Family Prayers By Ashton Oxenden & C. H. Ramsden   FIRST WEEK—WEDNESDAY EVENING   O THOU that hears prayer, to Thee do we come. Look down upon us in mercy, O God, and for Thy dear Son’s sake hearken unto our cry.   We thank Thee for the blessings of another day. Thou art good, and does good; Thou daily loads us with benefits. But we are compelled to acknowledge with shame that we have made but poor returns for all the kindness which Thou has so mercifully shown towards us. While Thou has thought of us, and cared for us, and watched over us, we have been forgetful of Thee. While Thou has been blessing us, we have too often been grieving Thee by our waywardness and hardness of heart.   O Lord, pardon our ingratitude and rebellion. Heal our souls, for we have sinned against Thee. Forgive our pride, and worldliness of mind, our unbelief and unprofitableness. Forgive us that we have had so little delight Thy holy Word, and have so little valued the precious privilege of prayer. To us, O Lord, belong shame and confusion of face; but to Thee, blessed be Thy name, belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Thee. O God, subdue the power of sin within us. Grant unto us a sincere hatred of what is evil; and fill us with earnest desires after holiness of heart and life.   Suffer us not, gracious Lord, to be satisfied with the mere form of godliness, but incline us by Thy grace to yield up our hearts, and to consecrate our lives, wholly to Thee. Make Thy Word quick and powerful for our guidance. Let its precious promises cheer us, and its wholesome precepts guide us continually.   O God, who has promised to give Thy Holy Spirit to them that ask Thee, mercifully fulfill to us Thy promise; and grant that the Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts. May He enlighten our understandings, and sanctify our affections, and show us more and more of the love, and power, and mercy of Christ our Savior.   Look with Thy favor upon our country. Give wisdom to her Counselors, and incline them to seek above all things Thy glory, and the spiritual welfare of the people of this land.   And now that we are about to lie down to rest, take us, we beseech Thee, under Thy Fatherly care. If we should lie wakeful upon our beds, bring to our recollection some precious truth of Thy Word, and fill us with peaceful thoughts of Thee and of heaven.   Most merciful Father, bless and watch over all who are near and dear to us. May we and they walk humbly with Thee here, and at last rest with Thee above, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   The peace of’ God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. ____________________________________________________ Family Prayers, Ashton Oxenden & C.H. Ramsden Edited & Reprinted by Chuck Long.  Website: www.Godsgwg.com. Email: Godsgwg@juno.com