Evening Prayer
1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.
Daniel 9:18
We are not presenting our petitions before you based on our righteous acts, but based on your abundant compassion. Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act!
Salvation Sunday - Pray for those who are close to you but far from God
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Ezekiel 18:23 - Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?
Merciful God, you desire not the death of sinners, but rather that they should turn to you and live; and through your only Son you have revealed yourself as the God who pardons iniquity. Have mercy on the unrepentant and those who do not believe [especially _____].
Awaken in them, by your Word and Holy Spirit, a deep sense of their sinfulness and peril. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of your word. Grant them to know and feel that there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which they must be saved, but only the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so bring them home and number them among your children, that they may be yours forever. Amen.
Ministry Monday - Pray for your pastors, local church, and specific ministries
1 Peter 5:1-3 - I exhort the elders among you…Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
1 Corinthians 12:24-26 - God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
For your blessing, grace, and guidance for the ministries in which I work and worship, Lord, have mercy.
Bestow on us, I pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit in abundance and raise up from among us faithful and able persons called to leadership and service. Inspire them to spend and be spent for the sake of the gospel, and make them holy and loving servants and shepherds of the flock for whom Jesus shed His most precious blood.
Enlighten the minds of Your people more and more with the light of the everlasting gospel.
Bring erring souls to the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ; and those who are walking
in the way of life, keep steadfast to the end.
Give patience to the sick and afflicted, and renew them in body and soul.
Guard those who are strong and prosperous from forgetting you.
Increase in us your many gifts of grace, and make us all fruitful in good works.
That we your people may be filled with truth and love and be found expectant and hopeful at the day of Your coming, Lord, hear our prayer and extend Your mercy. Amen.
Tribal Tuesday - Pray for your family
Almighty God, thank You for the gift of family [especially _____]. I entrust them now to Your never failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that You are doing for them better things than I can desire or pray for.
I ask that You reveal Yourself to them through Your Spirit, Your word, and Your people, and that they would respond in humility, gratitude, and in love for You and others.
Lead them in paths that are right, for Your name’s sake. Provide their needs, protect their hearts, and preserve their faith to the end, I pray. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21 - Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Washington Wednesday - Pray for leaders and decision makers on all levels
Romans 13:1 - Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
Daniel 4:32 - The Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 - I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
Jeremiah 29:7 - Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.”
For those in positions of authority:
In my country - president, vice president, cabinet members, senators, congressmen
In my state - governor, lieutenant governor, congressmen
In my city - mayor, police chief, city council, sheriff, county commissioners
In my place of work - direct supervisors and colleagues
That they may serve justice, promote the dignity of freedom of all people, and accomplish your purposes, Lord, have mercy.
That the pressure of the position would lead them to prayer, that the weight of their authority would lead them to seek wisdom, Lord, have mercy.
That I may seek, as a community member and colleague, to glorify Your name by working well, submitting to my superiors, and by loving the people You have placed around me. May I strive in Your strength to bring order and peace to my corner of the world. Amen.
Thankful Thursday - Reflect on the gifts of God in your life and how you’ve experienced His greatness and goodness this week.
1 Samuel 12:24 - Fear the Lord and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, I give You humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to me and to all whom You have made.
For Your creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life, I thank You.
For Your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory, I thank You.
For pardon, peace, Your presence and provision, I thank You.
Give me, I pray, such an awareness of Your mercies, that with a truly thankful heart I may show forth Your praise, not only with my lips, but also with my life.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference, living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; taking this world as it is and not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.
Friends Friday - Pray for your chosen family
Almighty God, thank You for the gift of friendship [especially _____]. I entrust them now to Your never failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that You are doing for them better things than I can desire or pray for.
I ask that You reveal Yourself to them through Your Spirit, Your word, and Your people, and that they would respond in humility, gratitude, and in love for You and others.
Lead them in paths that are right for Your name’s sake. Provide their needs, protect their hearts, and preserve their faith to the end, I pray.
Hebrews 13:20-21 - Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Sent Saturday - Pray for specific missionaries and for the nations to know God
2 Corinthians 1:10-11 - We have put our hope in him that he will deliver us again while you join in helping us by your prayers.
Psalm 67:1-3 - May God be gracious to us and bless us; may he make his face shine upon us so that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Let the people praise you, God.
Isaiah 12:5 - Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things. Let this be known throughout the earth.
O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near. Look with compassion, I pray, on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; that, in Your good time, all nations and races may serve You in harmony around Your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
O God, You desire that all people be saved and come to knowledge of the truth: Prosper all those who live, preach, and teach the Gospel at home and in distant lands [especially __________]; protect them in all perils, support them in their loneliness, sustain them in the hour of trial; give them Your abundant grace to bear faithful witness; and grant them burning zeal and love that they may turn many to righteousness through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For the peace of the world, that a spirit of respect and cooperation may grow among the nations and peoples, Lord, have mercy.
That people everywhere may seek after You and find You, Lord, have mercy.
Bring the nations into your fold. Pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Prayers are directly quoted or slightly adapted from The Anglican Book of Common Prayer.)