ELEVENTH WEEK.—MONDAY. — Evening

O HEAVENLY Father, our Almighty and gracious God, thy good hand has been upon us all the day through, and in thine exceeding mercy we are again gathered as a family at thy throne of grace. Oh, let not this our evening service of prayer and praise be cold and formal. Stir up our hearts to devotion, that we may have joy and gladness in thy presence, and feel that the brightness of thy love is shining upon us. Forgive all that we have done wrong this day. Cleanse our consciences in the atoning blood of thy Son, and increase our faith, that as thy children we may take hold of the promises to which we have listened, and cheerfully obey the precepts of thy Word.

O Lord, enlarge our hearts with zeal for thy glory, and a desire for the coming of thy kingdom. How feebly have we realised the encouragement which Thou hast given us in this chapter to plead with Thee for the success of the Gospel, and the accomplishment of thy gracious purposes to our lost and guilty world. Lord, let not this our unbelief and lukewarmness remain unforgiven. Arouse us from our apathy, and kindle within us from this hour a fervent zeal for the honour of thy name and the triumph of thy truth.

Awaken in thy Church a deeper anxiety for thy glory. Pour down the spirit of prayer and supplication on all thy believing people. Excite them to increased labours for Thee, and to more self-denying sacrifices for the advancement of the Gospel. Revive thy work in the midst of us. Let Christians feel more intensely the preciousness of Christ to themselves, and the obligation which lies upon them to make Him known to others. Call forth an increasing band of faithful ministers. Teach them by thy own Spirit, and endue them with Divine gifts. Give abundant grace to all who now preach thy truth. Reveal it with power to their own hearts, that they may proclaim it more clearly and powerfully to others. Be with our missionaries in other lands. Lift up their hands when they hang down, and strengthen their feebleness. Go forth, O Lord, in thy righteousness and truth, and level in the dust the strongholds of sin and Satan. To the ends of the earth let it be seen that Thou art God, and Thou alone; and that the word in thy mouth is truth. Take the veil from the eyes of the Jew. Stir up thy people to remove every stumbling-block from his path, and hasten the day when thy name shall be known upon earth, and thy saving health among all nations.

Grant, O God, that the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts may be acceptable in thy sight, through Jesus Christ our Strength and Redeemer. Amen.