Evening Prayer Thursday, 15 April 2021
A reading of Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord.
6 Many, Lord, are asking, ‘Who will bring us prosperity?’
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4 NIV®
Dear Lord, we call to you in our hour of need, and we praise you for your righteousness at all times.
We thank you that you relieve our distress and the distress of all who put their trust in you.
We pray that you will reveal yourself to all those who do not know you,
and show your true ways to those who worship the false gods of wealth, power and worldly success.
Give us the faith, the strength and the Godly wisdom to be your faithful servants,
and help us to recognise and accept that this involves our being set aside by you,
to fulfil the tasks needed to meet the goals that you set for your world.
May we be sure in the knowledge that you will hear us when we call on you
to help us through these tasks.
As we prepare ourselves for another night of peaceful rest,
help us to set aside any pettiness and sense of grievance in what we have dealt with today,
help us to examine our own motives and set aside those that are unworthy of your followers.
Let us be peaceful, resting so as to regain our strength for the challenges of the morrow.
May we be ready to give up our own indulgences and be always trusting in you.
We give thanks for all the gifts and blessings you have showered on us;
may we have the grace to accept the unexpected, and to be satisfied with the gifts we have,
ready always to put them to your service.
Our hearts are filled with joy when we recognise the boundlessness of your goodness.
Amen
So now, before we lie down to sleep in peace, we say the Grace to one another,
whether we be together or far apart:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore.
Amen
