Prayer - We Come Now to the Close of Another Week, Our Father

We come now to the close of another week, our Father, and wait for its last morning blessing. We have failed in many ways, and with humility and penitence, we confess our failures. We ask for grace to make this last day of the week, better than any of the others, to do its duties and tasks more faithfully, and to live more in accordance with Your pure and holy laws.

We thank You for all Your mercies. Blessings have come to us in abundant measure. The evils we dreaded when the week began, have not come. The clouds we thought we saw gathering, and which we feared would bring darkness and storm -- were either blown away from our sky, or coming, brought only gentle rains which have blessed our fields, leaving them more fertile. The labors we feared would be too great for our strength, have been endured, and we have had strength for them as they came.

We thank You, too, for all the blessings of the week, which came to us in so many ways -- through Your providences, through our friends, through our work. We have had bread to eat, and clothing to wear. We have had health and life's comforts. You have not once failed us!

We put up fervent prayers this morning for our neighbors. Some of them are in trouble. In some homes there is sickness. May You send there Your tender grace and Your gentle healing. Give strength to all who suffer, that they may be enabled to endure patiently, and may suffering work good in their souls. Remember the homes which have been darkened by sorrow. Through the clouds, may mourning ones see glimpses of Heaven's glory. Bless those of our neighbors who are not yet Your friends, who still resist Your love. Lead them to the surrender of their lives to You. We ask all in Jesus' precious name. Amen.

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SATURDAY EVENING

Dear heavenly Father, our hearts are very glad tonight as we think of the wise way You have led us this week. It has been a profitable week, a week full of loving-kindness and tender mercy. You have walked with us all the days, and have guarded us all the nights. You have brought to us many blessings which will make the week bright in memory. We . . .

have met new friends,

have read new books,

have had prayers answered,

and have new joys.

For all these things we are very grateful.

Look over the record which is now spread out before You. You see many spots and stains -- things done which we ought not to have done -- and things left undone, which we ought to have done. Speak forgiveness to our hearts. We plead, too, for grace to make the new week before us better than this has been. We cannot change the past -- but we would save what remains. Prepare us for the Lord's Day, and may Sunday prepare us for the new week. Let Your Word search us and find in us whatever is not right -- and then make us clean.

Our thoughts go out tonight toward Your ministering servants who are preparing for Your work on the morrow. Fill them with Your Spirit, and lead them into the truth which they will present to Your people. Give them profitable messages -- messages of life, peace, and comfort -- to speak to Your people. Teach them what You would have them say. Hold them very close to Your heart tonight, that they may be ready for their sacred work. Give them sympathy, that they may come near to those to whom they will minister. Baptize them with a sense of human need, that they may be true helpers of those who are hungering for the bread of life. We ask all in Jesus' precious name. Amen.