Evening Prayer for Trinity Sunday

Holy Triune God! Ere I seek my bed, I come once more before Thy throne, filled with joy and gladness, because today I have heard and believed the blessed tidings, that Thou dost come and dwell in the hearts of those who love Thee. This I regard as the greatest honor which can be conferred upon a reasoning creature of Thine. Therefore my soul is glad and leaps for joy. The world, indeed, judges otherwise, and imagines that those are wretched beings who yield their heart for Thy habitation, and who must not only deny themselves the pleasures of the world, but spend their days in a constant conflict and strife, in order that no sin, not even the smallest, may gain dominion over them. But I know and am persuaded that it is well with the righteous, and that a great glory and salvation are prepared for them.

I therefore long for Thy indwelling most fervently. Come, O Triune God, into my soul, and dwell in me. Quicken and govern me. Make of me a new creature. Let me no longer live unto myself, but unto Him that died and rose again for me. I know that this indwelling is no mere fancy such as the world imagines it to be. Nor is it merely a bestowal of Thy gifts; and still less is it a deification of man. But Thou comest Thyself as God and dwellest in us, not simply in the manner in which Thou art present with all the ungodly, but in a special, gracious manner, so that we are intimately united with Thee as the branch with the vine, as the head with the members, as the soul with the body. What unspeakable grace! How Thou dost ennoble those who are Thine, O God, in thus making them partakers of Thy Spirit and power! When Thou hast thus come into my soul, then it is no longer I that live; but Thou livest in me, Thou speakest through me, Thou walkest and workest in me.

Let me therefore continually go in Thy strength, that it may always be said of me: Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men; know ye not that Jesus Christ dwelleth in you? This is the source of true blessedness, — the blessedness in which I delight, and which I anxiously desire. A bright light now arises within me, revealing my sins and Thy grace, and urging me to flee the former and seek the latter. New life comes to me with Thee. Now I am no longer weak and carried away by every sin, but can do all things through Thee who strengthened me. Now I have comfort in every time of sorrow, and consolation under all the vicissitudes and trials of life. How happy I am, therefore, even here in this world! And how blessed I shall be yonder in eternity, living in Thy fellowship and beholding Thee as Thou art! O grant me this in mercy. Let me today yet enter upon this blessed state. Let me remain in it and grow. Let me never again drive Thee from me, but remain united with Thee, till in eternity I shall behold Thee for evermore. Amen.