Evening Prayer for Friday, December 13, 2024
Praying the Scriptures
Friday Evening Prayer
December 13, 2024
A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:26–27)
Gracious and loving God,
As the sun sets over the vast desert and the coolness of the evening settles in, I bow my heart before You, mindful of Your abiding presence. Tonight, on this Friday the 13th, I set aside any superstition or fear, trusting in the power of Your love to renew and transform me.
You have promised to give me a new heart and put a new spirit within me. Lord, I open myself to Your divine work. Take from me the heart of stone, hardened by the trials and temptations of this world, and grant me a heart of flesh—soft, receptive, and alive with compassion and grace. Let my heart beat in harmony with Your will, tuned to the rhythm of Your mercy and truth.
Here in this sacred land of New Mexico, surrounded by the beauty of Your creation—the rugged mountains, the boundless sky, and the whispers of the desert breeze—I feel Your Spirit stirring within me. Teach me to walk in Your statutes, to be guided by Your commandments, not out of obligation, but out of love for You and my neighbor.
O God, may this night be one of peace and reflection. As I gaze upon the heavens and the countless stars above, I am reminded of Your infinite power and tender care for me. Let Your Spirit dwell within me, leading me into deeper faith, hope, and love.
Protect me through the night, O Lord, and guide my steps in the days to come, that I may glorify You in all I say and do. I trust in Your promise that You are with me, renewing my spirit and drawing me ever closer to You.
In the name of Jesus Christ, who renews all things, I pray.
Amen.
May this prayer bring you peace and comfort this evening.
The Bible passages come from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible, copyrighted © 1989, 1993 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Praying the Scriptures is penned daily by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
