"abide with us; for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent."—luke xxiv. 29.
o god, i desire to approach thy throne of grace on the evening of this day, beseeching thee to grant me thy benediction and blessing. the shadows of night have once more gathered around me; may no shadow of sin or unbelief darken my soul, or interrupt my communion with thee. "it is not night if thou art near." let me enter the inner chamber of thy presence, and experience conscious fellowship with thee my father in heaven.
do thou graciously forgive all the sins of the past day, its sins of omission and of commission, of thought, and word, and deed. hide me anew in the clefts of the smitten rock. i confidently repose my everlasting interests on the finished work and righteousness of a tried redeemer. may i know more and more of the attractive power of his cross—the adaptation {8} of his character and work to all the wants and weaknesses, the sorrows and infirmities, of my tried and suffering and tempted nature. may i live more under the sovereign motive of love to him, and experience more the happiness of life spent in his service.
gracious lord! may a sense of thy favor penetrate with its leavening power every duty in which i engage, lessening every cross and sweetening every care. take what thou wilt away, but take not thyself; no earthly good can compensate for the loss of thy friendship. existence would be one vast blank without thee. give me to realize the blessedness of unfaltering dependence on thy covenant mercy, knowing that all which befalls me is the pledge and dictate of unerring love, and that nothing can come wrong that comes from thy hand.
thus while my daily walk is hallowed and brightened by thy presence and fellowship, may i be enabled to look calm and undismayed on the unknown and chequered future, feeling that even over the gloomy portals of the grave, with thee as my portion and heritage, i can write, "to die is gain!" meanwhile do thou fit me {9} for every duty, prepare me for every trial. if thou givest me the "full cup," give me grace to carry it with a steady hand. if thou sendest adversity, let me regard it as thine own gracious discipline, to wean me from earth and train me for glory.
may it be my great ambition, through the help of thy blessed spirit, to attain a gradual resemblance to the character and conformity to the will of my adorable redeemer. may i be clothed with humility. may i be daily becoming more meek and gentle, more contented and thankful, more submissive and resigned, watching against anything in my heart or conduct that i know would be displeasing to thee, making it my meat and my drink to do thy holy will.
thou unslumbering shepherd of israel, vouchsafe thy guardian care to all near and dear to me: shield them from danger: give thine angels charge over them; sanctify them body, soul, and spirit; seal them unto the day of eternal redemption.
may we all lie down to sleep this night in thy fear, and awake in thy favor, fitted for the {10} duties of a new day. and all i ask is for jesus' sake. amen.
"let my prayer be set forth before thee as
incense: and the lifting up of my hands
as the evening sacrifice."
