Week 4 Tuesday Evening Prayer

ALMIGHTY GOD, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Father of all mercies, who hast shown Thy love to a guilty world by the best of gifts — a Saviour ; look with pity, we pray Thee, upon Thy most unworthy servants, who, through that Saviour, present ourselves before Thee, to offer our evening sacrifice of prayer and praise.

Lord, we could not hope for acceptance, hadst thou not assured us of Thy willingness to receive us. Thou art a God of perfect holiness, and we are creatures of iniquity and rebellion. Yet hast Thou commended Thy love to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us ; He, the just one, for us, the unjust, that He might bring us to Thee. But, gracious Lord, our own rebellious hearts would have refused the favor of Thy love, hadst Thou not overcome their hatred to holiness. Breathe still more into our souls the breath of a new and living principle, causing the death of our carnal desires, and quickening us to all the power of godliness. We want not merely to know Thy truth ; we would feel it and practise it. To will is present with us, but how to perform that which is good we know not. Grant to us the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, we pray Thee, to be in us the life of holiness — the instructor in righteousness — the revealer of Christ, and the witness with our spirits, that we are Thy children.

Lord we are but babes in spiritual knowledge, whereas, for the time, we should be teachers of Thy truth to others. Make us to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Deliver us from all spiritual indolence — from all carnal indulgence— from the pampering of the flesh, and from the love of ease, which will quench Thy Holy Spirit. May we never forget that we are in an enemy's country, and that we should endure hardness, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Enable us to practise self-denial — to keep our bodies under, and bring them into subjection, lest, after the profession of Thy truth, we should become castaways. Remove the evil tempers of our hearts ; that neither anger, malice, revenge nor uncharitableness, may appear in us, who call ourselves the followers of the meek and forgiving Saviour. Teach us the value of time, we pray Thee ; that we may never waste that for which the ungodly would give the wealth of worlds at the last ; nor employ in idleness of pursuit or conversation, those moments for which we shall be called to give account.

O our God, we yield Thee our hearty thanks that Thou hast dealt so mercifully with us — that Thou didst spare us when we deserved punishment — that Thou didst not cut us off in the midst of our iniquities, while the load of unpardoned sin lay heavy upon us ; and when our souls, had they been called to Thy bar, must have been doomed to most merited punishment. Look upon us now, we pray Thee ; and if any here kneeling in Thy presence, are yet unchanged, and careless about the things that belong to their peace, oh, pity them — change them — convert and sanctify them ; and allow them not to dream of safety, while they are in the utmost peril of perishing. Draw them to the cleansing fountain of a Saviour's blood, for the removal of past guilt ; and supply them with the Spirit's power, to sanctify them for the time to come.

We beseech Thee, O Lord, for this land, that it may be filled not with men only, but also with truth and righteousness. Bless those who are subduing the earth and make them Thy servants through Jesus Christ. Instruct our rulers, and bless our judges ; make our country a joy and a praise in the earth, and let her people be all righteous. Where-ever our language is spoken make it the means of spreading the good knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Again, O Lord, do we look for Thy protection during another night. Make us thankful that we are not exposed to the sufferings which many endure from cold and nakedness. Who are we, that we should be protected, while others perish through want ? Oh, give us hearts to feel for the miseries of others, and to deny ourselves, that we may contribute to their relief. Hear, and answer our prayers, O Lord, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.