Sunday, Week 13

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.
— 1 Timothy 2:8 (BSB)

Praying will make you leave off sinning, or sinning will make you leave off praying.
— Charles Spurgeon

O God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness — shine upon us, into our hearts, this evening, and give us Your peace. We thank You for all that this Sunday has been to us, for its quiet, for its instruction, for its worship, for its fellowship with You and with Your people, for its opportunities of Christian service. May You bless to our home Sunday rest and fellowship. May our family life be enriched by means of this day's privileges. May we be enabled to make our home sweet with the sweetness of Heaven.

Bless us in our individual spiritual life. Bring us nearer to Yourself. May our thoughts of the risen Jesus lift our souls into sweeter communion with Jesus. May He be, more than ever before, our personal Friend, dearer to us than any other friend in all the world. May we live nearer the heart of Jesus from this day than ever we have lived before.

Then we pray that our Christian life may be deeper and holier from this day. May we have more of Jesus in our hearts. May we be more fully consecrated to Your service than ever we have been before. Make us more earnest, more prayerful, more holy in heart and life. Give us more wisdom in working for You. May we be teachers of others, as we speak of the things of Your grace. May we be winners of souls. May all the influence of our lives be for good. May we be more helpful to others.

We ask Your blessing on all the work done for You this day. Bless not only the public ministry of Your word — but remember all that has been done by humble workers in private ways. Give us now Your good-night peace, our Father, as we close our eyes. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.