF LUTHER ON CASTING ALL OUR CARE UPON THE LORD

     O heavenly Father, Thou art truly my Lord and my God, who hast created me, bringing forth out of nothing, and Thou hast also redeemed me through Thy Son.  Thou hast appointed and assigned to me this office and these my duties, but matters do not always take the turn I should like them to take and there are so many things troubling and distressing me that in myself I find neither help nor consolation.  For this very reason I commit everything to Thee looking to Thee for counsel and aid.  In all these questions be Thou the beginning and the end.  Amen.

10. A PRAYER FOR BEGINNING ONE'S WORK

         Eternal and merciful God, I am about to resume my work and the duties of the calling into which Thou hast placed me, Thy servant.  May I apply myself according to the ability Thou dost grant, so that I may serve my neighbor and make an honest living.  Relying on Thy gracious promise, I therefore heartily pray Thee to bestow upon me, for the duties about to be resumed, prudence, wisdom, understanding, success, and blessing, together with health, so that I may not only make a good beginning, but in Thy name and by Thine aid arrive at a profitable close, thus at all times faithfully attending to my duties with a clear conscience and in Thy fear.  To Thee I commend my work.  Graciously let me succeed in all that I undertake and let me accomplish what I undertake in Thy name, so that Thy light may cast a bright beam on my path to Thy praise and glory and to the welfare of my neighbor; through Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.  O Lord Jesus, in Thy name and upon Thy word I will cast out my net.  O Lord, help; O Lord, grant success! Amen.

PREPARATORY PRAYERS - 1. FOR TRUE DEVOTION

     O Lord, in obedience to Thy will and command I am bringing all my petitions, even those things that hinder and would prevent my coming to Thee, my sins, which trouble me greatly, and I ask Thee to remove and forgive them for Jesus' sake. Amen

9. A PRAYER FOR THE PROPER PERFORMACE OF ONE'S DUTIES

     O merciful and faithful God, Thou hast ordained that each person should have a certain calling and faithfully attend to it.  Thou seest and knowest my responsibilities, O Lord, and that without Thy grace, strength, and blessing I am not able to do anything whatever; Thou also knowest my manifold short comings.  Therefore I earnestly pray Thee, do Thou bestow upon me wisdom and strength, together with a courageous and fearless spirit, so that I may act prudently, overcome all obstacles that arise, and attain to a blessed and desired end by Thy fatherly guidance.  My hope rests in Thee, O my God.  Let me not be confounded, and do not let mine enemies rejoice over me.  No one, I know, will be forsaken that waiteth on the Lord.  O show me Thy ways and teach me Thy paths, for Thou art God of my help; daily do I wait on Thee.  Preserve my soul, save me, and lend Thine aid to all that concerns my welfare.  Let me not be confounded, for I trust in Thee.  O Lord, my God and my Deliverer, be not far from me; hasten, O Lord, to succor me! Amen.