Some short Evening Prayers,
for the use of such as do not use their own words when having family prayers.
Evening Prayer.
(The Catechism.)
I thank thee, almighty and merciful God and Father, through Jesus Christ thy dear Son, that thou hast graciously kept me this day. Forgive, I pray thee, all the sins with which I have today offended thee; and care for me, and keep me through the coming night. I commit myself into thy hands with body and soul and all things. Let thy holy angels not depart from me; that the evil enemy may have no power over me. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer. The Benediction.
Another Evening Prayer.
Praise be to thee, our God, who hast again helped us through the day, given us every blessing to enjoy, and delivered us from evil. Of our hearts we confess that we are not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou dost shew unto us. Help us to thank thee always for all things; and let our offering of praise be acceptable to thee in Christ Jesus. Thou hast guarded us against sin; but we have failed to be vigilant, and have sinned; and we omitted much that is good. Help us to know our sin with heartfelt penitence, and to confess it with upright and humble soul; and forgive us all our debts for Jesus’ sake. Give us all, O God, truly penitent and believing hearts. Do not let any of us retire to rest with thy wrath upon him; but turn us to thee, and be unto us a gracious God. Wake the souls everywhere, that sleep in sin; keep all thy believing children in the state of grace, and grant that we may increase in faith day by day. Extend thy kingdom into all the earth. Be with the ministers of thy word in demonstration of the Spirit and of power here and among the heathen. Bless those in authority and all our people. Preserve us this night from the malice of the devil, give us refreshing sleep and rest, and be thou our last thought, and our first. Help all who are in danger on land or sea, all who are sick and dying, and who are fighting against trials and temptations. Hide us and all ours in thy pavilion night and day, almighty and merciful God; and gather us at last to thee in heaven. This we humbly ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer. The Benediction.
Another Evening Prayer.
God of glory and mercy; receive this evening also our poor offering of praise. Thou hast been our faithful support to this hour; infinitely great is thy mercy. Like as a father pitieth his children, so dost thou pity us. We pray thee to forgive us all our sins this day, and graciously to protect us this night. Let thy blessing rest upon our church and our country; give patience and comfort to all who are in distress. We commit ourselves and all ours to thy faithful care. Our Father, etc. The Lord be with us! The Lord bless us, etc.
Another Evening Prayer.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies! Let me sing praise unto the Lord, and rejoice in him; for he is my God and heavenly Father; and I am his child! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. To thee I commend myself and mine, thy whole church, our beloved country, and all who are needy and afflicted. Our Father, etc. The Lord be with us! The Lord bless us, etc.
Another Evening Prayer.
O Lord God of hosts, give us peace in our hearts, in our churches, in our country, in our homes; and in a blessed hour receive us into that happy home above, in which there shall be eternal joy and glory and peace. Have mercy on us; forgive us all our sins; defend us against the craftiness and power of the devil; be with us when we sleep, and when we awake. Blessed be thy glorious name for ever; and let the earth be full of thy glory. Amen. Our Father, etc. The Lord be with us! The Lord bless us, etc.
Another Evening Prayer.
O God our heavenly Father, forgive us all our sins of this day, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Let thy peace obtain victory in our hearts; and let no evil have dominion over us. Give thy angels charge to keep us this night and alway; us and all our dear ones, our home and our church, our country and all our people. Satisfy us with thy tender mercies in the evening and in the morning, and above all in our dying hour. We heartily thank thee for all thy goodness, and humbly commit ourselves into thy keeping. In Christ Jesus thou dost accept our thanks, and hear our prayer; and happy in thee we lay ourselves down to sleep. Our Father, etc. The Lord be with us! The Lord bless us, etc.