Week 3 Sunday Evening Prayer

O EVER blessed Lord, who hast revealed Thyself in Jesus as a merciful God, able and willing to save them to the uttermost that come unto Thee by Him, we now draw near in His name.

We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we, from time to time, have committed, by thought, word, and deed, against Thy divine majesty, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings. We grieve that we have not loved Thee with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength. Our worship of Thee has been marked by infirmity ; and imperfection has appeared in our holiest acts of devotion. We betake ourselves to Jesus. We come to the cleansing fountain of His blood, to be washed from the defilement of the day. We come to lay hold upon His strength, renouncing all self-dependence ; and, in the full conviction of our utter unworthiness, to receive that blessing from Thee, which, for His worthiness, Thou wilt bestow. Our Father, hear us. We would rejoice that the whole burden of our sin has been laid upon Jesus, who was made sin for us. We would now receive the blessing, which by His Gospel has been made known to us this day, that Jesus being our Advocate — Jesus our Mediator — Jesus our atoning Priest — our conscience may be eased of the burden of sin ; so that we may lie down in peace, and in the assured hope, that if death should visit us before the morning's light, we should be found accepted in Jesus.

We beseech of Thee, O blessed Lord, to pour upon us of the Holy Spirit, to give effect to Thy word which we have this day heard. The seed has been sown in our hearts ; but in vain shall we have received it, unless Thou follow it with Thy blessing. Do thou command the clouds that they so rain upon us, that our hard hearts may be softened ; that the seed sowed may be nourished ; and that an abundant increase be produced. Thou hast said, " Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Give it us, we pray Thee, for the sake of Jesus ; that so Thy glory may be revealed to us, and our hearts may rejoice in the possession of Thy love. For Thee we wish to live ; in Thee we wish to die ; keep us ever near unto Thee, and allow us to walk in the light of Thy countenance. O precious Saviour, our risen and exalted Head, take us into more close and happy union with Thyself, and nourish our souls with thy Spirit from day to day.

And, O Lord, we would remember before Thee those who have been engaged this day in the ministry, or teaching of Thy holy word. Strengthen them with the food which they have prepared for others ; and enable them to exhibit an example of those precepts, which they have labored to teach. Pardon those who have run, unsent, into the shepherd's office, and have taken on them to preach a Saviour, of whom they are ignorant. O Lord, awaken them ; O Lord, convert them ; and rescue Thy people from the curse of an unfaithful ministry.

And now, Lord, we commend ourselves to Thy care and keeping. Watch over us during the night. Preserve us from all dangers both of body and soul. Refresh our weary bodies with needful rest : and if a new day be added to our lives, enable us to show that we have not been forgetful hearers of Thy word, but, by Thy blessing, may we be doers of it.

Hear us, for the sake of Him, through whom alone we can expect an answer to our prayers, or acceptance of our thanksgivings — the Lord Jesus Christ ; to whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be ascribed, as is most due, everlasting praise. Amen.