Thursday Evening Devotion

Psalm 37:19-27

They shall not be confounded in the perilous time *

 and in the days of dearth they shall have enough.

  As for the ungodly, they shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord shall consume as the fat of lambs *

 yea, even as the smoke, shall they consume away.

  The ungodly borroweth, and payeth not again *

 but the righteous is merciful, and liberal.

  Such as are blessed of God shall possess the land *

 and they that are cursed of him shall be rooted out.

  The Lord ordereth a good man’s going *

 and maketh his way acceptable to himself.

  Though he fall, he shall not be cast away *

 for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

  I have been young, and now am old *

 and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread.

  The righteous is ever merciful, and lendeth *

 and his seed is blessed.

  Flee from evil, and do the thing that is good *

 and dwell for evermore.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(James 3:13-4:12)

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

 

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Canticle

Gloria in Excelsis

Glory be to God on high,

    and on earth peace, good will towards men.

We praise thee, we bless thee,

    we worship thee,

    we glorify thee,

    we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,

O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

    that takest away the sins of the world,

    have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sins of the world,

    receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,

    have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy,

thou only art the Lord,

thou only, O Christ,

    with the Holy Ghost,

    art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Prayers for Ourselves and Neighbors

Everlasting God, I pray for my own needs and those of others:

Silence or add individual intentions here

I confess to Almighty God that I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed, in things done and left undone; especially these sins which I have committed today:

Silence or add individual intentions here

For these and all other sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry. I pray God to have mercy upon me. I firmly intend amendment of life, and I humbly beg forgiveness of God and his Church.

+May the Almighty God grant me forgiveness of all my sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Holy Trinity, One God, Thou art the bearer of good things, grant unto me a grateful heart that I may go forth with thanksgiving for all thy blessings:

Silence or add individual intentions here

And now, I gather my all prayers in the words Thy Son hath taught us:

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,

    for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know thee as thou art revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread.  Grant this for the sake of thy love. Amen.

+The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless me and keep me. Amen.