Evening Devotion for September 30, 2023
Prayers
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Praise to God the King
There is none like You, my King; You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. How could I not revere You, King of the nations? It is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like You. You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You. You are the great and mighty God, whose name is the Ruler of Armies. You are great in counsel and mighty in deed, and Your eyes see all the ways of everyone upon the earth. You reign over all mankind. Nothing is too difficult for You.
Confession
Have mercy on me, Oh Lord, for I am a humble and miserable sinner. [At this point, pause to remember specific sins you have committed during the day and speak or think them.] I renounce all of these sins, heavenly Father, and repent of them, and I promise to make every effort not to repeat them.
Have mercy on me, I pray; pardon me for these offences and any I might have omitted from forgetfulness or ignorance; in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I pray for forgiveness. And I pray that your Holy Spirit may dwell with me in the coming day, to comfort me, to give me strength against temptation, and to guide me into the path of righteousness.
Prayer for Freedom from Fear
O Lord, I beseech you to deliver me, and all of your children, from the fear of the unknown future; from fear of failure; from fear of poverty; from fear of bereavement; from fear of loneliness; from fear of sickness and pain; from fear of age; from fear of death. Help us, O Father, by your grace to love and fear only you, and fill our hearts with cheerful courage and loving trust in you; through our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.
Benediction
As my evening prayer rises before you, O God, so may your mercy come down upon me, my family, and the company of all faithful people, to cleanse our hearts and set us free to sing your praise now and forever.
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
For our “Saturday Oldie,” I thought we might enjoy our annual remembrance of a phenomenon, largely forgotten today: Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
