Prayer for Communion with God
“Abide with us — for it is towards evening, and the day is far spent.” Luke 24:29
O my Father, I desire to approach Your throne of Grace on the evening of this day, beseeching You to grant me Your 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 You. Let me enter the inner chamber of Your presence, and experience conscious fellowship with You, my Father in Heaven.
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 the adorable Redeemer. May I know more and more of the attractive power of His Cross — and the adaptation 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 Your favor penetrate with its leavening power — every duty in which I engage, lessening every cross, and sweetening every care. Take what You will away — but do not take Yourself; no earthly good can compensate for the loss of Your friendship! Existence would be one vast blank without You. Allow me to realize the blessedness of unfaltering dependence on Your covenant mercy, knowing that all which befalls me is the pledge and dictate of unerring love, and that nothing can come wrong to me — which comes from Your hand.
Thus while my daily walk is hallowed and brightened by Your presence and fellowship — may I be enabled to look calmly and undismayed on the unknown and chequered future — feeling that even over the gloomy portals of the grave, with You as my Portion and Heritage, I can write, “To die is gain!” Meanwhile, fit me for every duty, and prepare me for every trial. If You give me the “full cup” — give me grace to carry it with a steady hand! If You send adversity — let me regard it as Your own gracious discipline — to wean me from earth, and train me for glory.
May it be my great ambition, through the help of Your 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 You, making it my food and my drink to do Your holy will.
O unslumbering Shepherd of Israel, grant Your guardian care to all who are near and dear to me; shield them from danger; give Your 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 Your fear, and awake in Your favor — fitted for the duties of a new day. And all I ask is for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“Let my prayer be set forth before you as incense — and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”
-John MacDuff
