Evening Prayer for Pentecost

“Come, Holy Spirit, Come! Let Thy bright beams arise. Dispel the sorrow from my mind, the darkness from my eyes. Revive my drooping faith; my doubts and fears remove; and kindle in my breast the flame of never-dying love. Convince me of my sin, then lead to Jesus’ blood; and to my wondering view reveal the secret love of God. ’Tis Thine to cleanse the heart, to sanctify the soul, to pour fresh life on every part, and new create the whole. Dwell, therefore, in my heart, my mind from bondage free; then shall I know and praise and lore the Father, Son, and Thee.”

With these words, O Comforter in sorrow, Thou blessed Holy Spirit, I pray for Thy gracious indwelling and Thy heavenly gifts before I retire to rest; for I have been convinced today, how willingly Thou buildest a tabernacle among men. Make my heart, which longs for Thee, Thy tabernacle. Glorify Jesus in my soul, that I may love and cling to Him, and thus obtain power to become a child of God and a temple of God. Let me appreciate Christ’s person and work, and the grace which He has acquired for me, so that I may accept Him as my only Redeemer, and may seek and find forgiveness in His name. Let His virtues and holy conversation, which are meant for my imitation, be manifest in me. Let His glory, — His meekness, holiness, purity, love, sincerity and truth, — be reflected in me, and shine as a bright light in all my conduct. Let me behold the majesty and glory which, in His state of humiliation, He voluntarily laid aside for my sake, but which He resumed after the work of redemption was completed, and with which He is clothed as He now sits at the right hand of His heavenly Father; so that I may see in Him the only Mediator between God and myself, and may pray to Him and serve Him.

If Thou wilt glorify .Jesus in me, I shall be united with Him by faith, be conformed to His image by fellowship with Him, and, following Him, be led to the Jerusalem above. O Spirit of Grace, help me to obtain this blessedness. Work in me a true and living faith; perform and finish in me all that I need in order to attain Christ’s image and to become His own. Hear my cry, give ear to my supplications, accept my prayer, and grant me the grace which I seek.

Then, when Thou hast glorified Jesus in me, let me bear witness of Him, as the apostles did after Thou wast poured out upon them abundantly. Let me bear witness of Him in my entire life, by obedience to His Word and will. Let me receive Him into my heart, acknowledge Him as the true Messiah and God, believe in Him, and serve Him. Let me testify of Him with my mouth, praise Him in secret and in public, and always confess Him, so that He also may confess me before His heavenly Father. Let me bear witness of Him also in my sufferings. Let me be cheerful, hope and trust in Him, and wait upon Him. Finally, let me bear witness of Him in my death: let me be faithful to Him in that hour, and in faith look for the crown of life at His hands.

If Thou wilt enable me thus constantly to bear witness of my Saviour, then will He confess me, and give me a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, how happy, how blessed I shall then be! O Spirit of Jesus, grant me this blessedness; I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed. I surrender myself to Thee. O lead me to heaven, and let me never stray aside into wrong paths. Amen.