A Prayer for World Missions
Dr. Thomas O. Summers
In his book The Golden Censer: An Essay on Prayer (1859), Thomas Summers defined prayer as, "The offering up of our desires to God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, by the help of his Spirit, with confession of our sins and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies." Summers also offered the following prayer for a missionary meeting:
We esteem it a privilege, O Lord, that we may labor for the advancement of thy cause. Of ourselves we can do nothing, but thou canst command success on the feeblest efforts. Be present in our meeting. Stir us up to zeal and prayer.
Grant, O God, unto thy Church a pentecostal season. Pour out upon us thy good Spirit from on high, and make the wilderness become a fruitful field. May he again convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. May there be speedily and widely a shaking among the dry bones. May a holy interest respecting eternal things take the place of indifference. May the cry be heard from every quarter — Men and brethren, what shall we do? May men look to him whom they have pierced, and mourn. May they flee for refuge to the hope which the gospel reveals. May they believe with the heart unto righteousness, and with the mouth make confession unto salvation. May they cleave unto the Lord with full purpose of heart, and follow the Lamb, treading in the footmarks which he left during his sojourn upon our earth.
Acknowledge, O Lord, and honor thine own truth before the sons of men. Vindicate thy cause. Take unto thyself thy great power and reign. Claim the nations for thine own. Let the earth be filled with thy knowledge, as the waters cover the sea. And to Father, Son, and Spirit, one God, be all the glory now and for ever.
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