Week 3 Friday Evening Prayer

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, and in those Scriptures hast revealed to us Thy love, in sparing not Thy Son, but delivering Him up for us all ; grant that by patience and comfort of Thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast that blessed hope of everlasting life. Make us to feel, O Lord, that it is indeed a blessed hope — a hope, for the enjoyment of which may we be ready to part with all we possess. May Jesus be precious to us — more precious than thousands of gold and silver. Oh, may our hearts rejoice in Thy salvation, that in sincerity we may say, Whom have we in heaven but Thee, and there is none upon earth that we desire beside Thee.

Gracious Lord, Thou hast added to our lives another day. More privileges, more blessings have been added to our store ; and we are conscious of much ingratitude. What shall we render unto Thee for all the benefits that we have received from Thee ; for life — for health — for food — for raiment — for preservation from a thousand evils to which others are exposed — for the means of grace — and, above all, for the hope of glory through Jesus? Lord, we have nothing to give which has not first been received from Thee. We can only add to our debt of gratitude, and draw a plea from all Thy bounties to ask Thee still for more. . We do so, Lord. We pray Thee to add to all Thine other gifts the gift of the Holy Spirit, to enable us to enjoy them — to enjoy Jesus, to feast upon His love — to be so united to Jesus as to lose our love for every unlawful earthly object, and for every lawful one which interferes with our devotedness to Thee. Enable us, by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit to mortify the flesh, with its affections and lusts, which rise in opposition to Jesus, to enter gladly into the humiliation of Jesus, to walk through the world as Jesus did, a stranger to all its joys, and pleasures, and pursuits. Deliver us from the love of the world. We have promised to renounce it, with its pomps and vanities. But, Lord, we cannot do so of ourselves. Give to each of us the Holy Ghost, enduing us with power from on high, planting the love of heavenly things within us , and mortifying our attachment to the things of the world. May our old nature be so buried that the new man may be raised up in us. May we have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh ; and may each day that brings us nearer to our eternal home, find us more weaned from the world, and more united to Christ.

Pardon, O Lord, whatever we have this day been guilty of, whether they be sins of commission or omission. Give us now such contrition of heart for offending against Thee, a God of love, as will make us more watchful over our hearts, should we be spared for another day. Give to us all that godly sorrow which worketh repentance not to be repented of, and a thorough hatred even of the appearance of evil. Make us a holy people, that Thy name may be sanctified in the midst of us.

For the blessings which we enjoy this night, accept our earnest expression of thankfulness. May we lie down at peace with Thee through Jesus ; and may a sense of reconciliation through His blood give peace and joy to our hearts. Should death or sickness this night visit us, may every fear be removed in the confidence of acceptance through Jesus. Give us that confidence, if we have it not, so that they who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage, may know the glorious liberty, from danger and from fear, which is to be enjoyed through the Saviour of sinners.

Lord, hear us ; Lord, answer us ; and, Lord, abundantly bless us, for the sake of Thy Son, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.