Week 4 Sunday Evening Prayer

MOST gracious Lord, who hast added to our many mercies the enjoyment of another Sabbath, and hast allowed us this day to hear the message of thy full and free salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, bless us while we now worship Thee in his name.

Conscious that we are unable to retain the good seed of Thy Word, or to bring any fruit to perfection without the power of the Spirit in our hearts, we, Thine unworthy servants, beseech Thee now to give that Spirit to us. We have this day had life and death, blessing and cursing, laid before us. Empower us to refuse the evil and to choose the good. Increase whatever convictions may have been forced upon our minds by the truth, and strengthen whatever resolutions we may have formed of living more devotedly to Thee. Grant that the seed sown may not be plucked away by the enemy of our souls ere it take root. Break our stony hearts, that they may not resist that heavenly seed. Remove the weeds of worldly cares, which would choke the tender blade ; and may our hearts be so wrought upon by the Spirit, that they may bring forth an hundred fold of spiritual fruit to Thy glory.

And while we feel humble before Thee under a sense of guilt, and of the imperfection that cleaves to our very best services, we would also praise Thee for whatever enjoyment Thou hast given us in the service and ordinances of the day. Wherein we have failed in this experience, give us still to enjoy it before we retire to rest ; that our souls may not end this day of spiritual feasting in spiritual heaviness, nor suffer hunger while Thy table is spread for their spiritual repast. Lord, we are straightened in ourselves, and not in Thee. We have not, because we ask not aright. We ask with coldness and deadness, when we should cry unto Thee with fervent supplication and agonizing prayer.

Pour upon us the Spirit of grace and supplication, that we may pray as we should ; that, praying in the Spirit, heaven may be opened to our prayers ; and that our souls may be abundantly satisfied out of the store-house of Thy grace.

We desire this night, O Lord, to promise before Thee, with all solemnity, that, the Spirit being our helper, we will no longer endeavor to serve two masters, but that, renouncing the service of the world and sin, we will take Thee as our Master, our Father, and our God. Confirm this resolution. Record it by the Spirit upon the tablet of our hearts. Give us strength to adhere to it, and to renounce all that the world admires and esteems, which stands in the way of our entire surrender to Thee.

Again we pray Thee, O Lord, confirm our best resolutions, in Thy strength formed this night. And may the power of the Holy Ghost so work within us, that if spared to see another day, we may be enabled to resist and overcome the temptations by which we may be assailed, to return to the world and its ways. Oh, for grace to take up our cross and follow Jesus, though exposed to trial and persecution for His sake ! Keep us mindful that it is they who suffer with Jesus here, who shall reign with Him in His kingdom ; while they who refuse the cross and deny Him, shall be denied before the angels of God.

O Lord, hear us ; O Lord, answer us ; and O Lord, abundantly bless us, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.