Week 4 Monday Evening Prayer

O LORD GOD, who hast given Thy Son to die for sinners, and hast, through Him, proclaimed peace and good-will towards men ; we enter into Thy presence, through His mediation, to enjoy the privilege of communion with Thee.

We accept it, O Lord, as an unspeakable favor, that we are allowed to speak unto Thee ; and more, that we can be assured of Thy willingness to receive and bless us in Jesus. Grant us now the Spirit of prayer and of supplication. May the Spirit sanctify our hearts ; and our thoughts being withdrawn from worldly things, may we have joy in communion with Thee.

We give Thee thanks, O blessed Lord, for Thy care and protection of us during the past day. We are unworthy of the least of Thy mercies ; and yet Thou art merciful to our infirmities, and compassionate to our wants. Thou art, indeed, a God of love. Give us of Thy loving Spirit, O Lord. May we be changed into Thine image, from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord. May all the evil tempers and passions that belong to our carnal nature be subdued by the Spirit. May love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, and meekness, the fruit of Thy Spirit, prevail over the works of the flesh. Conform us to the likeness of Jesus. Enable us to imitate the example of Jesus, who pleased not Himself, but lived and died even for His enemies. Give us the universal love of Jesus to the world, the peculiar love of Jesus to the Church. Crucify all selfish feelings within us ; and may the subdued and chastened Spirit of Christ be ever manifest in us. Enlarge our hearts to love our enemies ; and remove for ever all malice or revenge. As we believe Thou hast forgiven us, make us willing from the heart to forgive those who may have injured us.

O our Father, we pray Thee, that if any here present are yet uninfluenced by Thy Spirit, Thou wilt mercifully bestow it upon them for Christ's sake. Do Thou, Lord Jesus, who art the good Shepherd, lead them to Thy fold, and mark them as the sheep of Thy pasture. Teach us all to know our hearts, that we may not deceive ourselves with the form of godliness, nor expect salvation while we walk in indulged sin. Wash us all in the blood of Jesus. Purify us all by the Holy Spirit ; and seal us with that Spirit unto the day of redemption.

As Thou hast been about our path this day, O Lord, so be Thou about our bed this night. Give us rest and refreshment for our weary bodies ; and if a new day be added to our lives, may new supplies of Thy Spirit be vouchsafed, to enable us to spend that day in Thy service. Keep us from day to day, in prayer, in watchfulness, in activity, and in peace with Thee, through Jesus, till our day of life is spent, and our sun shall set in glory. Grant all, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.