"The life which I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."--Gal. ii. 20.
O God, I desire to draw near unto Thy blessed presence on this the
evening of another day, adoring Thee for all the loving-kindness Thou
art continually making to pass before me. May I ever be enabled to
look up to Thee as the Author and Bestower of all my mercies. May no
created good ever be suffered to dispossess Thee of my affections. May
all that I enjoy, alike temporal and spiritual, be traced to Thee, the
Fountain of all happiness. May prosperity be hallowed by receiving it
as a pledge of Thy favor, and may trial lose its bitterness by the
consciousness that every thorn in my path is permitted by Thee, and
every bitter drop in the cup appointed by Thee.
May I thus seek, O God, from day to day, to live a life of simple
faith and dependence on Thy grace; with confiding love may I commit my
every care and want and perplexity to Thy better direction, feeling
sweetly assured that Thou wilt guide me by a _right_ way to the city
of habitation.
Above all would I seek a renewed interest in those covenant blessings
which Christ died to purchase and which He is exalted to bestow. All
my hope is in Him; weak, helpless, perishing, I flee to Him, as the
help and hope and portion of all who seek Him. Hide me, O blessed
Jesus, in Thy wounded side. I would overcome alone through the blood
of the Lamb. Wash me thoroughly in Thy precious blood. May I hear
Thine own voice of pardoning love saying, "Your sins which are many
are all forgiven."
After all Thou hast done for me, let me harbor no guilty and unworthy
suspicions of Thy faithfulness. Let me feel assured that tender love
regulates all Thy allotments. Thou art pledged to use the dealing and
discipline best suited for Thy people's case, and what will best
effect Thine own will concerning them, even their sanctification.
Carry on within me Thine own work in Thine own way. Fortify me against
temptation; let me not surrender myself to the base compliances of a
world lying in wickedness. But, strong in the Lord and in the power of
His might, may I know that He who is with me is greater far than all
that can be against me. Oh enkindle afresh my expiring, languishing
love; let me live more under the influence of "things not seen,"
having the eye of faith more upwards and homewards, looking for that
blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of the great God my Saviour.
Let Thy kingdom come! Arise, O God, and plead Thine own cause. May all
the ends of the earth soon be gladdened with the Gospel's joyful
sound!
Bless all in sorrow, all bereaved of near and dear friends; may they
see no hand in their trials but Thine. Thou givest us our blessings;
and when Thou seest meet Thou revokest the grant. Let us see love in
every threatening wave, all rolling at _Thy_ bidding.
Lord, take the charge of me this night. Abide with me, blessed
Saviour, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. Oh, may it
be mine to feel that each successive evening as it brings me nearer
eternity, is ripening me for its never-ending joys. 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."