A General Prayer by Richard Baxter (Part Three)

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16b)

“We pray, dear God,

• That You would keep us from murders and violence, as well as from injurious passionate words and actions;
• That You would keep us from fornication and all uncleanness, from adulteries and immorality, from lustful thoughts and filthy talk, and from all unchaste behavior; we pray
• That You would keep us from stealing or wronging our neighbor in his property, from perverting justice, from false witnessing and deceit, from slandering, backbiting, or any other wrong to the reputation of our neighbor; and
• That You would keep us from coveting any thing that is our neighbor’s; we pray
• That we would love our neighbors as ourselves and do to others as we would have them do to us;
• That we would love Christ in His members with a pure and fervent love; and
• That we would love our enemies and do good to all as far as we are able and especially to the household of faith; we pray
• That You would give us our necessary provision for Your service and that we would be content with it;
• That You would bless our labors and the fruits of the earth in their season and such temperate weather that would be supportive of them; and
• That You would deliver us and all Your servants from such sickness, wants, and other distresses as may unseasonably take us off of Your service; we pray
• That You would keep us from gluttony and drunkenness, slothfulness, unlawful gain, and from making provision for the flesh to satisfy its lusts; we pray
• That when we sin, You would restore us by true repentance and faith in Christ;
• That we would loathe ourselves for our transgressions;
• That You would forgive all of our sins and accept us in Your well-beloved Son;
• That You would save us from the curse and punishment which our sins deserve;
• That You would teach us to forgive others from our hearts; and
• That You would convert our enemies, our persecutors, our slanderers, and that You would forgive them; we pray
• That we would watch against temptations, and that we would resist and overcome the flesh, the devil, and the world;
• That by no allurements of pleasure, profit, or honor we would be drawn away from You to sin;
• That we would patiently suffer with Christ that we may reign with Him;
• That You would deliver us and all Your people from the enmity and rage of Satan and all his wicked instruments; and, dear God,
• That You would preserve us for Your heavenly kingdom.

“For You alone are the universal King: all power is Yours in heaven and on earth. All things are of You, through You, and for You, and all the glory will be Yours forever and ever. Amen.”