MY EVENING PRAYER

 

MY EVENING PRAYER

            Prayer has many meanings. Dictionaries describe it as “a devout petition to God or an object of worship, in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

            Traditionally,  there are four types of prayer. The stand for adoration, confession, gratefulness and invocation.

            There is no fixed time for prayer. One may pray at any time.  However,  morning,  afternoon, evening and night are favourite times for most of the devotees. .

            The language of prayer is also not fixed, though you may get many readymade prayers.  These are the compositions of religious poets, sages, saints and seers.

            Prayer provides physical health,  mental peace, spiritual strength, and emotional solace.

            As a rule, prayer should a regular feature of one’s life.  Most of the people pray when they are undergoing some sort of physical, mental or moral distress. This is opportunism, not true belief in prayer.   

            God is invisible, yet prayer can be offered to Him through any holy image or sacred places of worship.

            The French author Madam de Gasparin (1813-94) said: God dwells far off from us, but prayer brings him down to our earth, and links His power with our efforts.

            According  to the American clergy H. W. Beecher (1813-87): Prayer covers the whole of a man’s life. There is no thought, feeling, yearning, or desire, however low, trifling, or vulgar we may deem it , which, if it affects our real interest or happiness, we may not lay before God and be sure of his sympathy.

            To conclude, here is a relevant poem “My Evening Prayer” by the American lyricist of gospel songs Charles H. Gabriel ( 1856-1932).

If I have wounded any soul to-day,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own wilful way—
Good Lord, forgive!

If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself should suffer through the strain—
Good Lord, forgive!

If I have craved for joys that are not mine,
If I have let my wayward heart repine,
Dwelling on things of earth, not things divine—
Good Lord, forgive!

If I have been perverse, or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some part to hold—
Good Lord, forgive.

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee,
Forgive the secret sins I do not see,
That which I know not, Father, teach Thou me—
Help me to live.

                                      *********

G.R.Kanwal

24 June 2025