By: Ulysses C. Ybiernas | April 25, 2012
August 21, 2005 - prayer of the night
PRAISE
Lord Jesus, I love You with all my heart. Your power is beyond compare, and Your mercy knows no bounds. You never abandon me, even in my weakness. I place my trust in You. All glory and praise to You in the highest heavens, alongside God the Father, the Most High. Your power stretches through all eternity, and Your love is infinite.
Praise be to the Blessed Virgin Mary, to all the Angels, and to the Saints in Heaven.
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, I humbly pray. And you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander the earth, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
SURRENDER
Lord God, by Your Holy Wounds and Precious Blood, purify every part of me. Seal me with Your grace so I may remain close to You. Your wounds cleanse my soul; Your blood shields me from every attack of the enemy.
I surrender my whole being to You. Wash me clean, Lord. Keep me always in Your presence, if it be Your will. Let me walk in Your ways until the end of my life. Make me more like You—pure and undefiled.
Jesus, let my breath become Your breath, my eyes Your eyes, my ears Your ears, and my words reflect Your goodness. Help me to live in a way that is pleasing to You, now and forever.
RELEASE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Come, Holy Spirit. Here I am, a humble and repentant soul, crying out for Your mercy and for the mercy of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Dwell within me and mold me into Your likeness. Even just for a moment, allow me to experience the fullness of Your Divine Love.
Though my sins may create barriers, I know You have touched me before—in moments of deep prayer. Look not upon my failings, but upon the work of God's hands, longing to return to the Creator.
REPENTANCE
Lord, You know how deeply I regret my sins. I long to make reparation. I have been ungrateful for Your many blessings. Yet Your mercy is greater than all my faults.
I want to do my part, Lord, to make up for the harm I have caused. I will support and serve Your faithful ones in my own simple way. Bless Your servants, Lord, those who gave up worldly honor to follow You. Let my efforts to make amends be the beginning of a deeper walk with You.
Once, I followed You, but my faith was like seed that fell on rocky soil, quick to sprout but just as quick to wither. This time, Lord, help my roots grow deep.
FORGIVENESS
Jesus, forgive me. I lost my patience with my children today. I was harsh, expecting too much from them. But they are just children, innocent and still learning. Their simplicity and innocence is a glimpse of heaven.
Help me to love them unconditionally, and do also myself. And help me grow with that love to be patient always. With Your grace, I choose to walk away from sin.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Acts 8:1–24
A great persecution broke out against the early Christians in Jerusalem, scattering the believers and the apostles. Philip, filled with the Spirit, went to Samaria and proclaimed Christ. Among the people was Simon the magician, who had once amazed them with his tricks. But when he saw the power of God through Philip, he believed and was baptized.
Later, Peter and John came to lay hands on the believers so they might receive the Holy Spirit. Simon, witnessing this, offered them money, hoping to buy the ability to confer the Spirit. But Peter rebuked him: "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money. Repent of this wickedness and pray to God, that He might forgive the intention of your heart."
Lord, I see Your power moving through Your apostles. They knew they carried the Truth, the Good News meant for all people. Help me to embrace that truth with sincerity. Let me not be like Simon, who sought power without understanding love. Let the world come to know You, Jesus, not as a trick to be used, but as the Savior who longs to save every soul.
WAITING ON GOD
I feel Your peace in my heart, Lord. I believe You are pleased with me. Thank You for everything. Bless me always, I pray.
YAHWEH I KNOW YOU ARE NEAR SONG
Yahweh, I know you are near,
standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe,
and you lead me in ways everlasting.
Lord, you have searched my heart,
and you know when I sit and when I stand.
Your hand is upon me, protecting me from death,
keeping me from harm.
Yahweh, I know you are near,
standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe,
and you lead me in ways everlasting.
Where can I run from your love?
If I climb to the heavens you are there
if I fly to the sunrise or sail beyond the sea,
still I'd find you there.
Yahweh, I know you are near,
standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe,
and you lead me in ways everlasting.
Marvelous to me are your works
how profound are your thoughts, my Lord.
Even if I could count them, they number as the stars,
you would still be there.
Yahweh, I know you are near,
standing always at my side.
You guard me from the foe,
and you lead me in ways everlasting.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Lord, You are my hope. Please also extend Your grace to those who feel far from You. May they come to understand that even in suffering, there is purpose. Let them see that after every storm, there is a rainbow, hope shining through the darkness.
PERSONAL PETITION
My Lord, just one more week and I return to work after a long leave. Let Your will be done.
If You ask me, Lord, I would choose to keep my job, even though, at times, I’ve considered giving up because of the strange illnesses that are inflicting me. But I think of my wife, struggling to carry the financial burdens, deep in debts. She hardly sleeps from the worry.
You know our needs better than we do. I leave everything in Your hands.
I remember growing up with so little, and even when my faith was weak, I never complaint and we survived. You have always had compassion for the poor and struggling. I trust in Your heart, Lord.
You gave me this job, and if You choose to take it away, I will not complain. You know what is best for me and my family.
THANKSGIVING
Thank You, Lord, for this day. I am still here, still well, still standing. I was able to receive Your Holy Body today at the 4:00 PM Mass at the Nativity of Mary Parish. I thank You for the nourishment of both body and soul.
Though we are in debt, I trust that with Your guidance, we will find a way to rise again.
Lord Jesus, thank You, for our home, though rented, it is still shelter. For the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the appliances we use, these comforts are blessings from You.
Thank You for our household helpers. Teach us to treat them with kindness and fairness.
Above all, thank You for being with us, always.