"Renew a right spirit within me."--Psalm li. 10.
Blessed God, I desire anew to end this night with Thee! Do Thou
enkindle my soul as with a live coal from off Thy holy altar! Let all
unhallowed and obtrusive thoughts and cares be set aside, that I may
enjoy a season of fellowship with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ.
I rejoice to think that I have such a Friend to repair to--such a
never-failing refuge in every season of perplexity and trouble;
vicissitude is written on all around me, but "Thou art the same."
Though often, alas! I have changed towards Thee, Thou hast never
changed towards me. Thou didst love me from the beginning, and that
love remains to this hour, infinite, unalterable!
Lord, I am mourning over my many and grievous backslidings, my base
and unworthy requital of all Thine unmerited kindness. Bring me in
poverty of Spirit, with deep conscious unworthiness, to say, "God be
merciful to me a sinner." Give me a realizing sense of the evil of
sin, and my own sin in particular. I feel that I have no abiding and
depressing consciousness of my guilt. How little of genuine, heartfelt
contrition do I experience! How often I _appear_ to be humble and
penitent when I am _not_! How do my very prayers condemn me; and my
confessions of sin need themselves to be confessed!
Oh renew me in the spirit of my mind.--May all old things pass away;
may all things be made new. Transform me by the indwelling power of
Thy quickening Spirit. May affections now alienated from Thee be
reclaimed to Thy service. May I seek to be more animated by the
sovereign motive of love to Him, whose I am, and whom it is alike my
duty and my privilege to obey. Knowing that this is Thy will
concerning me, even my sanctification, may it be my constant ambition
to be growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ.
I have in myself no might, no power, no sufficiency, to do any of
these things. My sufficiency is of Thee. Do Thou make Thy grace
sufficient for me, and perfect strength in weakness. Keep me from all
evil that would be likely to grieve me. Wean me from all that is
fleeting and perishable here, and may all Thy dealings towards me
issue in the confirmed habit of a holy life. If Thou sendest
affliction, let me regard it as Thine own way of dispensing spiritual
blessing, and bow with lowly submission to Thy sovereign appointments.
Bless all my beloved friends. Keep them as the apple of Thine eye.
Hide them under the shadow of Thy everlasting wings. Sanctify trial to
all in sorrow. Let the widow and the fatherless put their trust in
Thee. Succor the poor and him that hath no helper. Support the aged.
Sustain the dying. May we all bear one another's burdens and so fulfil
the law of Christ.
As the pillar of cloud has been with me by day, so may the pillar of
fire be with me this night. Watch over me during the unconscious hours
of sleep, and when I awake may I be still with Thee. And all I ask is
for the sake of Jesus Christ, my only Saviour. Amen.
"LET MY PRAYER BE SET FORTH BEFORE THEE AS
INCENSE: AND THE LIFTING UP OF MY HANDS
AS THE EVENING SACRIFICE."