Evening Prayer at the Close of the Year

For the last rime in time in the old year, O merciful God, I bow my knee and seek naught but Thy grace and peace. I know that I have often grieved and angered Thee in the last twelve months. I know that I have often transgressed Thy commandments, and have seldom walked in the path in which I should hare walked. I know that by my disobedience I have deserved Thy wrath and displeasure, and have merited Thy just punishment. But I also know that for Jesus’ sake Thou dost receive penitent sinners into Thy favor, and dost forgive them their transgressions and sin. Therefore I now cast myself before Thy throne of grace and beseech Thee for mercy. O Lord, remember not the sins of my youth nor my many transgressions. According to Thy mercy remember Thou me for Thy goodness’ sake, O Lord. Enter not into judgment with me: for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. Forgive me all my sins. Cleanse me also from secret faults.

If I have not listened with fitting devotion and attention to Thy revealed Word, which maketh wise unto salvation, forgive me my inattention, and let me henceforth be not only a hearer, but a doer of the Word. If I have not loved Thee and my neighbor as I should, banish all coldness from my heart, and kindle the fire of divine love in my soul, that I may love Thee in future with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind, and with all my strength, and my neighbor as myself. Mercifully forgive me, if I have not been as faithful as I should have been in my earthly calling; and grant me grace more faithfully to employ the pound which Thou hast entrusted to me, and always to be found a good steward, able to give an account of my stewardship. There is forgiveness with Thee, O God; therefore I seek it with Thee. Now that the year is closing, blot out the heavy account of my sins with the precious blood of Jesus, which I apprehend by faith. Let my sins disappear like mist from before Thine eyes. Remove them far from me, and remember them no more forever; so that in the new year I may not appear as a debtor in Thy sight.

Take me this night also under Thy protecting grace. Be a pillar of fire about me to shield me from harm. If this night should be my last in this vale of tears, receive me unto Thyself in heaven. But if, in accordance with Thy counsel, Thou shouldest permit me to live longer on earth, do Thou in Thy goodness accompany me in the new year, lead me in Thy paths, and make my heart truly devoted to Thee. Lead me in the land of uprightness, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Let me henceforth live unto Thee, serve Thee, and obey Thee. Yea, my God, this one thing I beg of Thee before I fall asleep: give me in the new year a new mind and heart, that I may unhesitatingly do Thy will, and that my spirit, soul, and body may remain the abode of Thy Holy Spirit. Amen.