Week 2 Tuesday Evening Prayer

GRACIOUS and most merciful Father, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus, Thou hast been the God of Thy people in all generations. The poor have cried unto Thee, and Thou hast heard them. Help us to lift up our hearts unto Thee in our evening prayer; and receive the humble and hearty thanks we give unto Thee for all the blessings of another day.

For whatever sins we have committed against Thee to-day, we pray for Thy forgiveness. If we have forgotten Thee, or cast off Thy fear, if we have secretly murmured against Thee, doubted Thee in our hearts, or denied Thee with our lips, pardon us, we pray Thee, for the sake of Him who came to save even the chief of sinners. Lord, Thou hast seen how we have carried ourselves towards our fellow-men to-day. If we have been envious or proud, if we have taken pleasure in the sufferings of any, if we have been hard or unjust to any, pardon us, O Lord. Lift upon us the light of Thy reconciled countenance, and give us grace to break off these and all our other sins by repentance.

We beseech Thee, blessed Lord, to make our hearts pure, that our lives may be blameless. Keep us in constant readiness for any change of life, and for death itself. Let us not so build on earthly blessings that the want of them will crush us. Be Thou, O God, our portion and our inheritance for ever.

And now, O Thou God of peace, if we have enemies, help us to forgive them. Incline those who hate us to be at peace with us, and so let us go to rest to-night at peace with Thee our Maker, and at peace with our fellow-men. If we awake in the night, let us feel that Thou art near; and if it should be Thy will that any of us should die in sleep, let us be so plainly the Lord's servants, that they who remain behind may say of us, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.

We beseech Thee for our relatives and our friends. They are scattered abroad, but Thou seest them all. Give them all good things for the life that now is, and for that which is to come.

We beseech Thee for the poor, the infirm, and the aged. Grant them patience under suffering, through the comfort of the Holy Ghost given unto them. We beseech Thee for the dying, that they may have the victory through the blood of the Lamb. We pray Thee also, O God, on behalf of the bereaved and sorrowful. Let the fatherless find help in Thee. Teach the widow to trust in Thee.

We pray Thee for all that are held captive of evil habits, and bound in sin. Deliver them, O Lord, that they may praise Thee. Scatter them that are for war, and preserve peace to us. Bring heathen error to an end, and let the ends of the earth, that have so long forgotten Thy name, remember and turn unto Thee.

Hear us, and preserve us now and evermore, for the sake of Christ, our Advocate with Thee. Amen.